“Darlin’,” Zach squeezes her close. “You’re my whole world. Makin’ you my wife is the icing on the cake.”
“Uh huh.” She leans in for a short kiss. “Real smooth.”
“You’re right,” he concurs. “I am.”
Wyatt walks in and leans against the door. “Ready to head home, baby?”
“Yup!” I stand. “We have a lot of unpacking to do, and we need to stop by your parents’ place.”
Presley bursts out laughing. “Ohhh.” She laughs harder. “Your mama is going to kill you! You’re her first son to get married, and you go off to Vegas without tellin’ her? Y’all are going to get it!”
For the first time, I start to notice that Presley doesn’t sound like my city girl anymore. She hadn’t said “y’all” or dropped the “g” at the end of a word once since her first year of college. Now, though, she’s all country again. Looks like I’m not the only one who found my true place.
Wyatt’s face falls, and he glances at me with sheer panic. “Fuck!”
Zach walks over and slaps him on the back. “You’re dead, brother.”
“Damn it. Maybe we can pretend we didn’t get married,” he suggests.
“What?”
“We won’t tell anyone else.” He starts to ramble. “We’ll say we’re engaged, you can tell her that it just happened and that you want a big ole wedding. It’ll be fine. She’ll never have to know.”
I stand there in disbelief. “You want to lie . . . to your mother . . . about us being married?”
“You’ve met her. Don’t act so surprised.”
I’m not even sure which way to go with this. I could agree and lie to his mom, which I’m pretty sure she’s going to figure it out at some point and that’ll be worse, or I can sit back and watch. Honestly, I’ve forgiven him, but it doesn’t mean that a little suffering here and there is a bad thing.
“Time to man up, Little Buckaroo.”
Wyatt grabs my hips and tugs me toward him. “I swear, Angelina.”
“Oh!” My eyes widen. “Going for the full name, are we?”
He mumbles something under his breath.
“Have fun y’all! Call me, and, Ang, if you record it, I’ll pay you!” Presley says loudly as Wyatt pulls me out the door.
I wave to her as we keep moving.
Wyatt is quiet in the truck on the way over, but I can’t stop smiling. It’s ridiculously cute and funny how worried he is. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Macie is the most understanding person I’ve ever met. Then again, this is her youngest.
We get to the front step, and the door is open before we can knock.
“Angie!” She pulls me against her, and I hug her back. “I’m so happy you’re home, sugar!”
“Mama,” Wyatt says as he’s still. “Angie and I got married in Vegas.”
Not exactly the way I would’ve done it. I slap his arm. “Real smooth, Wyatt.”
She looks at him then back to me. “Married?”
I can’t tell if she’s angry or just processing.
“I promise. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing.” I try to explain.
She puts her hand up.
Oh boy.
“Wyatt Earnest Hennington! You’re married!” she screeches with a smile. “I’m not going to lie and say I’m happy with the fact that I didn’t get to see my baby get married, but I have a daughter now!”
We both let out a huge sigh.
“Rhett!” she yells over her shoulder. “Get out here! Your son got himself hitched!”
“You’re not mad?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No! I wish I could’ve seen it, of course. But I’m just so happy you’re here, honey. It’s been a good month for us. That Felicia woman is gone, bless her heart, and now you’re married to my boy, who finally got his head out of his behind.” Macie gives him a bewildered glance. “I have too much to be happy about right now.”
Wyatt kisses his mother’s cheek. “I’m sure you’ll find many chances to let us know how you feel throughout the rest of my life.”
She pats his face. “Be sure of that, honey.”
We head inside where, of course, there’s pie.
I may be losing my bakery with all the cupcakes, but here, there’s pie, and I can live with that.
“CAN YOU BELIEVE WE’RE SISTERS-IN-LAW again?” Presley asks as we sit at the table and watch her wedding guests dance.
“I think it’s fate.” I smile.
“I love that man.” I sure hope she does. She freaking married him.