Chapter 44 The Plan
The Plan
Mateo
Iwake up on the couch, a throw pillow under my head and my wife tucked into my side. We talked late into the night about future plans, and eventually Holly fell asleep.
I couldn’t move even if I wanted to. This is heaven, despite my arm’s uncomfortable tingling from having it positioned under my wife’s head over the past few hours.
The vibration from the coffee table sends a jolt through me, and I lean over to grab it, trying my best not to move my sleeping wife.
Alex’s name stares at me on the screen, and I swipe to answer the call.
“Hey bro,” I whisper.
"Mateo!" Alex’s voice is laced with worry. "Where’s my sister? What’s going on?”
My fingers run through Holly’s silky hair. “She’s currently asleep.” I keep my voice low, but I’m not quiet enough. Holly stirs, her eyelashes flutter before she looks up at me.
“Who is it?” Her hand comes up and covers her yawn.
“Wait," Alex’s voice is stone-cold. "Mateo? Is Holly there with you? I thought you said she was asleep.” There’s condemnation in his tone, and I know I’ll need to do some explaining. Protective big brother Alex mode has been activated.
“It’s not what you’re thinking, man. We fell asleep on the couch last night. Nothing happened. Well, I mean, I kissed her, but that’s it.”
Alex huffs. “I thought this marriage wasn’t real.”
Holly groans and covers her face. “Alex, it is too early in the morning for the inquisition. Bring Reina and come over for breakfast. You can ask all your questions then.”
I’m ready to hang up, but Alex keeps talking and I put the phone on speaker. “Holly, do you know what’s all over the news?”
Holly’s head shakes against my chest. She repositions herself, her head now resting in the crook of my shoulder, her fingers coming up to brush against my beard.
“Nope. Don’t care. Tell me over breakfast. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go back to cuddling my husband in peace.” She stresses the last word and nuzzles her nose into my neck.
That’s my cue. “Bye Alex, see you at breakfast.” I don’t even wait for his response. I hang up and put my phone back on the table.
I place a kiss on Holly’s forehead. “Good morning, wife.”
She sighs. “Good morning. Do not kiss me. My breath stinks.”
I chuckle. As if something like morning breath would keep me from wanting to kiss my wife. “I don’t care.”
She shudders. “Ew, well, I care.” She tightens her grip on me and stills. “No more talking, just cuddling. I’m not ready to be awake yet.”
I kiss her hair and close my eyes, soaking up this simple moment.
“As you wish.”
And we stay that way until there’s a knock on the door.
Holly hops off the couch, straightening her sweats and throwing her hair up into a messy bun. I love that she doesn’t care how she looks right now. It’s her brother and sister-in-law, but the way she’s effortlessly comfortable isn’t always the case when we see them.
I sit up and stretch, moving my arms to get the pins and needles sensation over and done with. I watch Holly approach the door. She stops and takes a deep breath before opening it. I’m holding my breath too.
I catch a quick glimpse of Alex’s smiling face before he wraps Holly in a hug.
Reina steps in behind him, a Cheshire grin on her face.
I’m not surprised by this in the least, considering she’s been rooting for our relationship from day one.
I’m hoping the happy look on Alex’s face means he feels the same way.
Alex pulls back from their hug. “What’s for breakfast?”
“Whatever we can scrounge up,” Holly replies as she pushes him out of the way to hug Reina.
Alex walks toward me and I meet him halfway, giving him our customary bro slap hug greeting.
He puts his hand on my shoulder, his eyes narrowed. “You’re sure nothing happened?” he whispers.
I arch an eyebrow. “Bro, you know we’re married, right?”
His shoulders sag. “I know. I just thought this wasn’t supposed to get real. If your relationship is real now and you guys love each other, then of course I’m fine with it. She’s my little sister, I want what’s going to make her happy.”
I smile. “My relationship with your sister is private. Rest assured, I love her, and we’ll take the next steps in our relationship when we’re ready. And because I know what it’s like to be an older brother, I’ll just say that we only kissed and cuddled last night.”
Alex smiles and nods. “I’m happy you’re my brother now. I couldn’t have asked for a better man to marry my sister.”
I give Alex a bro bear hug. “Love you too, brother.”
Holly tugs us apart and I can’t help but wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her against me.
Reina comes over and Alex throws his arm around her shoulder, tucking her into his side as if he’s done it a million times.
I think I’m feeling a little sappy this morning because seeing my best friends so in love and holding my wife in my arms has me tearing up.
I blink away the moisture before anyone notices.
Holly pokes Alex’s arm. “Now that you’ve gotten the very brief details of our private love life, come help me make pancakes, Alex. We can chat more once you’ve fed your wife.”
Reina winces and her nose scrunches. “Actually, I’m going to pass on pancakes this morning.”
I eye her suspiciously. Reina never passes up on breakfast. She gets the worst cases of hanger I’ve ever seen. I look at Alex, who gazes down at her with an adoring expression. She looks up at him, her lips quirked as if they’re sharing a secret between them.
Wait a minute.
A sneaking suspicion runs through my mind. But I’m a man, and there is no way I’m voicing my question first.
Holly gasps as if catching onto my thoughts. “Are you pregnant?” she squeals.
Thank goodness for wives who can ask the awkward questions.
Alex and Reina smile, a glow in their faces as they look at each other with love. Alex gives a subtle nod to Reina. I let go of Holly, anticipating the estrogen surge about to happen. Reina and Holly grab each other’s hands and Reina squeals. “Yes!”
