After Caleb is done with his mini make-out session in his truck, he hands me a key.
“I love you. More than anything. You know that, right?” he says, holding my face. He uses one hand to stroke across my cheek and his other hand to rub my rounded stomach.
“Yeah, I know that.” I suck his bottom lip into my mouth, roughly dragging my teeth across it before releasing.
“Mmm, sweetheart, you better get your ass into that room before I change my mind.”
“About what?” I move even closer into his body, causing him to growl.
Suddenly, he opens his truck door and scoops me up, placing my feet on the curb.
“Go!” He points to the door then turns to adjust his pants. I have to laugh, but it only causes him to flash me a smirk that drenches me.
My dress is a long, fitted white maxi dress with a black sweater over it. It’s simple—just like our non-wedding. I didn’t bring a pair of spare clothes for tonight, and if I don’t want to have to change my panties, I should probably go inside.
I blow a kiss over my shoulder and head into the ritzy house. The kind lady at the desk points me toward our suite, and I head straight inside, dropping the old-school metal key in the bowl in the entryway. I look around the lavish room Caleb has had decorated with dozens of orange roses. I pull out my phone out to text him when I hear a familiar voice from the other room.
“About time you showed up!”
My heart stops and those fucking hormonal tears immediately spring to my eyes.
“Sarah?” I round the corner to find my sister sitting with her feet kicked up on the coffee table, drinking a glass of faux champagne, and eating chocolate-covered strawberries while watching Judge Judy.
“Hey, preggo,” she says, standing to greet me.
“What the hell are you doing here? I mean…how are you here? Wait, are you even allowed to leave that place? Did you escape?” My concern only serves to make her burst out laughing. She falls down sideways on the couch next to her and laughs it out for a full minute before sitting back up.
“Jesus, that reaction alone was worth the deal I made with the devil just to be here.” She smiles, wiping under her eyes.
“What are you doing here?” I repeat.
“It’s your wedding day.”
“I didn’t think you were allowed to leave Building Foundations for another six weeks?”
“I’m not, but your little fiancé pulled some of his cop strings and got me a day pass. No worries. There is a uniform planted at the front desk in case I get squirrely.” Her voice is filled with sarcasm.
“Sarah!”
“I’m kidding. Stop.” She walks over to stand in front of me. “I’m not going to lie. I’m not sure how I feel about you marrying him, but given this basketball you are smuggling, I don’t think I have many options.”
“I’d marry him even without the baby,” I declare just so she knows that this isn’t a union based on our reproductive progress. I’m marrying Caleb because I’m pretty sure the world would crumble under my feet before it ever let me walk away from him again.
“I hate him,” she states boldly.
This isn’t the first time we have had this conversation, but it is the first time she has been so blunt about her feelings. This is definitely my older sister Sarah and not at all this new woman she claims to be.
“I also believe he’s a really good and honest man.” My head snaps up to meet her eyes. “If he wants to marry you… Well, you could definitely do worse than Caleb Jones.” She shrugs, and I tackle her.
We are both careful with my belly, but we laugh hysterically while rolling around and wrestling on the hotel floor. A few minutes later, she helps drag my pregnant butt back up off the floor.
“There’s a note for you over by the door. I swear I haven’t read it…more than twice.” She winks, pulling a pillow over her lap on the couch.
Emmy,
I know I didn’t do the proposal right, but I wanted to at least make today special for you. Everyone deserves to be surrounded by family, no matter what. We aren’t getting married until four, so enjoy the time with your sister. I’m just down the hall if you need anything.
I love you,
Caleb
I stare at the note, reading it over and over again until Sarah finally interrupts my thoughts.
“He bought you a dress too. It’s in the bathroom.”
I jerk my head up. “You know he wasn’t talking about just me needing family, right?” I ask, because to me, it’s painfully obviously why Sarah is here. I love her, and I love that she’s here, but even Caleb knew that she would want to be here to watch me say I do. “He did this for both of us,” I choke out.