Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

Elliot

I'm blaming my tears on my pregnancy, as well as on how utterly beautiful my eldest sister is.

Louisa stands on the little platform in an A-line, boho-style, deep-V, chapel-train white gossamer gown as Eliza fusses around her. The sleeves are flowy and give a very pretty fairy vibe, but in a way that's not just fantasy but regal. She looks like an angel, and I'm speechless at how picturesque she is. While I thought she'd go for glitter and crystals, the dress is just layers of tulle that bring out every single lovely detail of my sister. Gone is the protective lioness, replaced by an eager bride. A girl ready to start her happily-ever-after with her hunky hockey player.

I dab at my eyes as Clara moves around Eliza and Louisa with Austen on FaceTime. She left for Russia for her holiday, but she didn't want to miss the final dress fitting. I can hear her preening and gushing over our sister as I look at her, love overwhelming me. Just six years ago, we were all set free from the confines of the cult, and now, I'm in awe of us. We fought for ourselves. We wanted better—and, together, we did it. Each one of us is living the life we want, how we want.

It's incredible.

My hand falls to my stomach where my little dude is, and my heart explodes. I remember waiting for Clara to be born and how terrified I was to find out that when it was time for me to have a baby, I would be alone in a field with just a midwife. I waited for my sister with my sisters, but my dad wasn't there. No one cared if my mom lived or died. It was necessary to have more babies born into their way of life. And I say theirs because no way in hell was it mine or my sisters'.

We wanted more.

And now, I have that. I run my hand over my swollen belly as my sister grins at herself in the mirror. She chose Ciaran, just as Eliza chose Coleson and Austen chose Dimitri. While it was the guys' choice too, the girls had a say. We didn't have that growing up. We were at the mercy of men who didn't want to love us but, rather, own us. Not now, though. Now my sisters are loved so damn fully it makes my heart ache with happiness.

Tears trail down my cheeks as my mind wanders to the man who lives rent-free in my mind. To a man I know would kill anyone dead if they thought he wouldn't be by my side for the birth of our child. To a man who, since I gave him the green light to, has cherished me like a dragon with its hoard. A man who looks at me and just smiles, even when I'm complaining that I bought the wrong ice cream. Then when I'm showering, he goes out to get the right one, even though he'd just finished earning another shutout to help the Bears win the series.

A man who had his phone with him in the rink with headphones in so he could listen to my ultrasound appointment, much to his coach's dismay. Who, even while he was breathing hard, asked questions, and then made sure I was okay before hanging up.

A man I have undeniably fallen for.

But as my sister spins, grinning back at me, I have to stop myself from asking how she convinced Ciaran to love her after all the things she endured for us. How he accepted that she was married in the name of the cult and had been "used" at her husband's discretion. Wasn't Ciaran disgusted? Did he feel like he got damaged parts? But thinking that way physically hurts me, because my sister is the reason I am standing here. Free. So, how can I think of my sister as anything but perfect? Probably because I fear that Alex won't be able to look past what I had to do.

I wipe my tears and force a smile. "You're stunning, Lou."

Louisa smiles at me, her eyes crinkling at the corners as they shine with excitement and pure love. Her grin turns goofy as she says, "Peepaw asked if you were going to become an honest woman before you had my nephew."

I snort. "According to Alex, marrying him won't make me a lick of honest."

Clara laughs loudly, as does Austen, while Eliza gives me a small smile. "He's such a hoot," she says, fixing the train of Louisa's dress. "But should we go look through the maternity wedding dresses?"

"I'm in no rush."

Especially not for Alex to divorce me the moment he knows the truth. I scold myself for that thought and wish like hell I'd stop doing that to myself. I'm only on day three of the new meds, and I wish they worked instantly. I hate how cruel I can be to myself. Everything Alex says and does can only mean one thing—that he truly does love me. All the used, broken, and in-between parts of me, he loves. It's mind-blowing, but he does.

"How are things?" Louisa asks, pulling me from my damaging thoughts.

I can't help the little grin that pulls at my lips or how I hold my belly in my hands. I see the way my sisters' eyes light up at the motion, and it only makes me smile bigger at them. I thought they'd be bummed it was a boy since all we know is girls. But nope, they are all ready to spoil him absolutely rotten. I can't wait to see them do just that, knowing they'll spoil me too, and I love snacks. Though, the possibility that they might not get to breaks me a bit.

With Alex doing so damn well and shutting out the last three games, a lot of eyes are on him. NHL teams are watching, especially the ones that need a goalie. They are wanting to use their first-round picks for an experienced goalie instead of drafting a young player. He's not a young buck; he's seasoned and has proven he is a beast to be reckoned with, mentally and physically. I don't blame them for wanting him. When I heard him on the phone with his agent last night, I lay there on my side trying not to cry, because as much as I don't want to leave my home, I'm starting to realize that a life without him isn't one I want.

