32. Oliver

Chapter 32

Oliver

Six Months Later

I paced around the back of the church, my palms sweating.

"Why are you so nervous?" my best man asked, and I let out a long breath.

"I don't know. What if she changes her mind? What if she runs? She ran the last time," I muttered.

"What, you think she's going to leave Trent and Daisy behind?" He chuckled, coming up behind me.

"I'm freaking out, Tristan. Isn't it your job to keep me from freaking out?"

"I'm trying," he said, still grinning.

"You think this is funny, don't you?" I grumbled as I fixed my tie for the thirtieth time.

"Hilarious," he admitted, snickering. "You're running around like a chicken with its head cut off, and it's still twenty minutes before the ceremony starts. It's going to be fine."

"So you don't think she's lacing up her running shoes?"

"Absolutely not. She loves you, Ollie. You and Lexie have always been meant to be. This is just going to make it official."

I smiled and sat down, taking in a deep breath, letting it out through my nostrils. He was right. Everything was going to be okay.

Everything was perfect and it had been for the last six months.

Lexie had moved into my house, and we were renting out the cabin to Gillian, who wanted to be closer to the kids. She was a wonderful aunt and a huge help to Lex. She also watched Trent and Daisy for us during our date nights, which were frequent.

Lexie had gotten her job back at the grocery store because she said she was going nuts being home all the time. My grandmother was thrilled to have her.

Deep down I knew there was no way she would run from this but I couldn't help worrying about it. She ran on her wedding day before, but it was from an abusive dick—pun intended—who was now currently serving a year sentence in prison for his assault on Lexie.

Of course, Lexie and I had a few fights leading up to the wedding. Wedding planning was stressful, especially with two kids, and we still hadn't decided on a honeymoon trip.

But a few arguments and slammed doors wouldn't make her run, would it?

A knock sounded on the door, and I called for them to come in.

My heart pounded, hoping it wasn't someone telling me the bride was missing.

My father stood in the doorway, looking at me with wet eyes. "Oliver. You look sharp, son."

I sighed in relief. "Dad. Thank you." I smiled. "You look pretty sharp yourself." His suit hid most of his beer belly and showed off his broad shoulders.

He chuckled. "Your mother thought so."

I wrinkled my nose. Ever since they'd gotten back together, they'd been publicly affectionate to each other in a way they never had before the separation, and it was taking some getting used to.

"How's Lex?" I asked, and he shrugged.

"Your mother is in the bridal room with her. Something about hair. You know I don't understand women speak."

I couldn't help but laugh. "No, Dad, you certainly don't."

Tristan stayed quiet. Although Lexie and my father's relationship had been repaired for the most part, Tristan wasn't so forgiving. It was understandable, at least to me, and my dad seemed to take it in stride.

"They should be ready soon," Dad said. He came over and hugged me tightly before he left the room.

Tristan released the breath he'd been holding, and I winced slightly.

"You all right?"

"I'm good," he said, giving me a slightly weak smile. "What about you? You over your crisis?"

"It wasn't a crisis," I muttered. Tristan squeezed my shoulder.

"Then let's take our places."

Tristan led me to the altar then clapped me on the shoulder before walking down the aisle to take his own place.

The priest smiled at me and I gave a weak smile back.

I couldn't wait to see Lexie.

My mother waved at me before waving Daisy's little hand, and I waved back at them, smiling. Daisy had been such a sun ray in our lives.

She was babbly and happy, sleeping through the night at just a couple of weeks old. She adored Trent more than anything in the world, crawling to follow him around and mimicking him with noises.

Trent, on the other hand, was the world's most overprotective older brother, always right beside his little sister, always worried she might get hurt. They were adorable together, and Lexie had taken on the role of mother like she'd been born to play it. She'd redecorated the house to make it have a woman's touch, whatever that means.

Tristan had been right. Lexie would never run from Trent and Daisy, even if I thought she might run from me. I had to trust her. I had to keep trusting her because there was a time where I didn't, and it wrecked my life.

Everything had been terrible without Lexie, and now that she was back, I wasn't going to waste a moment.

Finally, the music started, and the groomsmen began ushering the bridesmaids down the aisle.

Gillian was the maid of honor, and a few other friends and family rounded out the bridal party. Krista and Raoul from the bar, and Clayton who sold me the place, were also included.

It seemed like the whole of Wagontown was there, filling up the pews. The place was packed full.

I waited patiently for Lexie to walk down the aisle, and when she did, my breath caught in my throat. She had her veil down so I couldn't make out her face, but her cream-colored dress had a plunging neckline that showed her cleavage, and it was tight across her hips, which had widened after having Daisy .

She looked unbelievable, and tears burned at the backs of my eyes.

When she arrived at the altar, I took her hand, pulling her to me, and lifted the veil.

Her green eyes were bright and clear. I was the only one crying, apparently. She smiled and reached up to thumb tears from my face I didn't even know had fallen.

