I guide him inside of me and we both groan. This… this feeling. It’s completeness, it’s connection, it’s everything.
The next morning, I shower and get ready to meet up with the girls. Chloe and Nathan’s mom, Lana, invited me to join them for hair and makeup.
“You’re leaving now? It’s barely noon,” Heath protests, arms wrapped around my waist as I comb out my wet hair.
Last night’s rehearsal dinner went late. I’m not sure how many people they invited, but with their family and friends and Nathan’s teammates… there are a lot of guests here to watch Nathan and Chloe exchange vows. In a whirlwind of excitement and drinks, I met a lot of them after the rehearsal dinner. We closed down the hotel bar and then continued to hang out on the outdoor patio for well into the early morning hours.
So, the only thing we’ve done this morning is lie in bed—not that I’m complaining. Spending all day in bed with Heath is one of my favorite activities.
“Yes, I’m leaving now. Don’t make that face—I don’t want to be late.”
“Fine.” Reluctantly, he loosens his grip. “You’re lucky I didn’t tell Chloe you’re a better makeup artist than the one she hired.”
My jaw drops. “I would maim you, Heath Payne. It’s the biggest day of her life!” My pitch rises with the panic I feel just imagining it.
“Relax, baby doll. You’re secret’s safe with me.” He drops a kiss on my lips. “I guess I should find Nathan and see what he needs from his best man.”
I kiss him again quickly and make my way to Chloe’s suite. It’s intimidating walking into the chaos. Chloe and her friends are chatting excitedly and fawning over her dress which hangs in the corner.
Gabby spots me from the chair she’s sitting in and waves. She and the other bridesmaids are wearing matching pink robes, but Gabby’s is shorter where it hitches up to cover her baby bump.
“I would get up, but the longer I sit today, the less chance that I’ll have cankles when I stand up next to the blushing bride.”
“You look beautiful. You totally have the whole glow thing going on.”
She rubs at her stomach. “Thank you.”
“Do you know if you’re having a boy or girl?”
“Girl.” She winces. “And I think she’s dribbling a basketball in there.”
“Ginny, hey.” Chloe hugs me tightly. “Let me introduce you to everyone and then you’re first up for hair and makeup.”
43
Heath
The guys are kicked back in Nathan’s room, a bottle of Jack on the table between them.
“Couldn’t spring for something a little nicer?” I ask as I take a seat next to them and pour myself a glass.
“Old school, Baby Payne,” Joel says. “It was this or Everclear, and I don’t think Chloe would appreciate your brother passing out before the ceremony.”
Nathan wears a sheepish smile as he tips back another small sip. A knock at the door gets him to his feet.
“Linc,” Nathan calls as he holds the door wide and my boss walks in.
I stand to greet him as well with a hug. “Hey, I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” He steps back and looks me over. “How’ve you been?”
“Good. Great.”
“He met a girl,” Nathan says as if that clarifies why everything is great. I guess it does.
“Man, I hand you over to Wally for weekly check-ins and I miss all the good gossip.”
When I first started working with Lincoln and his sports coaching website, we talked weekly. I reported directly to him. But the busier he’s gotten, the less frequent our calls have been. I’m also pretty certain that the only reason I was reporting to him was so he had an excuse to check in on me. I’d like to think he and Nathan have finally started to trust that I can take care of myself and are giving me more credit.
“Is Keira here too?” Nathan asks. “She killed it at the tournament last weekend.”
“She is.” He beams with pride talking about his pro-golfer wife.
The room becomes a back and forth of questions and cross conversations as everyone catches up. When Nathan gets up to get another bottle of liquor, I follow him.
“Hey, I have something for you.”
“Yeah?” He abandons the bottle on the wet bar and takes the box I hold out for him.
“Wrapped it myself,” I say as he pulls back the flaps of a battered box I re-used from my collection of care packages he’s sent.
Grinning, he pulls the items from the box. Gum, breath mints, sunscreen, condoms, earplugs.
“What is all this?” he asks with a chuckle and holds up the earplugs.
“A little honeymoon care package from me to you. Those are for Chloe so when she’s tired of your shit, she can tune you out.”
“Thank you.”
I take out the smaller gift from my pocket. “Your real present.”
He tears off the white paper and a ghost of a smile pulls one side of his mouth. “Is this—”
“Yeah, it’s the same cologne Dad wore. I was walking through the store and the scent just hit me. I don’t expect you to wear it. I thought you might like to have a reminder… especially today.”
His hug is unexpected and tight. It takes me a moment to return the gesture, but when I do, there’s a feeling like Dad’s really here with us, or at least looking down and watching.
Thirty minutes before
