Page 137 of Wicked Love

There’s a knock and Rhodes sticks his head in the door. “Hey…feel free to send us away, but we have a little surprise.”

“Oh…okay,” Bowie says, looking at me. “Who is us?” he asks Rhodes.

“All of us.”

Bowie’s eyes are wide when he looks at me again.

“I’m curious,” I say and he nods, his lips quirking up.

“Okay, come in. You let me know the second you need them out,” he tells me.

I nod. Everyone files into the room and the mood is charged. Becca hugs Bowie and looks worried when she sees me. I reach out and take her hand.

“I’m okay,” I tell her.

Penn steps in last with a woman I don’t recognize, and my eyes narrow.

“Penn,” Bowie says slowly, “what are you wearing?”

Penn looks crazy proud as he straightens his black shirt and taps the white strip peeking out at his neck. “Oh, this?” he says, nonchalantly. “I got ordained for you. Online. I’m a man of the cloth now. Always wanted to say that. Not really, but it sounded good.” He shrugs, grinning. “And this is Dorene. Not sure if you’ve met her yet, Poppy.”

“I don’t think so,” I say.

Dorene smiles warmly. She’s holding a file and says hello.

“Dorene is Joseph Collins’ cousin—our center, remember? Anyway…she works for the county clerk’s office and can get you set up with a marriage license.”

I stare at Penn and then Dorene. “No way,” I breathe. I glance at Bowie, who looks as shocked as I feel. And then he starts laughing,hard. It catches everyone so off guard that they’re quiet for a full thirty seconds before they crack up too.

“Let’s have a wedding!” Bowie says. And just as quickly, he puts his hand on my face. “If you want to.”

I nod, grinning.

“Are you sure?” he asks. “I’ll still take you somewhere tropical for a full ceremony.”

“Yes, please. There won’t be much of a honeymoon though.” I make a face and he laughs.

“There will be plenty of time for that later,” he says.

Elle lifts our hospital bag. “We have your bag here if you need anything out of here before you say I do.”

“I’d like to at least get out of this hospital gown and into my cute pajamas,” I say.

“Okay, take five, everyone,” Bowie says.

They leave the room and I have a contraction as I’m getting up to change. I pause and breathe through it and then Bowie helps me change. Once I’m settled again, I sigh.

“Not exactly how I imagined looking on my wedding day.”

He tips my chin to look up at him. “You’ve never looked more beautiful to me than you do right now.”

“Remember this then because I’m about to scar your retinas when I give birth.”

He bursts out laughing and kisses me and then goes to tell everyone that I’m ready. As he turns back around, I’m having another contraction, and he’s by my side in the next second.

“It needs to be quick because her contractions are picking up,” he tells Penn.

Everyone gathers around the bed. Becca leans against Bowie and smiles at me.

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