Page 66 of Cherishing Happily Ever After

“Come on.” Steph stepped back. “You didn’t know. You couldn’t have…”

Faith shrugged. “Maybe we didn’t knowknow.”

“But we knew,” Hope added.

“Either way, you two are perfect for each other,” Faith said. “I hope you’re not too upset about how weird we were today and the lying. I hate it.”

“You do not!” Hope shook her head. “You love the whole surprise wedding thing. It’s your jam.”

“Okay, maybe. But I didn’t like lying to Steph. That was different. Besides, you got the easy job,” she said to her twin. “You just got to take her phone and leave with it. I had to deal with her all day!”

They all laughed.

“However it worked out, thank you.” Steph smiled a little. “Really, thank you. For everything. You’ve both been just like…”

“Sisters?”

Faith’s bluntness made Steph laugh again, and then a tear slipped down her cheek.

“Don’t cry.” Hope handed her a tissue as Travis joined them.

“Who is making my wife cry?”

Wife.

The tears fell harder and Travis pulled her in for a hug.

“Now it’s you making your wife cry,” Faith pointed out.

The two of them giggled again and wandered away, leaving them alone.

“Seriously, babe,” Travis said, his voice laced with concern. “Are you okay? You’re not upset with the surprise or—”

“No.” She cut him off quickly. “I love everything about the surprise. The wedding is perfect. It’s exactly what I wanted. Just family and friends…”

“In the place you love…”

“Yes.” Her heart swelled with love for this man who was so completely unexpected, but so perfect for her at the same time. He was the balance she’d always needed. The rock to hold her in place, to give her roots. “You listened.”

He chuckled a little. “Babe, I have listened to every word you’ve said from the moment I met you. I didn’t know at the time just how important you were going to be to me, but I knew then that you were going to change my life. And, man…” He shook his head.

“For the better?”

“Let’s wait and see what kind of stories the press run.” He laughed, and she slapped him lightly on the shoulder. “You know I don’t care about any of that,” he added.

“It’s going to be hard sometimes.”

“I’m used to hard.”

“And I’ll have to travel sometimes.”

“I’ve always wanted to see the world.”

“It’s not going to be—”

He stopped her with a finger to her lips. “It’s okay, Stephanie. Nothing is easy all the time. But you know what? If it’s worth it, it’ll take a little work. Remember, we’re a house.”

She burst out in a laugh. “I forgot.”

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