Page 142 of Ruled Out

“You trying to tell me something, buddy?”

“J-Jessie.”

The air in my lungs escapes in a whoosh.

“Jesssssie,” Will repeats.

“Oh my God,” Kate says from across the archway. “Did he just say your name?”

“And his first word,” I croak out.

Tears surface before I can stop them. “Hey, Will.”

Will’s tiny palm comes to my cheek as he continues to stare at me. In his gaze, I see the reflection of the tiny waves as they creep up the shoreline.

Jensen’s hand lands on my shoulder, and I turn to look at him, his eyes as watery as mine.

“I don’t think we could’ve wished for a more perfect first word. You earned it, buddy. You mean the world to him.”

“I definitely have inadequate tissues for today.” Felicity wipes underneath her eyes and then focuses her attention ahead of her as Luna and Jon appear at the end of the empty aisle.

“Breathe, Zachary,” Kate reminds the groom as he holds his breath at the sight of his girl.

“You weren’t kidding, were you?” he says to Kate as Jon and Luna walk slowly toward him.

Her eyes are pinned on Zach, dropping to Aster as she comes to stand next to him under the archway.

Wrapping his hand around the nape of his neck, he grips hard, trying to push back the emotion as it tumbles down his cheeks. “I don’t have words. You look …”

“Like our happily ever after?” she asks.

I look over at my girlfriend as she stands behind Kate, facing Zach and Luna, tears pooling in her green eyes.

She catches me looking at her, and a smile pulls at her lips in response.

Zach nods. “Yeah, Rocket. Exactly like that.”

The followingmorning is exactly like the previous day—still, peaceful, and with bright sunshine filtering through the blinds of our beach bungalow.

We barely got any sleep last night, the celebrations drifting into the early hours. And when I finally got my girl alone, I had absolutely zero intention of spending the rest of the night in any way other than buried deep inside her.

Mia’s still sleeping when I climb out of bed and pull open the glass door, which leads directly onto a small, decked area and then out onto the beach.

“What do we think, Will?” I speak into the morning air, hoping the ocean breeze will somehow carry my question to him. I look across at my suitcase sitting on top of the trunk at the foot of our bed. “Is it now like we planned?”

A large wave crashes to the shore, stirring Mia awake, and I turn around to see her sitting up in bed, stretching her arms out above her.

She looks perfect, dressed in a silky white nightdress.

Before she can register where I am, I lift the lid on my case and swipe what I need, dropping it into the pocket of my athletic shorts just before she looks up at me and yawns again.

“Hey, baby. What time is it?”

I bring my finger to my lips and hold out my other hand for her to take. “Still early. Take a walk with me?”

She looks around the room. “Sure. Let me grab my robe.”

When she takes my hand and we step onto the cool sand, I feel my body begin to tremble. Although this time, it’s not anxiety or fear that takes over my body’s reaction.

---