Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“Well, duh. I didn’t exactly have time to find a wedding dress.”
I laugh, but the sound fades as we walk toward the plane. The shiny jet sits waiting for us, its engines humming softly. For a moment, the reality of boarding another plane hits both of us at once. I see it in the way her hand tightens around my arm, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip as she fidgets slightly. My own chest feels heavier, memories of that flight that led us to the island flashing through my mind.
Before we reach the steps, I stop us and pull her into my arms. “We’re going to be safe,” I whisper, brushing a kiss against her temple. “I won’t let anything happen to you or our baby.”
She looks up at me, her eyes soft and full of trust. “I know.” She presses a kiss to my lips. “It’s not in your vocabulary to let me down. Now, let’s go get hitched.”
I chuckle, but as she starts up the steps, a thought grips me.
Something I need to do before we take off.
“Hey, I’ll be right there,” I call after her. “I need to make a quick call.”
She glances back, curious but not pressing. “Okay.”
Turning to the flight attendant, she switches gears instantly. “How many pilots are on this flight?” I hear her ask. “And are any of you trained in emergency medical situations?”
The seriousness in her tone is so perfectly Avery, I can’t help but smile.
Shaking my head, I pull out my phone and hit dial.
“I’ve been waiting for this call.” Beau’s voice—sharp but laced with humor—greets me by the second ring.
“Oh yeah?”
“Oh yeah,” he says. “I mean, my best friend is apparently in a secret relationship with my sister, but funny thing is, I didn’t hear this news from him. I heard it from my wife.”
Oh shit…
“Be nice, Beau!” I hear June yell in the background.
“So, about that,” I begin, a cringe taking shape on my face. “I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
“Meaning to, but just haven’t gotten around to it?” Beau asks.
“Things have been a little busy.”
“Too busy to call your best friend and tell him you’re not just in a relationship with his sister but also having a baby with her?”
Well, fuck. “So, it seems like June really cleared it all up for me, huh?”
“She told me, sure. Wouldn’t say she cleared it up. Pretty sure that’s your job.”
“I’m sorry, Beau,” I apologize immediately. “It wasn’t my intention to keep this from you. You’re my best friend, man. That’s the last thing I wanted to do. Things just… Being on that island with Avery, it changed everything.”
The line goes quiet for a moment before Beau speaks again. “Do you love her?”
“More than anything,” I say without hesitation. “I love Avery more than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything. And I swear, Beau, I’m going to take care of her. Take care of her and our baby. Protect them. Make sure they know every day how much I love them.”
“You know what’s wild?” Beau questions after another long and excruciating pause. “I actually know all that to be true. You took care of Avery on that island, and fucking hell, it couldn’t have been an easy feat being stranded with her.” He laughs softly. “But I know you’ll take care of her, Hen. Damn, though. My best friend and my sister. Who would’ve thought?”
“So, you’re not mad?”
“Let’s just say I’m adjusting to the idea. Might need a little time to fully wrap my head around it.”
Avery appears at the top of the plane stairs, gesturing for me to hurry up.
“How much time are we talking?” I ask. “Think you can wrap your head around it in, say…five hours?”
“Five hours?”
“Yeah, five hours. That’s when we’ll land. In Vegas.”
“Vegas? What the fuck are you talking about, Hen?”
“So, there’s another thing I’ve been meaning to tell you,” I say and shut my eyes for a brief moment, clutching the back of my neck with my hand. “Your sister and I are getting married. Today.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Beau mutters, but then he starts laughing. “You’re such a bastard, you know that?”
“I do. But just remember, I’m a bastard who loves your sister more than anything in this world,” I say, grinning. “Now, I gotta go. See you on the other side, bro-in-law.”
“You’re such a dick,” Beau laughs before the line goes dead.
Sliding my phone into my pocket, I head toward the plane, but I get a series of texts as I climb the stairs.
Beau: You’re a total asshole.
Beau: But I love you so much, Henry!
Beau: You’re a total dick.
Beau: But I’m so, so, so happy for you!
Me: Why do I get the sense this is both Beau and June texting me?
Beau: Probably because it is. I’m on my phone, and my nosy wife is texting from my iPad.