Next thing I know, my eardrums are ringing from the happy screams coming from the two women embracing and bouncing in front of us.
I scoot around the screaming ladies and embrace Alex. “Congratulations, man. You’re going to make a great dad.”
He shrugs, but even the insecurity in his eyes can’t wipe the smile off his face. “We’ll see. I have a lot to learn. Mainly, what I should do as a dad, seeing as I’ve figured out what not to do. Now it’s just a matter of being tutored by the good men around me.”
That Alex can acknowledge that he needs to and wants to learn how to be a good dad shows me how much he’s grown since he first came to Bolt as a stuck-up celebrity. I’m so proud of how far he’s come.
“You’ll have plenty of help. I imagine Momma T is overjoyed about the news?”
Alex winces. “We haven’t exactly told anyone yet. Reina is still really early in the first trimester. We just found out right after your wedding and we haven’t been back to Bolt since. We wanted to tell her parents in person.”
My jaw drops. “Holly and I are the first ones to know?”
Alex’s smile is wide. “Yep. Welcome to the family, brother. You’re going to be an uncle.”
It hits me in a way it hasn’t before. I’m Alex’s family now too. We’re not just best friends, we’re brothers. Reina is officially my sister, which is perfect because she’s always felt like one.
Is this how Holly felt when we went to visit my family? This happiness and completeness knowing that my family is growing, in more ways than one?
If so, I think I can understand a bit more of why she wants to move to Bolt. This connection feels special.
Our wives break apart and wipe their eyes. Reina turns to me and I pull her into my arms as Holly hugs her brother. “Congrats, little sister. You’re going to make a fantastic mom.”
Reina squeezes me tight. “Thanks, bro. Now we just have to convince you and Holly to live in Bolt.”
I look over at Holly, who meets my eyes from her hug with Alex. Her smile grows into a smirk as she pulls out of her brother’s embrace. “Speaking of. We’re moving to Bolt as soon as we can.”
Alex’s jaw drops before he narrows his eyes at his sister. “Does this have anything to do with the press sharing rumors of you quitting your job, and throwing a fit at Rodney’s party last night?”
Holly straightens, folding her arms and popping out her hip.
“Rodney, who’s been manipulating me since I met him?
Rodney, who happens to be our father’s best friend?
Yeah, I fired him as my mentor, and I told him I’m done playing games and working in this cockroach-infested place.
I’m quitting my job, besides maybe working for you. ”
Alex’s eyes are wide. “Come again. Did you just say Rodney is Dad's best friend?”
I move over to Holly and wrap my arms around her waist. Holding her feels as natural as breathing, and I soak in the feel of her in my arms.
She leans back into me and addresses Alex.
“Yeah, our wonderful parents showed up at the party last night and revealed their true colors—again. I can’t handle it anymore, Alex.
I’ll keep working for you, and you only.
Even then, I think I want to phase out of the job.
It isn’t worth it. I want to be in Bolt with you and Reina and Mateo’s family.
It’ll take some adjusting, but I know I’ll be happier there. ”
I drop a kiss on the crown of Holly’s head. “I’ll install the best internet I can. You can use the office in my house for your work and projects.”
Holly hums a happy sound and I tighten my embrace.
Alex pulls his own wife into his arms and looks between the two of us. “So what are you guys, then?” he asks.
“Married.” I deadpan.
Alex chuckles while we all laugh. “I know that, I just mean where do things stand with you guys? Are you going to stay married?”
I spin Holly around in my embrace so I can easily look down into her face.
She’s looking very kissable, but she expressly forbade it until she brushed her teeth.
“How would you feel about having a redo? We could have a Christian wedding ceremony at the church in Bolt, and exchange vows. I know my mom would love to throw a wedding reception in the barn. That way we can involve all of our friends and family, and feel like we get to start things over and do them right from the beginning.”
Holly’s eyes widen, and her smile dazzles me with the amount of happiness shining there. “I love that idea. I could walk down the aisle, have official bridesmaids, and we could go all out. Do you think Hudson could walk me down the aisle?”
Alex laughs. “I think he would be offended if you didn’t ask him. Although he’d probably concede if you ask Stanley, who would also be happy to walk you down the aisle.”
Holly gives Alex and Reina a brief smile before turning back to me. “Do you really want to stay married?”
There’s only one way to answer that question.
I lean down and kiss her.
Morning breath and all.
Gagging noises break me out of the reverie of Holly’s soft lips on mine. “Eww, that’s my sister,” Alex protests.
Holly giggles against my lips, and I swoop in for one more kiss before she pulls back, her eyes shining. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
I weave my hand in her hair as I treasure this moment. “Yes. I want to stay married to you, Holly.”
Reina’s arms wrap around me on one side, Alex’s on the other.
Reina squeals. “This is going to be so much fun. We’re all going to be so close to each other, it’s going to be amazing.” She sniffs and fans her eyes. “Ugh, it’s the hormones, guys. I haven’t been able to stop crying all week.”
Holly reaches behind me, finds a box of tissues on the side table, and hands one to Reina. Reina dabs at her eyes, and we all stay that way, wrapped up in a family hug, until Holly’s stomach rumbles.
I chuckle as she pulls away. “Time for breakfast.”
Alex smiles and walks to the kitchen. “First family breakfast of many.”