Elizabeth sat on our front step when we pulled into the driveway. She lit up at the sight of Wyatt’s truck and waved.
“Sorry we’re a bit later than expected,” I called over, climbing out of the passenger seat. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”
She shook her head, standing and walking over. “I’ve got my coffee, I’ve got a beautiful view, and I was happy to wait to see you two.” She wrapped me in a tight hug and my heart squeezed.
We were home.
Wyatt and I had been on the Gold Coast of Australia for a month. Wyatt had placed well in the Surfers’ Paradise competition and had been doing promo shoots for next year’s ads. When we could, we still went out on the ocean first thing in the morning, wherever we were.
I tried not to think about the sharks.
“Did you sleep on the plane?” Elizabeth asked, reaching for one of our bags.
I shook my head. “Wyatt did but I just read my book.”
Wyatt gave her a hug. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, honey. Good to have you two home, even if it’s just for a bit.”
Elizabeth came inside with us and made us tea while we settled in. I smiled at how she made herself comfortable here, taking care of us when she knew we were tired from traveling. Wyatt dropped our bags in our bedroom and returned to the living room, where he settled on the couch and gestured for me to join him. I tucked myself into his side.
“How’s the shop doing?” he asked Elizabeth.
Wyatt had sold the surf shop before we left to an Australian who had moved here last year.
The tap ran while she filled the kettle. “Doing well. He fits right in with everyone.”
Wyatt closed his eyes, sinking into the couch. “Good.”
I watched his handsome face for a moment before Elizabeth reentered the room.
She set my tea down on the coffee table. Her eyes sparkled. “Ready for tomorrow?”
I nodded and swallowed. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course.”
“It doesn’t seem like a big deal. Is that…” I chewed my lip. “Bad?”
She laughed. “No, honey. It’s not bad. It means you’re already there.”
I glanced at Wyatt again, already asleep, breathing softly, and my heart panged. A couple months ago, I almost blew everything up because I was scared.
I loved this guy so much. More than anything. I was so glad I made the right decision.
Elizabeth and I chatted for a few minutes, catching up on town events and our trip before she stood.
“Well, I’m going to get going.” She walked her mug over to the dishwasher. “I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.”
While Wyatt was napping, I dropped into the bookshop to say hello to Liya and Casey.
“Yes, that one is very popular.” My dad was studying the titles on a shelf, tilting his head to read them before he pulled another down and handed it to the customer. “This one has the ‘only one bed’ trope as well.” He noticed me standing at the door and his face lit up. “Honey, you’re back.”
“You’re home!” Liya rushed over and wrapped me in a big hug. My dad was next. Casey rang the customer through behind them.
“Only one bed?” I asked my dad, a smile still glued to my face.
He nodded. “Liya and Casey have been educating me.” He leaned on the front desk and adjusted his glasses. “There’s a lot to learn about the romance world. Veena and I have been reading through the store.”
After sufficient groveling, my dad had convinced Veena to move in with him. I spoke with them both on FaceTime once a week, discussing books, the trips they took around the island, the veggies they grew in the backyard, the changes they were making to the house.
They were good together, my dad and Veena, and they were happy.
The bell on the door rang and two teenage girls entered the store.
“This is so cool!” one of them said before heading to the hanging chair.
“Do you have any rom-coms with two girls?” the other asked my dad.
“Yes, that would be in our queer romance section.” He hustled off and she followed. “Do you want enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, or grumpy sunshine?” His voice traveled through the shelves. “This one is popular. Very funny.”
From the blue squashy chair, I watched with a smile as my dad hustled around the store, helping people find stories. The photo of my mom and me that Wyatt had given me for my birthday hung on the wall behind the desk. Pride shone from her eyes as she beamed at me. My heart tugged and I knew somewhere in the universe, she was looking at me with the same expression now.
“Hannah, I love you, but I need to know something,” Avery called the next morning from my kitchen. I was in the bedroom, changing. Through the windows, the sun was beginning to rise, and golds, pinks, and oranges painted the sky like something in an art gallery. I stared out at the ocean and thought about all the times Wyatt and I floated out there, talking and staring at the sky, falling in love.
“What’s that?” I called back, zipping up my dress.
“Do you fucking hate me or something?”
I laughed and walked out, down the hall, and into the kitchen. Avery rested her forehead on the bar counter. Working in a restaurant, she got home late and didn’t handle sunrise wake-ups very well. She wore a maroon dress that cinched at the waist with embroidered flowers on it.
“I appreciate you being here.”
Her head whipped up and her breath caught at the sight of me. “Oh, Hannah.” Her throat worked and she gave me a watery smile. “You look so beautiful.”
I glanced down at the floor-length white dress. The sleeves flared and the fabric draped perfectly over my body. I skimmed my palm over the delicate lace.
“I’m so glad you chose the boho style,” Avery breathed, shaking her head. “It’s not what I would have expected for you but it turned out to be perfect.”
I smiled. “Like Wyatt.”
She nodded. “Yeah, Han. Like Wyatt.” She reached for my bouquet on the table, a small collection of soft pinks and deep reds and greens from the Queen’s Cove area the florist had put together yesterday. “Ready?”
