Page 61 of Save the Date

Emma instantly breathed a sigh of relief that Matt recognized their mystery visitor. Because despite her best intentions, she was a coward at heart.

“Sorry to barge in but Emma wasn’t answering her phone,” a familiar voice said. She joined Matt at the door and saw her brother-in-law now dressed in sweatpants and an old high school T-shirt. Emma’s first thought was surprise that Jackie had let him leave the house like that. Her second thought was panic.

“Is everyone okay?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Chris assured her. “Jackie just left her phonehere. I told her we could get it tomorrow and she reacted as though I had stabbed her.”

“Understandable,” Matt said graciously. “Come on in.”

“Sorry to interrupt your big night,” Chris said, sending a knowing look in Emma’s direction, making her want to vomit. The idea that Chris knew she had sex sometimes was revolting, which proved she viewed him like a brother and not just a brother-in-law. So that was nice.

“Found it,” Chris announced as he held up Jackie’s iPhone in a quilted Chanel case. As he headed back out of the condo he waved goodbye over his shoulder. “Pretend I was never here.”

“We’ll try,” Matt replied as he closed the door. But when he turned to face Emma, it was clear to both of them that the mood had changed. After a moment of trying to figure out what to say next and not succeeding, they both laughed, which was a good sign. Humor was kryptonite for awkward situations.

“Should we get something to drink?” Matt asked.

“Absolutely we should.”

As he poured them each a glass of red wine, Emma could tell there was something on his mind. She gently nudged him with her hip. “What’s up?”

“I…” Matt started before shaking his head. “Never mind. It’s stupid.”

“Now I have to know. Because you have yet to say a single stupid thing and it’s been getting on my nerves.”

Matt laughed again and took a rather large gulp of wine. “I’ve just been thinking about the wedding and how we’ve been doing so many things out of order.”

Emma nodded as a knot formed in her chest. Was he having second thoughts already? Was she about to have to give asecondring back?

“And I was just wondering what you would think about us not sleeping together until our wedding night?” He looked at her bashfully as every insecurity Emma had ever felt abouther desirability or lack thereof came crashing into her brain. He must have seen the look of horror on her face because he quickly clarified, “It’s not that I don’t want to sleep with you. Obviously, I do. I’ve just always wondered if couples who wait for marriage have a kind of advantage. Like, they understand how sacred it all is or something.” Matt shook his head with embarrassment. “It’s stupid. Forget I said anything.”

“I don’t think it’s stupid,” Emma replied delicately. “But I guess I am curious about your reasoning. Do you have like a moral or religious issue with premarital sex?”

“Not at all,” Matt protested. “And I normally never would have considered something like this before we met. But…how do I say this? It’s like we’re already trying a new thing by committing to each other so quickly, so why not try this too? I think there’s something kind of beautiful about waiting until right after the wedding. And I meanrightafter.”

Emma laughed as she started to realize he had a point. If they were already trying a new approach to their marriage, why not try this too? Plus, Matt’s relationship to sex was probably complicated now that he’d been cheated on by his ex-wife. Maybe waiting until marriage was a way for him to feel safer being intimate again. Not every guy could pump and dump without emotional risk, despite what the media would have everyone believe.

“You aren’t worried that if we wait, you might end up feeling disappointed or something?”

“Emma, no.” Matt took her hands in his. “I’m not worried about that at all. I can already tell we have incredible chemistry. If Chris hadn’t interrupted us, I have no doubt we would have been up all night.”

Emma smiled at the thought, even if it now seemed off the table.

“It was just an idea. Probably a bad one. We don’t need to do it.”

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea. I just have to adjust to it.”And figure out how to not take it personally, Emma added silently in her head. “I’m the one who came up with this whole plan to begin with. It seems only fair to incorporate one of your ideas.”

“Really?” Matt looked at her so earnestly she felt compelled to protect him and his heart at any cost.

“Really,” Emma replied as she held out her hand for an official shake. “No sex until marriage.”

Matt put his hand in hers and shook.

“No sex until marriage.”

And with that, they went to bed. Or, more accurately, to sleep.

Twenty-Four

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