Chapter 155: The Beginning of Always

Chapter 155: The Beginning of Always
Sophia’s POV

I woke up before the sun had fully risen, the soft light spilling through the curtains, casting golden hues across the bedroom.

Today was the day.

Today, I was marrying Travis Cole.

And fuck—

For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t afraid of forever.

I stretched slowly, my body still heavy with sleep, my heart light with anticipation.

And then—

Something felt off.

Not in a bad way.

Not in a way that made me panic.

But in a way that sent a whisper of realization through my bones.

Like I had forgotten something important.

I rolled over, reaching for my phone, pulling up my calendar.

A habit.

Something I had always done, always kept track of.

And then I saw it.

Or rather—

I didn’t see it.

My last cycle.

It had been—

Fuck.

Weeks ago.

My stomach flipped, my breath catching in my throat.

Because fuck—

Could it be?

Could I be—

No.

Not today.

Not right before my damn wedding.

I needed to be focused, calm, present.

And yet—

The thought was lodged deep in my chest, refusing to let go.

I sat up, dragging a hand through my hair, my mind already spinning.

I needed answers.

And I needed them before the wedding started.

There was only one person I could trust to handle this quietly.

I grabbed my phone and texted Leah.

Me: I need you to do something. No questions. No discussion. Just do it.

Leah: …why do I feel like you’re about to make my morning extremely complicated?

Me: Because I am. I need you to go to a pharmacy and get me pregnancy tests. Plural.

Leah: Sophia.

Me: Leah.

Leah: Jesus Christ. You’re serious.

Me: Go. Now. And don’t tell anyone.

Fifteen minutes later, Leah slipped into my room, bag in hand, eyes wide.

"Okay," she said, closing the door behind her. "You better fucking tell me right now if I should be preparing to be an aunt."

I swallowed, staring at the tests in her hand.

"I don’t know yet," I admitted. "But we’re about to find out."

She exhaled, handing me the bag, pressing her fingers to her temple like she was already overwhelmed. "You’re about to walk down the aisle, and this is what you decide to do?"

"Timing has never been my strong suit," I muttered, heading toward the bathroom.

Five minutes later—

Two pink lines.

Not on one test.

Not on two.

But three.

Three tests.

All positive.

All confirming what I hadn’t even let myself hope for.

I was pregnant.

I stared at the tests, heart pounding so hard it echoed in my ears.

Leah hovered behind me, eyes flicking between my expression and the results.

"Holy fuck," she whispered. "Sophia."

"I know," I breathed.

"What—what are you going to do?"

I swallowed hard, closing my eyes, feeling the weight of the moment settle over me.

And then—

Clarity.

"I’m going to marry the love of my life," I said softly. "And then I’m going to tell him he’s about to be a dad."

Leah let out a shaky laugh, wrapping her arms around me.

"Fuck. This is real," she whispered.

"Yeah," I exhaled, feeling a smile pull at my lips despite the chaos in my mind. "It is."

And fuck—

For the first time since I had woken up, I wasn’t scared.

I was happy.

So fucking happy.

The next few hours were a blur of movement, excitement, anticipation.

Hair. Makeup. Final touches.

Claire and Leah, fussing over me, making sure everything was perfect.

The wedding dress—

My dress.

The one I had known was meant to be mine.

And now, standing in front of the mirror, fully dressed, fully ready, fully realizing what today meant—

I felt it.

That shift.

That moment where everything clicked into place.

I was getting married.

I was starting forever.

I had never wanted anything more.

"Ready?"

I turned, finding Travis’s mother standing in the doorway, eyes warm, expression impossibly soft.

I nodded, my throat tightening. "Yeah."

She stepped forward, reaching for my hands, squeezing them gently.

"I want to walk you down the aisle," she said softly.

I blinked. "What?"

"You don’t have anyone, sweetheart," she murmured. "And you deserve someone. You deserve a mother to be by your side. And I would be honored to be that person."

Fuck.

Tears burned behind my eyes.

Because she was right.

I didn’t have anyone.

I had never had someone to walk me down the aisle.

But now?

Now, I did.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I’d love that."

The ceremony was set up in the garden, the sun just beginning to soften into that golden glow of late afternoon.

Rows of chairs.

Flowers everywhere.

Travis, standing at the altar—

Looking at me like I was the only thing in the universe that mattered.

That look alone could have brought me to my knees.

I took a deep breath, stepping forward.

His mother’s hand tightened around mine, grounding me.

And then—

I walked.

Step by step.

Toward him.

Toward forever.

There was no place I would have rather been.