Chapter 60
Chapter Sixty
Mila
I’m getting married in twenty minutes. It sounds weird, but it feels so right to me.
We don’t have our friends and family around us, but I almost like that better.
It’s just the two of us. After all the planning and work that went into Cora’s wedding, I realized I didn’t want to be the center of attention like that.
I just want to be with the man I love and have our own day.
Kash claims he has our personal papers with him because he wasn’t sure what information the hospital needed.
I choose to believe him, even though I have no idea how he found mine at my old apartment.
Oh, that’s another thing. My apartment. I’ll have to find someone to rent it out or use it for storage because there’s no way I’m sleeping without my husband.
Straightening out my dress I found this morning, I smile. There’s a small boutique down from our beach rental, and they maintain a small selection year-round. Apparently, we aren’t the first couple to get married on a whim in North Carolina.
Kash left me to get ready, and then we’re heading out to the beach.
He found someone local who is ordained and can legally marry us.
We were at the county clerk’s office as soon as they opened to get our license.
As soon as they handed it over, Kash told me we didn’t have to rush.
We could wait until things calmed down, but I refused.
I still think about the younger version of Kash from the photo of him and his dad, and I wish someone would have chosen him then. He’s shown me nothing but unwavering love and affection; there’s no way I want to share our special moment with anyone else or delay it.
Thinking about our future gives me pause, but only because Kash doesn’t know he’s going to be a father yet. I almost told him the first night we were here, but then we got distracted, and this morning we were busy. And now here I am, minutes away from being married, and I’m panicking.
A part of me feels like I’m being dishonest by not telling him straight away. I don’t want him to think I trapped him into a marriage without knowing everything first. I hear the door open and close, then Kash’s voice.
“Sunshine, are you ready, baby?” Coming into the bedroom, Kash finds me sitting on the edge of the bed. His happy face morphs to concern when he sees the sad expression on my face.
“Hey, what’s wrong? Did you change your mind? It’s okay if you did.”
“No.” I shake my head. I won’t be changing my mind, but he might. “Kash, I have to tell you something before we get married.”
He’s already changed clothes and styled his hair.
There’s just enough on top for him to pull it into a small knot; the sides are freshly shaved, constellations on display.
Navy pants hug his thighs, and the sleeves of his white shirt are rolled back allowing the tattoos he let me color in not too long ago peek out.
Smiling at the memory, I meet his gaze as he kneels on the floor in front of me.
“What’s going through your head, Sweetheart?”
Putting my arms protectively around my waist, I take a deep breath and explain, “Before I left the hospital, the doctor did some tests.”
“Okay, and?”
“When he ran my blood work, it came back elevated in one area.”
“What does that mean? Is it bad?” he asks, pulling my hands into his.
“I didn’t say it was bad; it’s just—I’m pregnant, Kash.” He doesn’t say anything at first, and then a wide grin splits his face. His hand hovers over the top of my still flat stomach, and he chuckles.
“I don’t think it’s funny, Kash. I get if you’re upset. I told you I was on the pill, which I was, but—”
His lips land against mine, silencing my words. Kash’s hands move from my waist, up to either side of my head, holding me gently. He kisses me deeply, stealing the words from my mouth and the breath from my lungs. Kash controls the kiss completely, nearly making me forget what we were discussing.
Pulling back, he pecks my lips gently one last time, then leans his forehead against mine.
He kisses my cheeks and nose, then my neck before continuing south.
Nudging me back, he kisses my stomach sweetly.
“Hi, Baby Sprout. I’m your daddy and I can’t wait to meet you.
” Laying his hands protectively over my stomach, his brown eyes find mine.
“When I told you I needed you to be my wife and mother of my babies, I meant it, Mila. Those weren’t just words. They were truths.”
Tears sting my eyes as Kash stands, tugging me up with him. Meeting his gaze, I tilt my head in question. “Baby Sprout?”
“Of course.” His hand runs across my stomach as he murmurs, “Sprouts need the sun to grow, don’t they? What better nickname for our baby? They get to grow in your light like I did.”
My heart skips a beat in my chest as I look at the man I’m about to marry. He’s not bothered that I’m pregnant, and I worried for nothing. Kash continues to show me he isn’t the man I initially thought he was. He’s so much more and he’s all mine.
Lightly gripping my chin, Kash looks down at me. “I promise we’ll celebrate this news properly later on, but for now, are you ready to become Mrs. Malone?”
“Let’s do it, Casanova.”
Walking down to the beach hand in hand, I see a man about my dad’s age waiting on a blanket. He has a small book in his hands, and there’s a woman beside him.
“Hi. I’m Maya. It’s so nice to meet you. I'll be taking some photographs for you today, as well as acting as a witness. Is that okay?”
I was so worried about Kash’s reaction that I didn’t think about our actual ceremony at all. Kash said he had it all covered, and he really did. “Yes, thank you for being here on such short notice.”
Grabbing my hands in his, Kash faces the man. “I’m ready when you are, Paul.”
We turn toward each other, and Paul starts with traditional wedding statements. He talks about being patient and kind, and I know that my soon-to-be husband is one of those two things. He’s only patient in certain ways. Kash smiles at me, his expression filled with love and promise.
When it’s time to exchange rings, Kash pulls a set from his pocket.
As the sun sets behind us, a small group of people stop and watch our ceremony, but I don’t care.
I’m about to become Kash’s wife, and I couldn’t be happier.
If you had told me six months ago, I’d be standing on the beach, barefoot and pregnant, pledging my life to Kash Malone, I’d have laughed.
Now? I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
Sliding a matching band onto my hand, Kash repeats his vows from Paul. I squeeze his hands in mine, then take his ring to slide on his finger. It has a band similar to my engagement ring and fits him perfectly.
“By the power invested in me, by the great state of North Carolina, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Kash wastes no time dragging me into him. His arms go around my waist, and he dips me back, kissing me soundly. There’s cheering from the small group watching, and as he puts me back on my feet, I sway a bit.
We shake hands with Paul and Maya. Kash gives her his contact information and where to send the pictures, and she wishes us luck.
He has his arm around my shoulders, standing barefoot in the sand.
We stare out at the sun as it dips beneath the water.
Letting out a small yawn, I shake off some of my fatigue. Growing a human is hard work.
Scooping me into his arms, I squeal as my feet leave the ground. “It’s not time for bed yet, Mrs. Malone. There might be a bed involved but trust me”—he kisses me quickly, then gives me a heated look as we walk back toward the house—“we won’t be sleeping much.”