Page 23 of Her Inconvenient Wedding Date

“Or maybeyou’rethe one who’s good at it. If you hadn’t given me a chance, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

“It’s only because you agreed to go along with this wild plan of mine,” I remark while holding up my left hand. The wedding band that had looked so foreign on my finger now feels a little more comfortable. It may not symbolize true love, but at least it’s a sign of our friendship. “It’s too bad we didn’t become friends sooner.”

“So we could’ve gotten married earlier?” he jokes.

“No, silly. So I could have appreciated your sense of humor sooner.”

“Well, the good news is that you’ll have plenty of chancesto do that after you move in. Say, why don’t we go pick up your stuff now before we head to my place? Then you can unpack while I make brownies and lunch—which we are going to eat in that exact order.”

“Sure. That sounds like a good idea.”

Despite the smile on my face, the tightness in my chest makes it hard to breathe. Things are getting real now. Starting today, I’ll be staying at Hunter’s, likely eating with him every day, and doing life with him.

As. His. Wife.

What scares me the most is the fact that there will be endless opportunities for me to enjoy his company and fall in love with him even more… and that’s the last thing my heart should be doing.

CHAPTER 12

Hunter

“Marriage is like a mystery novel.You never know what’s going to happen next, but you’re pretty sure it’ll involve food.” ~Unknown

Lily didn’t kiss me back.

That’s all I can think about as I unload her luggage that we just picked up from her place and bring them inside my house. As much as I’d like to dwell on the fact that the circumstances are pushing us closer to one another, the reality is that my wife and I aren’t on the same page.

Yet.

Those three letters give me reason to pauseandhope. I’m still committed to treating her like the queen that she is, but I decide I need to practice patience and restraint. I dislike those two words as much as pineapple on pizza right now, but for Lily’s sake, I’ll embrace them. I’m in this for the long haul, just like the vows I made to her earlier today.

To have and to hold, till death do us part.

Let’s just hope her close proximity doesn’t do me in first.

“This will be your room, Lil.”

She squeezes past me as I stand in the doorway to the guest room. It takes everything in me to not pull her close and dip her again as I remember how it felt to have her in my arms. With her curves pressed to my body and my mouth on hers. Her lips were as soft as I’d imagined they’d be, but they were also sadly, unexpectedly nonresponsive. The memory gives me the reality check I need to pull me back to the present.

“This is nice, Hunter! The bedding even matches the curtains.” She runs a hand down the leaf print duvet cover. “I love the earthy tones you chose. You have a good eye for color.”

“I can’t take all the credit. My mom helped me pick them out.”

“She has good taste.” She glances outside the window that overlooks the backyard before turning back to me. “I didn’t get a chance to ask you, but what did your parents say when you told them about you getting married? Or did you not tell them?”

“I did tell them. There’s not much that I don’t tell my folks.” What I don’t mention to Lily is how much I told my parents about my feelings for her. “They were supportive, and they said they’d pray for us.”

“They’re okay with you helping me out in this unconventional way?”

I nod, leaning my back against the door frame. “They trust my judgment.”

“They sound so supportive. How about your sisters?”

“I haven’t told them yet. Not that I don’t tell them things, but they’re a littletoohelpful sometimes.” I smirk and make air quotes around the wordhelpful. “They like to set me up on blind dates with their friends’ younger sisters or cousins orrandom women they meet at the store or at church. I’ve learned that the less they know about my love life, the better.”

She grins. “They sound sweet though. What are you going to say if they try to set you up on another date?”

I’d like to think Lily’s asking this question because she doesn’t want me going out with anyone else, but I know it’s wishful thinking. Her tone is neither jealous nor concerned. “I haven’t thought about it yet. What do you think I should say?”

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