Chapter 9
Nine
H e hadn’t kissed her. That was all she could think about as they left the courthouse. Of course, she had to almost pass out. She was so damn embarrassed at the scene she almost caused that it was hard to force her lunch down.
The fact that he hadn’t kissed her haunted her all throughout the time they ate, too. It was still all she could think about as they drove home. And even right then, as she sat in Gia’s room trying to freshen up before they went to say vows in front of Juliette, she still couldn’t stop thinking about how he hadn’t kissed her. Not even a small kiss on her cheek. He was just happy to get the ceremony over.
Just the smallest part of her heart had hoped that the kiss when they were made husband and wife would spark something between them. She knew it was selfish, and she hated herself for trying to force more out of the situation than she had already been gifted.
Sprout must have sensed how upset she was, because she rolled and stretched in Lily’s belly until a Braxton Hick contraction squeezed her into settling down .
“Hey, Lily,” a knock sounded at the door, and Lily watched as Gia popped her head inside. “Are you ready?”
“Of course. I’m already married to the guy.” She smiled as Gia pulled her into a hug.
When they walked into Juliette’s room, Lily gasped. Gia must have set up every candle she could find, and even though it was mid-afternoon, the effect wasn’t lost on her.
Juliette sat in her bed, dressed in a beautiful pale yellow dress instead of her usual silk pajamas, and she waved the girls into the room.
“Jules, what is all this?”
“Gia and I had so much fun getting ready for this. I just wish we could have done more.”
“It’s perfect. Honestly.” Her voice grew tight, and her whole body tensed as she watched Gunner walk into the room. He wasn’t wearing the blue slacks and button down shirt he’d worn to the courthouse. This time, he was standing before her in his Navy whites, several medals adorning his chest, along with his SEAL trident. Her mouth went dry at the sight of him.
“Wow,” Juliette sighed. “You look so handsome, Gunner.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He cleared his voice as he walked up to Juliette, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Gunner turned and offered Lily a hand to help her up off the bed. “I like the candles, G. Nice touch.”
His dark eyes searched Lily’s, and she felt her already impossibly hot skin flush even more. “You okay? Earlier you were so pale I thought you were going to pass out, and now you’re so red I’m scared you might swoon.”
Lily laughed. “I’m fine. I’m not made of glass, but I’m also not a blind woman either. You look very handsome right now and my body is just reacting to that.” Gunner’s eyebrows shot to the top of his head and Lily had to hold in another laugh. Gia and Juliette must have overheard their whispers, because they both had the biggest smiles painted across their faces.
“Alright, you two, let’s get the show on the road before Mom needs to rest.”
“I’m fine, Gia. Let them talk together. I’ve got all the energy in the world today, it seems.”
Lily turned back to Gunner. “I’m ready if you are?”
“We’re already married, Lil. I think saying it again shouldn’t be too difficult.”
She had thought the same thing, only Gia hadn’t been as cold and procedural as the judge had been. In fact, it was the complete opposite. Her best friend first talked about her favorite memories the three of them shared growing up. By the end of that, Lily had tears gathering in her eyes.
“It’s no secret that I am worried about this union,” Gia said. “But when I sat down to think about things this morning, I realized that maybe this is a perfect match. You both have dedicated your lives to helping others. Maybe now, you can help each other. I know you don’t think you have anything to offer here, Lily. But I’ve seen how much Gunner means to you over the years of our friendship. I want you to take a leap and show him your heart. Be vulnerable with him and let him see the real you. Not the you that is always so strong and pushes through everything with a smile on her face. Trust that he can handle it. And Gunner, I know you think the only thing you can offer Lily is a way to get back on her feet and a safe place to live with the baby, but you have a softness for those you love that will help Lily heal from always having to take care of herself. Together, the two of you can make this work as more than a marriage born out of necessity.”
Hope filled Lily’s chest. Gia knew exactly what she needed to hear, and the way Gunner squeezed her hands as he looked down at her made Lily feel like maybe it was just what he needed to hear, too.
“Gunner asked me just before we came in here to give him a chance to say something to you, Lily. I think now is a good time.”
Her nerves spiked.
“Take a breath, Lily Kate. No going into labor on our wedding day,” he teased.
“I’m fine. I just didn’t think we were doing our own vows.”
“We’re not. Gia has that part next. I just wanted to make sure you heard me say a few things before you agreed to marry me.”
“Kind of late for that, handsome,” she teased. “We already are, aren’t we?”