"You big softie," she murmured in a low tone, and I chuckled.

"You just look so beautiful."

The priest started his speech, telling the audience that he was honored to be officiating our wedding, and I smiled at him. He was an old family friend who had actually married my parents, and though he was getting on in age, he was still a great speaker.

When it was time for the rings, Trent strolled down the aisle as if it was a catwalk in his little charcoal gray suit, and I couldn't help but grin ear to ear when he brought us the rings.

Lexie leaned down and kissed him on the cheek and he grinned up at her before going to sit with his grandmother. He promptly put Daisy on his lap, and she leaned back against him, comfortable as could be.

The vows went by in a flash. Soon enough, I was kissing Lexie as her husband and running outside while being pelted with bird seed that got in Lexie's hair and into my suit jacket pockets.

The limo was taking us right to the reception. We were eager to get the party started with our friends and family.

"I'm so glad I can drink," Lexie said, and I snorted out a laugh.

"That's the first thing you say as my wife?" I teased.

"You try being pregnant for nine months and then breastfeeding for three," she pouted. "I think it's past time to have a glass of wine."

"Of course, baby," I crooned, kissing her neck.

She moaned. "Any way we can get this limo to park before we make it to the reception?"

"Probably not," I said mournfully, and Lexie giggled. "We have all night to consummate the marriage," I smiled, kissing her softly.

The Pig in the Poke was decked out for the event, with balloons and streamers everywhere, blown up pictures of Lexie and me when we were young, pictures of Lexie in her hospital bed after having Daisy. My favorite picture was one of Trent and Daisy after she was first born. Trent was looking down at her, smiling, as she looked up at him with wonder.

My heart ached at how much I loved everyone there, even including my father. I was still so angry that we had been forced apart by his actions, but perhaps we needed that time apart to figure ourselves out. Now we had a wonderful life together as a real family.

Lexie was on her third glass of champagne when she looked up at me with glassy eyes. "How are you, husband?"

"Not as tipsy as you, wife," I teased, and she smacked me playfully on the shoulder. I just laughed.

"Remember when we split that bottle of champagne out at Lover's Look?" she asked, giggling.

"I do. I remember you were wild that night," I murmured into her ear, pulling her close and kissing her temple.

"I was. So you remember what champagne does to me?"

My eyes widened. "Oh?"

"Oh, indeed. You're in for a hell of a wedding night," she joked .

Krista came over to congratulate us as Tristan called me over for a drink. I sipped the whiskey with a sigh.

"Been a long time since I've had whiskey," I said. "I gave it up for the most part after Lexie got pregnant."

"You're going to be a really good husband," Tristan said. "Don't know that I could do that."

I raised an eyebrow. "What, sacrifice for your wife?" I asked with a chuckle. "You thinking of making an honest woman out of Elena?"

He flushed a deep red. "We're still just dating," he mumbled, and I barked out a surprised laugh.

"Oh, so you admit you're dating now? Is it exclusive?"

"Yes," he said defensively.

"So she's your girlfriend."

"Please don't say that word," he mumbled, and I laughed again, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Congrats, buddy. You deserve happiness."

He smiled up at me, and I found myself feeling a wave of affection for my old friend. He could have treated me like a jerk for the rest of his life but he hadn't. He'd accepted my apology and we'd gone right back to being best friends.

By the time the reception was over, my head was spinning from the alcohol. Lexie was hanging on my arm, smiling, and flirting with me. I was ready to get the hell out of there.

We said goodbye to all our family and friends then kissed the kids before sending them off with Aunt Gillian.

As I helped Lexie out of her dress back at the hotel—which was a feat in itself, especially with our level of inebriation—I had a question to ask her.

"Where do you want to honeymoon?" She asked.

"Hawaii? The Bahamas? Paris?" I suggested.

She shook her head. "Nothing like that. "

"Don't tell me you want to go somewhere cold," I groaned.

She laughed. "Nothing like that, either."

"Then where do you want to go?" I asked incredulously.

Finally, the buttons on the wedding dress cooperated and the dress slipped off her, leaving her bare. I'd already taken off my shirt and stood there in my slacks, looking her up and down hungrily.

"Wagontown," she said, and my eyes shot back up to her face.

"What?"

"I want to stay right here, with our kids and our family and friends. It's our home, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

"Not exactly a normal honeymoon location," I told her, pressing a kiss to her lips.

She shrugged. "Maybe your folks can babysit so that we can have sex all over the house. Would that make it more like the expensive vacation that you wanted to plan?"

I grinned. "Budget-friendly alone-time. Sure. Why not?"

She giggled. "Then it's decided. A staycation it is."

I smiled and kissed her, knowing our happily ever after was finally beginning.

THE END

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What to read next? You'll love Accidental Twins , Book 3 of the Unintentionally Yours series , available on Amazon. Read now!

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