I took the bouquet from her, running my fingers along the pearl pins on the handle. “Ready.”
We made our way to the beach and left our shoes at the edge of the sand. Everyone waited for us closer to the water—Elizabeth, Sam, Holden, Finn, Emmett, my dad, Veena, and in the center of them all, Wyatt.
I nearly laughed in surprise at the sight of him in a suit. My Wyatt in a gray suit. It fit his tall, slim form perfectly, and the bright white of the shirt made his tan even deeper. The gray fabric made his hair blonder. He watched me approach, gaze never leaving mine, and I had the sensation he was trying very hard to memorize this moment, like I was.
When I got close enough to the group, they quieted down and he stepped out and wrapped me in a hug.
“Good morning, bookworm.” His voice was soft in my hair.
“Good morning,” I whispered back, aware that everyone was listening to us.
He pulled back to look down into my eyes. “You’re beautiful, you know that?” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
“With you, I do.” I raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m surprised you’re in a suit. Don’t get me wrong, you look incredible.” I gave him a quick, heated smile that told him how much I was looking forward to getting him out of it later, and that familiar roguish grin crossed his face. “I half expected you to wear a wetsuit.”
He laughed, and my heart squeezed at the sound.
Wyatt kept his arm firm around my shoulder and turned to the group. “Let’s do this before my girl changes her mind.”
Everyone laughed, myself included.
I shook my head, smiling from ear to ear. “Not a chance.”
Emmett performed the ceremony there on the beach to the sounds of the waves rolling in and to Avery and Veena and someone, who I was pretty sure was Holden, sniffling. The sun slowly rose, the sky changed colors and Wyatt held my hand. He rubbed his thumb over my skin while watching me with all the love and adoration and euphoria that I felt for him.
Emmett said the words that bound us together and Wyatt placed a simple band with a pale blue stone onto my finger.
Blue like the dress you wore at Emmett’s wedding, he had said when we saw it in the jewelry store a few weeks ago in Australia. The first time I realized how beautiful you were.
I slipped a silver band onto his finger, and he leaned down to kiss me, pulling me into his chest and reminding me that we belonged to each other.
I had so much to lose with him, but I was going to be brave and love him with my whole heart.
My dad watched with a proud smile on his face, and my heart panged, thinking about my mom, missing her and wishing she could see me now, but grateful that I knew her. Grateful that she lived on in my bookstore and in my memories.
Later, after the families had brunch at our house and had gone home, Wyatt dragged me into our bedroom.
“Let’s have a nap.” He kissed my neck as he backed me toward the bed.
“A nap, huh?” I grinned and then gasped as his teeth scored the sensitive skin beneath my ear. His hand was already working at my zipper and I pushed his jacket off.
“Mhm.” The low, hungry cadence of his voice sent a zing of desire through me and I made quick work of the buttons on his shirt.
I turned my head to meet his mouth and he groaned deep in his chest when he coaxed my lips apart. The slow glide of our mouths drugged me and made my head float.
“Hey, bookworm?” He pushed the dress off my shoulders and it pooled at my feet. His hands found the top of my strapless bra and he slid the cups down and pinched me, pulling a light moan from my mouth.
“Mmm?” I nipped his bottom lip.
“Remember that conversation we had the other day?” His breath tickled my mouth.
“Which one?” My bra lay discarded on the floor somewhere next to his pants, and I leaned into his warm hand on my chest, loving the way he knew exactly how to touch me. One of my hands rested on his hard chest and the other palmed his stiff erection. I thrummed between my legs with every brush of his fingers on me.
“Oh, shit,” he breathed against my mouth, clenching his eyes closed as I stroked. “The conversation about having a baby.”
My hand stilled on his cock and I opened my eyes. Wyatt had casually brought up the idea of having children a couple weeks ago and asked how I felt about it. I liked the idea of having a baby with him, but I was scared of the whole pregnancy, childbirth, and baby-shooting-out-of-my-ladyparts situation.
But I loved him and he’d be an amazing father. We had so much love for each other. I wanted to love someone the way my mom and dad loved me.
“I remember.”
His hands came to my hair and he tucked a strand behind my ear. “I think we should start.”
I inhaled a deep breath with wide eyes, gaze locked with him. “You want to have a baby now.”
He smiled and nodded. “I love you. And seeing everyone today, all together,” his throat worked and he blinked, “it made me want that but with our own family. We love each other so much.”
I nodded and gave him a soft smile. “Yeah, we do.” I pulled in another shaky breath. “A baby.” I nodded to myself. “A real baby.”
He laughed and pressed a kiss to my temple.
“I’m scared,” I admitted. “Not just of babies. What if we screw it up?”
He nodded. “Yeah, we might. But I don’t think we will. We should be brave.”
“Brave,” I repeated, nodding. I thought about my mom, and how much she loved me, and all the memories I had with her. My heart ached in the best way. I nodded again at him and gave him a bigger smile. “Okay.”
“Okay?” His face lit up. “Are you sure? We can table it.”
I shook my head hard. “Nope. You’re right. We’ll never be ready, but I want to try. Whatever comes our way, we’ll figure it out together.”
Wyatt kissed me hard and his love filled me all the way to my toes. “I love you, bookworm.”