“This ceremony is the more important one to me.”
Of course it would be. His family was there.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“I want you to know that no matter what, you will always have a safe home with me. I know that there isn’t love between us, but like Gia said, there is friendship. I want the best for you, Lily, and I always will. From this moment on, you are my wife, and Sprout is my daughter. I’ll love and protect her with everything I have, and I’ll make sure she always has a father in her life who loves her more than anything else.”
Silence stretched between them as she absorbed what he had just said. She swallowed, her throat thick with emotion.
“Thank you, Gunner. I can’t find the words to tell you how much that means to me. I will try to be a good wife to you. I promise to make our house a happy place to live. I’ll be the first person in line to celebrate all your accomplishments, and I’d be honored to be the person you share your ambitions and worries with if you need someone to help carry the load. I might burn dinner sometimes, and I will demand that we spend at least two hours picking out the perfect tree at Christmas, but I will always try to hear out your side of any disagreement we may have, and I’ll never stop being thankful for all you are doing for us.”
She pulled Gunner’s hand down and placed it on her belly before sliding her own hand on top. The baby didn’t disappoint. She rolled and kicked at the change in pressure, and Lily loved the way Gunner’s eyes softened, wide with awe.
“Oh, god, you two.” Gia swiped at a tear falling down her cheek. “Let’s keep going before I’m a sobbing mess and can’t finish. Do you, Gunner, take Lily to be your wife? Do you promise to walk with her through sickness and health, through the good times, and the trying times, until death do you part?”
“I do.”
“And do you, Lily, take Gunner to be your husband? Do you promise to walk with him through sickness and health, through the good times, and the trying times, until death do you part?”
Lily looked at Gia, who winked. Did she know just how tough it was to agree when she knew it wasn’t a permanent situation? How much her heart ached over the fact that one day Gunner would want to end their marriage so he could marry someone he actually loved?
Lily took a breath and looked at Juliette, who was still sitting on her bed, the happiest she’d been in a long time. Lily could do this for her. She could put on a smile and pretend all was right. At least for today.
“I do.”
“Wonderful!” Gia cheered. “By the power vested in me by a very sketchy and somewhat suspect online church, I now pronounce you husband and wife for the second time today. Gunner, you may now kiss your bride. ”
Gunner’s face paled, somewhat hilariously matching his sexy-as-Hell uniform.
“It’s okay, we don’t have to?—”
Gunner placed his thumb under her chin, lifting his face towards hers. Oh, Lord. Was he actually about to kiss her? Would this change things between them? The baby rolled, almost as if she was expecting the rush of butterflies that filled Lily’s belly.
Just as quickly as hope had bloomed in her heart, it sank away as he turned her head and pressed his lips to her cheek. The gesture was sweet, and filled with kindness, but Lily couldn’t help the pain that lanced through her chest.
“Thank you both so much for allowing me to be a part of this,” Juliette said, her face filled with tears, as Lily walked over and embraced her new mother-in-law. “I’m so happy to have another beautiful daughter. And a granddaughter I can’t wait to meet.”
They both knew it was a stretch to think that Juliette would make it a few more weeks, and with Lily’s due date that far out, it felt like an impossible feat. The thought of her daughter never knowing the beautiful soul she was hugging was enough to push Lily over the edge. Her tears were relentless as she held on to the woman who had loved her more than her own mother over the years.
“Oh, dear. I think I broke Lily.”
“No,” she sobbed. “I just love you so much, Jules. And it’s been quite the day.”
“Well, I love you too, honey. Gunner, why don’t you make your meatballs for us tonight? I had Gia get all the ingredients.”
“You cook?” Lily couldn’t picture it. All she’d ever seen him do in the kitchen was make the occasional sandwich and sneak barbecue chips from the spot where Gia hid them.
“I have a few recipes up my sleeve, but I’d definitely say my meatballs and sauce are the best. Does that sound okay to you?”
“It sounds amazing.”
“I’m thinking I’d like to come sit out on the couch for a bit,” Juliette said, surprising Lily.
“I can help—” Lily was cut off by a chorus of voices all protesting her offer.
“No, Lil. Why don’t you help Gunner and I’ll get Mom out there?”
“Oh, um, sure. Do you need any help?”
“It’s a pretty easy recipe, but I guess if there’s anyone who I should share my secret ingredients with, it’s my wife.”
“The perks are already rolling in,” Lily teased.