“Well, you should be afraid of me. I’m trying to steam out a few wrinkles.”
Yeah, definitely was a bad idea. I should make a note to have Catherine put that on the do-not-do list right before her instruction not to eat after getting dressed.
“Right, but, the limo and . . . we have to go.”
The door to the bathroom flies open. “Jacob Arrowood, you fucked me senseless ten minutes ago. I am trying to make sure I don’t have a million photos looking like it happened, okay?”
As scared as I am of Catherine, Brenna is formidable right now. “Okay. You know, just . . .”
“If you say hurry, I might choke you with your bow tie or hogtie you with it.”
“If you want to tie me up later, I’m okay with that.”
She takes a step closer and then steadies herself. “One minute. I just have to fix the back.”
“Can I help?” I ask, wanting to help but also wanting to touch her again.
“No, just give me one more minute.”
I nod once and then go out to grab our stuff. I can be helpful. Her purse is on the counter, where I’m sure the ten assistants Catherine hired to make sure we didn’t do anything stupid put it. My wallet, which I don’t need but refuse not to have, and her shoes are waiting by the door.
I start counting, but from this point, if I reach sixty seconds, we are already way over a minute.
Thirty-one.
Thirty-two.
Thirty-three.
I start to shake, not sure which of the women in my life I’d rather have at my throat, when she emerges.
To anyone else, she would look the same as before, but I see the way her face is just slightly flushed and her eyes are liquid. “You look perfect.”
“I look late.”
“Yeah, and I’m going to blame you if Catherine yells at me.”
She rolls her eyes. “Some gentleman you are.”
Brenna heads to the door and slips her shoes on. And while I had this elaborate plan for tonight, I don’t want to wait another second. Seeing her like this makes me want her to really know how I feel before we step out of this room.
“Ready?” she asks with her hand on the doorknob.
“No.”
“No?”
I step to her and then drop down on one knee, pulling the ring from my breast pocket. “I had a plan for us. For you. For tonight. After the premiere, we were going to a rooftop bar that I rented out. There are thousands of roses, candles, and a band is coming to play for us. All of it, every detail was laid out, but looking at you right now, I can’t wait another second, Brenna.”
Her hand flies to her mouth. “Jacob . . .”
“I love you with every part of my soul. I was so sure that I would never find anyone because I wasn’t finding what I needed, until I found you. I don’t want to walk that red carpet with my girlfriend who I plan to propose to. I want everyone in the world to see that you’re going to be my wife. That I choose you and you choose me. I choose to love you and be with you every day, every minute, every second, because you’re the most magnificent woman I’ve ever met. I love you, Brenna Allen. Will you marry me?”
A tear falls down her cheek, and she nods. “Yes! Yes!”
I place the ring on her finger and kiss her lips, not caring if I smudge her makeup because kissing her is the only thing I want to do.
Epilogue
Brenna
~Nine Months Later~
“Just a few more pushes, Brenna,” the doctor says as she holds my knees apart.
“I hate you, I hate you, I hate you,” I chant as I bear down and try to shove this freaking kid out of me.
This pregnancy was never supposed to happen. Yet, here I am, staring up at my husband, cursing him because of that damn .01% chance that came to fruition.
And Jacob was smug.
We hadn’t talked about having or not having kids. Honestly, I thought we probably would, but not right away.
I wanted time.
I’d already started a marriage off with a pregnancy, and apparently, I was meant to do it again.
The only difference is that Jacob and I already loved each other. We didn’t get married just because we were pregnant. I guess there’s that bonus.
Jacob leans down and kisses my forehead. “I love you, beautiful.”
“Please don’t tell me that. I look horrible right now.”
“Not to me you don’t.”
“No lies, Jacob.”
His eyes dart to the doctor and then back to me. “Okay, you look like hell, but you’re bringing forth a baby, and really, no woman looks great during that. However, Catherine has a team ready the minute the baby is out, and in your first photo, you’re going to look like you squatted and the baby popped right out without any effort at all.”
I glare at him. “Are you trying to make me punch you?”
He at least has the decency to appear sheepish. “I was just telling you that no one other than this team of doctors and nurses, who have all signed NDAs, and me will ever know that you don’t feel beautiful. I think you are. Always. You’re flawless really.”
I’m definitely going to punch him. The doctor taps my leg. “Here comes another contraction. I want you to really push this time. I can see the baby’s head.”
Not like I have a choice. The pain comes on, and I squeeze Jacob’s hand, pushing with all my might.
“A little more,” she urges.
I try. I swear I do, but it’s so hard, and I’m so damn tired. Every muscle hurts, and I just want them to cut me open because this kid is not coming out on his own. I always thought giving birth was supposed to get easier with each kid, I was wrong.
“I can’t!” I yell and fall back.
The doctor tries to smile. “You’re doing great. Take a few minutes to breathe.”
Jacob’s lips are at my temple. “I love you, I’m sorry, I love you, I’ll buy you anything you want.”
It ends, and I look up at him. “Anything?”
He nods.
“I want you to buy a vasectomy.”
“Is that a new car?”
I glare at him. “No, and you know it.”
“We’ll talk about this soon.”
My chest heaves, and I feel the twinges start. “How much more?” I ask, exhausted and sweaty.
“One more big push to get the head out and then the shoulders. The baby is right here.”
“Take my hand, Brenna,” Jacob says, determination fluttering in those green eyes. “I’m here.”
I take a few deep breaths, wanting this to be over. It’s been nine hours of labor, and I’ve been pushing for twenty minutes. I want to sleep, but more than that, I want to hold this little baby that came from the night of his premiere and caused a very, very fast engagement period.
“I’m ready,” I tell the doctor.
My jaw clamps tight, and I scream through my teeth as I push with all my strength. My fingers tighten, drawing whatever strength I can from him.
“You’re right there, baby. Right there.”
“The head is out. On the next contraction, push.”
I barely have enough time to catch my breath before the next one hits. I hold Jacob’s hand, thinking of all the moments we’ve had. The time by the creek fishing. The lunch date we shared when I realized I liked him. I think about the dinners at the house, our first kiss, and the Ferris wheel. All of the moments, which are strung together with love, that have brought us to this moment. Where we made a baby. Our baby who symbolizes all the beauty that has come from times of struggle.