Girl Crush(81)

“What about you? Are you going to be okay with all of this?” I already knew the answer, but I wanted to hear the words just the same.

He rolled over on top of me and settled his weight between my thighs. The pad of his thumb brushed my eyebrow as he stared intently into the core of who I was. His gaze went past my eyes and into a part of me no one else had ever dared to touch. “I’m over-the-moon happy, babe.”

Collier proceeded to caress my face and kissed my neck. Soon, my shirt and leggings were gone, along with what little lingerie I’d had on. I hadn’t figured out how he’d gotten naked at the same time, but there we were, two people who loved each other, connected in the most intimate way possible. His hips rolled into mine, and I met him stroke for stroke in a leisurely expression of love. Somehow, the rest would work out, but today, I got to enjoy my fiancé over and over without interruption.



*

Oddly, I hadn’t been the one who’d had a difficult time keeping her mouth shut. Collier almost slipped just about every time we were with any of our friends. I’d made him agree not to share our news until after I’d made it past the first trimester. I was older, and there were more risks. I didn’t want to have to break that news, too, so he had agreed to wait. Except that every time I turned around, he was gawking at a dad with a baby, or commenting on how cute a family was. And when he cut off pool time, our friends thought he was certifiably insane.

“They’re going to know something’s up…or think we hate them, West. You can’t cut off the pool. They all live in our backyard.”

“Giselle, you said yourself that Ronnie has suspicions, and she and I both commented on the fact your body had already changed some. I know you don’t want to hear this, but your tummy is a little rounded. It wouldn’t be noticeable except you’re normally flat as can be. You have better abs than most men I know. And they’ve softened a good bit.”

I swatted him across the belly, the sound of my fingers hitting his bare skin made it sound harsher than it was. “Did you seriously just tell me I’d already gotten fat?”

His arms circled around me and dragged me into his chest. The laugh that rumbled through his body shook me with him. “No, babe. I’m just saying your friends will notice. And if you don’t want questions, we need to eliminate chances for them to ask until you’re ready to answer.”

“Then I guess we need to tell them because I’m not willing to hurt their feelings.”

“Done.” He let me go and reached for his cell phone on the counter.

I grabbed at his forearm. “What? You’re just going to call them and tell them?”

“No. I was going to text them in a group message.”

My jaw dropped—I was appalled. And he laughed. “You can’t tell our friends we’re pregnant in a text message, Collier!”

“Elle. I’m going to ask them to come over so we can tell them all at once.”

I loved the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled and laughed at the same time. My heart soared when his face lit up with excitement, and I loved nothing more than to be the reason for his happiness.

With me tucked into his side, he held me with one hand and used the other to send out a group invite to our clan. It appeared Saturday was the day we would come out of hiding. And I’d be just shy of twelve weeks.

He set the phone down and leaned against the counter, never letting me go. Face to face, he looked me in the eye, and I waited for whatever he wanted to say. “I know we haven’t talked much about a wedding, but I want you to have my last name before our baby gets here.”

“Collier, are you kidding me? I’m already struggling to fit into anything I own. I’d look like a whale in a wedding dress.”

“Why does it have to be a traditional gown? Or an elaborate party? Is that really important to you?”

I hadn’t thought about it. “I don’t know. I just figured it would be something you’d make a big deal out of.” I couldn’t tell if I was hurt or excited. I’d assumed we’d have a big wedding to satisfy Collier’s business and social obligations, but now that I thought about it, other than the occasional dinner, West didn’t do social functions outside of our group. And he never brought work home with him. Beck was his only family, and my parents had moved out of town years ago.

“All assumptions aside…if you could do what you wanted, what would it be?”

Oddly, I wasn’t that girl who dreamed of spending one hundred thousand dollars on a wedding. Even with my first one, I hadn’t really cared. I had wanted it to be nice, but we certainly didn’t go over the top. “It doesn’t matter. As long as you’re there, the rest is just icing on the cake.”

“Would you be open to doing it this weekend?” His eyebrows rose, and I knew it was what he wanted.

“How would we get a wedding together in that short period of time, West?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course, but this is a wedding, not a bonfire at the beach.” I had no reason to doubt he would do anything short of spectacular, but it seemed odd that the groom would plan the event.

“We’ll do it here. Our friends won’t know. Get a dress you think is appropriate and leave the rest to me. Oh, and tell your boss you won’t be in next week.”