Room for Just a Little Bit More(32)

Life was so f*cking good.





We danced the night away for a few more hours until one by one, the guests started to trickle out. It was exhausting trying to make sure I talked to and thanked everyone, but so much fun at the same time. In all honesty, I was glad everyone was leaving. I couldn’t wait to be alone with my wife.

Kacie teared up as we hugged our parents and the girls good-bye before heading out to my condo in the city. We contemplated driving into the city in the morning to catch our flight to Hawaii, but decided that the extra hour of sleep would be more beneficial in the morning rather than at night.

“I love you guys, so much. Be good for Gigi, okay?” Kacie sniffled as she hugged Lucy and Piper for the tenth time.

“We will, Mama.” Lucy shut her eyes, squeezing them tight as she hugged her mom back.

“Will you bring us some seashells?” Piper asked as she clapped her tiny hands together.

I’ll bring you the whole damn ocean, kid.

“We’ll definitely bring you some shells, baby. Maybe a few presents too.” Kacie brushed a few wisps of Piper’s blonde hair from her forehead.

“Honey, you guys still have a couple hours in the car. You’d better get going,” Sophia warned. “We’ll be fine. Go ahead.”

“Okay.” Kacie stood up and sighed. She turned to her mom and wrapped her arms around her shoulders, sniffling again. “Thanks so much, Mom. For everything.”

“You are more than welcome, baby. You guys go, have the best honeymoon ever, and we’ll see you in a week.” Sophia winked at me over Kacie’s shoulder as she hugged her back. “Don’t let her stress about the girls too much.”

“I won’t.” I grinned, knowing that would be next to impossible.

“Congrats again,” Fred said firmly, extending his hand to me.

Looking down at his hand and back up at him, I raised one eyebrow. “Fred, you’re my father-in-law now. Hug me for Christ’s sake.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward me for a bear hug.





We pulled out of the driveway, and Kacie turned back for one more look out the back window. I reached over and put my hand on her thigh, squeezing gently. “I love you, Mrs. Murphy.”

Her eyes slid to mine, a soft, sexy haze filling them. “I love you more, Mr. Murphy.”

Kacie and I talked nonstop, recounting all of our favorite wedding moments for the rest of the ride to my condo. One of my favorites was the actual ride itself: being in my truck with her, alone, listening to her giggle about all the little things while she wore black yoga pants and a silver hoodie that said Mrs. Murphy #30 on the back. Her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail and her new necklace hung from her neck, sparkling against the passing headlights.

After I was done checking her out, I noticed the black box on her lap. “Is that another photo album?” I asked hopefully.

Her head whipped toward me. “Oh my God, where is that?” Panic filled her voice.

“It’s in the back.” I laughed out loud at her terror-filled face.

“Thank goodness.” Her shoulders slumped in relief. “And no, it’s not another album. It’s the other half of your present.” She bit her lip nervously, tapping her fingers against the box as she stared down at her lap.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m just nervous about this one.” She looked out the window, avoiding eye contact with me.

“Don’t sweat it. I’m sure I’ll love it.”





We pulled into my parking garage and slowly made our way upstairs. Our legs felt heavy, weighed down by all the dancing and fatigue.

“It’s weird coming in here without D running toward the door.” I sounded like a sad little kid without his dog.

“I know. He’ll have fun at your mom’s this week though.” She threw herself down on my—our—couch, her eyelids looking heavy.

“Okay. Gimmie that present so we can go consummate our marriage.” I wiggled my eyebrows up and down as I plopped down next to her on the couch.

“Wow. That was romantic,” she teased dryly.

I reached for the black box on the coffee table, barely lifting it before she slammed her hand down on the top, ripping it back toward her. “I’m not ready.”

“Yes, you are. Give it to me.” I laughed, lunging for it.

She held it out in the other direction, forgetting that my arms are longer than hers. I leapt toward her and tried to snatch the box out of her hand, accidentally knocking it to the floor instead. “Look. Now you made me drop it,” I joked as I walked around to pick up the piece of cloth that fell out of it. Kacie sat up straight on the couch, hugging her legs to her chest.

“What is this?” I twisted the Minnesota Wild jersey in my hand, trying to make sense of it as Kacie watched me like a hawk. I finally found the shoulders and held it out in front of me. It was in fact a Minnesota Wild jersey, the tiniest #30 I’d ever seen, with Murphy stitched onto the back.

Holy. Shit.

I lowered my hands and stared at Kacie as my heart started pounding like an engine roaring to a start, all pistons pumping.

“Is this what I think it is?”

She nodded as she covered her eyes with her hands, peeking out from in between her fingers.