CHAPTER 34

CHAPTER 34
I complain. “Sometimes they drive me crazy. Maybe they don’t think it’s necessary. Maybe they don’t want to do it because it doesn’t seem fair to them that others can get married legally. Maybe they think it’s too soon for something like this. I have no idea. That’s why I ask.”

“First of all,” Ezekiel begins, “if it’s important enough for you to bring up, especially right now, then it’s clearly something you want. And that’s all I need to know to want it too. Second, I don’t care that it’s illegal because you’re ours, and anyone who tries to tell me otherwise won’t have any teeth for long. Third, nothing in this world could make me turn down the chance to hear you tell me and Jer that you want us forever.”

I smile and he touches his lips to mine. Then my gaze shifts to Jeremiah.

I'm usually the best at saying things, but honestly, I can't say it better than Zek. So, tell us when and, well, what to wear, and we'll be the hot guys waiting at the end of the aisle. Or whatever you're doing for the ceremony.

"Well, that was easy," I chuckle, feeling a weight lifted from my shoulders, replaced by a surge of happiness. "I just wanted to ask you before I saw the test. I didn't want you to think a positive result was prompting me to do anything."

"Neither of us would have thought it," Jeremiah says, then smirks. "Come on, it's not like you're going to get rid of us anyway."

"It must have been three minutes," Ezequiel says.

I nod and head back to the bathroom, rushing to get tested because I know they'll both try to beat me.

"Ha!" I exclaim just as Ezequiel tries to circle around me and Jeremiah puts his hands on my waist to try to stop me. "I knew..."

My words are cut short when I see a single word on the small screen: "Pregnant." I gasp, shocked. At the possibility that has just become a reality. At the sudden change in the future in an instant. At the happiness that fills me.

"It seems like she's saying yes, of course," Ezequiel says, placing his lips on my neck before giving me a kiss.

Jeremiah's hands wrap around me until they rest on my stomach. "So, should I start talking to the baby now, telling him who the fun daddy will be?"

"Him?" I ask. "Are you sure it's a boy now?"

—I have a feeling I'm right.—

It's so easy to be right when the odds are almost equal. I chuckle and then sigh. "Oh my God! I can't believe it."

"Believe it," Ezequiel says. "And he thinks you have a third wedding to plan."

"And believe me, we're about to lose our hearing from how loud our mothers are about to scream on the phone," Jeremiah jokes.

As it turns out, when we call in the morning and tell him, he's not wrong.

A week later, however, they are completely silent as they stare at me in the dress. I had walked into the bridal shop with Sarah, Kamila, my mom, Kellie, and Ezekiel and Jeremiah's mom, Brianne, looking for a simple, knee-length gown. Nothing fancy. But then, the owner showed me a champagne-colored gown with spaghetti straps, a V-neck, intricate and gorgeous rose gold sequin designs, a mermaid bodice, and a short train at the bottom. The moment I saw myself in the mirror, I knew it was the dress for me. Sarah had promised I'd wear one of her dresses to the upcoming gala, and they'd agreed to do the alterations that day. Stepping into the dress today, with my hair and makeup done, and the rose gold necklace and bracelet on, I look even more beautiful than I did the first time I wore it. And the way my mom and hers are looking at me now, with tears in their eyes, and Sarah and Kamila looking like they're on the verge of tears, makes me that much more certain that I made the right decision.

“Simply... beautiful,” my mother finally says, and then she sobs.

"Thanks," I smile. "I hope Jer and Zek agree."

"Oh," Brianne mocks. "You don't have to worry about that at all."

I look at Sarah. “Can you ask…?”

She shakes her head before I finish speaking. "I'm not going to ask Heather another question, especially ten minutes after the last one you asked me to ask her. You let her organize the ceremony, so trust that everything is under control."

As if just having my pregnancy test had triggered it, I'd woken up every morning feeling nauseous. I'd only gotten out of bed for three things: to go to the doctor and confirm that I was indeed pregnant, to go to the bridal shop to find a dress, and to pick out rings for Ezekiel and Jeremiah once we agreed that would be part of the ceremony. I didn't have the energy for much else, so I left it all to Heather. I knew she was more than capable, but knowing everything that can go wrong, even in such a small ceremony, I still wonder what's going on behind the scenes.

"Let's put these shoes on you," Kamila says. "We only have a few more minutes."

I nod and sit down to put on my rose gold heels, fastening the straps around my ankles. I look up when there's a knock at the door.

“Special delivery,” Jackson yells. “Well, two, actually.”

Kamila opens the door and sighs, “Thank God.”

She takes off his dress while he kisses her temple. Since it stormed yesterday, they couldn't get back until this afternoon. They only had time to come directly, so Jackson sent someone to a store to buy them an outfit. Kamila sneaks off to change, and Jackson approaches me with a small black box.

—From Zek and Jer—, he says.

I take the box from her and take it off the dresser to give it to her. Both of their rings are inside.

"Tell him it's too late to chicken out," I joke.

He smiles. “And they asked me to tell you that they had padlocked the doors so you couldn’t escape.”

I laugh and Brianne shakes her head.

—They sound like them. Let me go make sure they look half as good as you. See you out there, babe.—

She kisses my cheek and walks off with Jackson.

Kamila asks Sarah for help putting on her dress, and then my mom and I are left alone.

I put the box on the dresser and she interlaces her hands with mine.

"I think you know what I mean. I thought this day would never come," he begins, making me laugh because, yes, I really do.

—I didn't think I'd see it either, as I fought vehemently to ensure it never came.—

Now that we're here, I don't think I could be happier. You're getting engaged to two wonderful men. I have a grandchild on the way. And I wear a size 6 dress.

I throw my head back, laughing. “I love you.”

"I love you." He tilts his head to kiss my forehead. "I'm going to sit down."

She leaves just as Kamila and Sarah come out.

“Getting dressed shouldn’t be this hard,” Kamila snorts. “If Jackson mentions being pregnant to me again in the next ten years, I’ll strangle him.”

"He might like it," Sarah says with a giggle. "But no strangulation tonight. Our hotel rooms are right next to each other, and I don't want to hear those noises."

"Imagine the noises coming from Ezequiel and Jeremiah's room on your wedding night," Kamila says with a mocking smile. "And all we had to do was steal their room key."

I rolled my eyes, but now they opened wide and I stared at them as they tried, unsuccessfully, not to laugh.

"You stole my room key," I say slowly, realizing it. Then I shout, "You made me go there!"

"Don't act like things haven't gone well for you," Sarah says, gesturing around.

I stare at her. “That’s not the point. I was thinking about sleeping in the hallway that night.”

"But you ended up in his bed," Kamila sings before beaming. "For good, apparently."

—I can't believe you two are together.— But I can't help but smile too.

I glance at the door as it opens and find Heather peeking her head in. Her eyes widen, then soften as she sees me in my dress for the first time.

—You look amazing.—

\-Thank you.-

"And yes, everything's fine," he answers my unasked question. "We're seating everyone so you can come with me."

Sarah and Kamila give me a big hug and walk down the hall.

"I'll be back for you in a few minutes," Heather tells me.