Page 107 of Honeymoon Phase
I close my eyes and feel like a total dick. I got so swept up in the snow days, and how good this all felt, and how perfectly we connected that I warped my mind into thinking she loved me. She said she wanted me. I heard she loved me.
This is a fuckingmeproblem.
And I need to get my shit under control or I’m going to freak her out and she’s going to bolt on me again.
I reach out and hook my thumb through the loop of her jeans, pulling her closer to me. “Of course I can understand that.”
She rubs the pads of her thumbs along my jaw. “Thank you.”
I lower my lips to kiss her, trying to hide the ache in my chest. I hate that it’s there, but I’m only human. And I’ve been in love with her for a long-ass time.
She breaks the kiss and slides her hands down my chest. “Luckily you’re stuck with me for a year, so we have time to figure this all out.”
I wince at the deadline she just casually tossed out there, like it’s the answer to our problems. It’s not the answer. It’s a fucking kill date and I hate that it exists. I hate even more that Addison is still thinking about it. I want our wedding day coming up to be forever, not for a year. If she can’t see it by then, then I wonder if she’ll ever see it.
Fuck.
Maybe my niece is right. Everly’s right.
She has to fall in love with you before the wedding ceremony, Luke. Because the moment she walks down the aisle and sees the way you look at her... she’ll know the truth anyways.
If Addison sees how much I love her on our wedding day, it could spook her and then she’ll be looking for a way to divorce me early, lumberyard be damned.
I just have to hope that the next two weeks show her whatever she needs to see to feel safe enough to fall.
’Cause I’m ready to catch her.
“So where were you going with the bridesmaids question?” I ask, trying to let go of my inner thoughts and focus on the present.
She plays with the buttons of my flannel and shoots me athoughtful look. “I think you should have your brothers up there next to you at the wedding. I can see how close you guys are and I think it’s important.”
My heart thumps in my chest at that gesture from her. “But what about you?”
She bites her lip nervously. “I was thinking I’d ask Dakota, Trista, and Cozy if they want to stand up for me. I know we’re not super close, but they feel like sisters already. No one needs to be in matching dresses or anything. Just whatever they planned on wearing to the wedding will be great. They’ve been so amazing to me since I moved up here. I want them to know how much that means to me.”
My throat tightens as I realize the gravity of what she’s considering. Putting herself out there like that to the girls is a big step for my best friend. She may not be ready to verbally say this wedding is real... but she’s certainly making some real big decisions right now.
“And fact or fiction, Stevie would make the cutest little flower girl.”
My eyes crinkle as I hit my wife with a heartfelt smile. “That’s a fact.”
“Maybe Ethan can be the ring bearer and help her down the aisle?”
My smile drops and I cut my wife an “are you out of your mind” look which she laughs at.
“We don’t have to give him the real rings. Your brothers can hold those.”
“Am I getting a ring?” My chest lurches with excitement over that thought and I stare down at my hand, liking the idea of a ring on my finger more than I have any business to.
“Don’t you worry about it, Fletcher,” she says coyly, turning away from me to resume her work. She nudges me with her elbow. “Why are you smiling at me?”
I inhale deeply through my nose. “I’m just... happy.”And scared but trying not to be.
“This is your happy face?” She eyes me warily.
I nod. Damn this woman can see right through me.
“I thought this made you happy.” She lowers her hand between us and strokes my cock, causing me to lean into her and expel a shaky breath, my body tightening with need as my balls begin to ache.