I knew this would happen. I knew it! Which is why I tried to keep him at arm's length. Which is why I pushed him out that damn door and tried to hide from him. Alex is too easy to completely fall for. To crave and want to be with. He always has a quick smile. His protectiveness with me is overpowering but in a refreshing way. His insatiable need for me matches my own for him, and God, I love him.

Wholly.

"Great," I say because it's true. "He blocked twenty-six shots last night, came home to find me pissed that I'd bought the wrong ice cream, and while I was showering, he went out for the one I wanted."

Clara beams as she sings, "He loves you."

"I do." A voice I know and love comes from behind me. I whip around as two arms cage me against his chest, his lips coming to my jaw. I can see that his eyes have drifted shut as he murmurs, "Hey there, mami . Miss me?"

I bring up my hand, cupping the side of his head as I turn to kiss his mouth. He lingers against my lips even after the kiss is over, and our eyes meet with pure heat. "How'd you know I was here?"

"Duh. I got your location."

I shoot him a dry look. "I didn't give you that."

"You're right. I took it and gave you mine."

"I don't want yours."

He laughs, cuddling me into his arms, my belly pressing into his stomach. His eyes are full of mischief as he mock-glares at me. "You don't want my location?"

"No. I always know where you are. Rink or my bed."

His lips curve as he brings me in closer. "Yup, the only places I want to be." Then he leans in, his lips at my ear. "Or my absolutely favorite, which is deep in your perfect pussy."

Heat floods me as I smack his chest. "Stop it, stalker."

Alex flashes me the most feral grin that has me forgetting how to form a thought or even how to breathe. "For you? Yup, total stalker." He kisses my nose then cups my belly. "How're my two favorite people doing?"

I lean into him, my temple pressing to his lips. "Tired." I point to Louisa. "But happy."

He follows where I pointed and smiles. "Well, if you want my boy in tears when he sees you, Lou, you'll succeed. Most gorgeous bride I've ever seen." But then his gaze falls to me, and admiration swirls in his caramel depths. "That is, until I see you in a white dress, walking toward me."

I smack him again as Clara does a little jig.

"We told her we could pick her out a dress. She said there was no rush."

"There isn't." He wraps his arms around me tighter. "I'm a patient man."

I snort at that. "Hardly."

"What does that mean? I have been patient. But if you want to get married, go get a dress, and I'll drive you down to the courthouse real fast."

"Please," I laugh, rolling my eyes. "We can't just go get married."

"Yes, you can," Clara says. "At least we'll get to be there, unlike with our other sister, who did it without any of us."

Eliza shoots her a look. "Wow. So I guess we are still upset?"

"Just saying. And they didn't have us or rings, so one out of two is good," Clara teases, and Louisa just beams.

I'm grinning along with them, but then Alex says, "I have her ring." My eyes cut to him as he turns to look at me with an innocent expression on his face. "What?"

"You have a ring? For me?"

"Yeah," he says simply, grabbing a chunk of my ass. "Had it for a while."

"What?" I shriek. "I want to see it."

He shakes his head. "No way. Not until I know you'll be putting it on and will never take it off."

I search his eyes for his look of mischief, but he's serious.

He bought me a ring.

"When did you buy it?"

"The day after our dinner."

After he figured out I was pregnant.

"Oh, 'cause I'm pregnant and you thought I'd need you to marry me?" I ask matter-of-factly, because surely that's it.

I watch annoyance fill his gaze, and his jaw tightens. He narrows his eyes, but before he can answer, Louisa chimes in. "Or maybe because he knew he loved you."

"And because he thinks you're amazing," Clara adds.

"Because he wants to spend the rest of his life with you. My little baby nephew is just a bonus on top of all the amazing things you already bring to the table," Eliza throws out, and of course, Alex just smiles smugly. "He obviously isn't scared of your left hook."

Alex grins. "Actually, I'm terrified of it, but I'll just make sure never to piss you off like that."

A giggle escapes me. "That's a lie. You live to drive me wild."

He nods, not the least bit ashamed. "Yup. But my reasons are all what they said," he says, waving his free hand at them. "But also…because I don't want to drive anyone but you wild for the rest of my life."

Emotion suffocates me as I stay locked in his heated gaze. I don't know what to say. Or maybe I do; I'm just too scared. Alex, I don't think he knows fear.

He leans in, kissing my lips. "I love you, mami . Now, if you're ready, we've got a flight to catch."

My heart skips a beat as I remember that not only do I have to tell him about my past if I want us to have the future he's promising, but I have to meet his mom.