Misguided Vows: Chapter 55

“We’re not having a shotgun wedding,” I say adamantly to Will as I do up his shirt buttons. We’d just had another fucking marathon, and had I not already been pregnant; I’d most likely be pregnant from the acts we just performed in his new penthouse.

“But you said you loved the ring I bought you,” he says arrogantly because he does have good taste. It’s been sitting on the tableside ever since he showed it to me.

“It’s beautiful, Will, but right now, there’s a lot happening, and we need to focus on those things first. I’m opening a storefront here in New York and in London. We’re here for Honey and Dawson’s baby shower, and I’m starting on a new project in Manchester. Engagement and weddings can wait.”

He pulls me in by the waist. “I thought you wanted marriage.”

“I do. But it doesn’t have to be today. And besides, I’d hate to take away from your sister’s enjoyment of turning into a bridezilla on my behalf.”

He chuckles as he squats down and straps my heels on for me. His hand grazes up my calf, and I slap him away. “Will, we’re already late. We’re not fucking again,” I grit out. He looks depressed as he sighs and stands. He takes my hand and leads me outside.

When we’re in the car, I flick through emails and contracts. Because we didn’t know where we wanted to live yet, Will bought an apartment in New York, and I bought a bigger one in London. We now also own a private plane, which is rather handy despite how grand it feels. I’ve only used it when traveling with Will, but he insists anything that’s his is now mine.

Turns out, among all the push and pull, he’s a lovesick puppy and a fool at that. It feels like I’m the only one resistant to how quickly everything is changing, yet I’m so happy. Genuinely happy. Because no matter how much I fought it and called it sexual attraction, Will has been the only man I’ve been utterly captivated by, as much as I hate his arrogant male pride.

But I also love him because of it.

Maria was surprised to hear we were officially dating and almost passed out when we told her about the pregnancy. I was nervous it would tarnish our friendship, but she broke down into tears, celebrating that she’d finally get a sister.

I felt that so deeply.

The same goes for my newly found family here in New York.

We arrive at Honey and Dawson’s lavish mansion, where only a few cars are parked. A house attendant greets us as we walk in, and Honey squeals in excitement when she sees me.

“I was wondering what was taking you so long,” she says as she stares daggers at Will accusingly, and he puts his hands up in defense.

My eyes bulge at the massive, wrapped present in the hallway. “What on earth is that?” I ask.

Honey laughs as she tugs me toward it and whispers, “I’m too scared to open it in front of everyone. It’s a present from Anya and River. She said she would never attend such an occasion but sent a present anyway. I’m scared as to what Anya might interpret as baby-friendly.”

“It looks like a fortress.” Will whistles beside me, inspecting its size.

“That’s what we thought,” Rya says as she comes up and gives me a big hug. “It’s good to see you couldn’t stay away from us for too long.”

Will’s face lights up as he sees Alek and his wife, Lena. I haven’t officially met her, but know it’s her from the way Alek is glued to her side. He looks uncomfortable with the children running around. Will flitters off in his direction, and I watch Alek’s expression slacken.

I chuckle as Honey drags me toward an attractive couple who look to be in their fifties. “These are my parents. Mom. Dad. I want you to meet Alina.”

I freeze momentarily as I greet them because I remember the Ricci sisters describing their father. As I look around, I notice how many security guards are standing around the place. Definitely not a normal baby shower.

“Come back,” I hear Crue grumble behind me as a toddler does his best to escape.

Honey laughs as she catches the boy. “Eli’s recently learned how fast he is. Haven’t you?” she says, settling him on her hip. Eli’s bright blue eyes scan the room from the new height, and I suddenly understand why Rya’s concerned. This kid is definitely going to be a handful.

“If you’re happy to take him for the time being, I’m going to corner my wife for a few moments,” Crue says. It’s not so much of a question but a demand as he goes to seek Rya out.

It’s chaos as everyone flutters around us. I’m terrified by the idea of having a child. But I realize that even without Will, I would’ve had all of this around me. Part of me is excited that I get to experience this with the Ricci sisters. And that makes it slightly less scary.

Honey’s already started giving me advice, and it’s… nice.

Eli reaches out to me expectantly, and Honey passes him over. It’s awkward initially because I’ve never had much to do with children, but he seems interested in my hair as he tugs on the fringe part.

A hand snakes around my waist from behind, and Will leans over my shoulder. “We’ve got a problem if the child comes out with stark black hair,” he whispers as he kisses me on the cheek.

I laugh. “Well, we were just a fling. You didn’t think you were the only one, did you?” I joke, and his grip tightens around my waist.

“I know every person you’ve been in contact with and anyone who ever entered your room in the past six months, Alina. Don’t try to play this game, or you will be punished.”

The promise of being punished runs a thrill through me. I sigh and lean against him, comforted by his strength. It feels strange right now to be holding a toddler when we don’t even know where we’re going to end up permanently. Maybe we’ll go back and forth between New York and London for years.

But it all feels right. Right now. For us.

A wild, chaotic mess.

Being brought together by an unexpected pregnancy.

And a soon-to-be marriage, apparently.

I smirk at the thought. Of course, I want to marry him, and of course, I love the ring, but there’s something rather exciting about fucking with him a little.

“What are you smiling at?” he asks, pressing another kiss against my shoulder.

“Just thinking about all the fun we’re going to have,” I admit, but not the fact that it will be at his expense.

“I look forward to each day, love. Out of curiosity, when were you going to return the gold-plated card you stole from my back pocket when we walked in?” he asks, and I shoot him a smile as I look up at him from the corner of my eye. I didn’t think he noticed that time.

“I’m going to go on a shopping spree after this. Do you have a problem with that?” I arch a challenging eyebrow. It’s turned into a game to see how long his things would go missing before he realized. Unfortunately for me, my fiancé is very attentive when my hands are on him.

“What’s mine is yours,” he says with a grin. “I love you, Alina.”

And it fills me with warmth. Every day, he reminds me. And I never take it for granted.

“I love you too, even though you’re an asshole.”

I immediately freeze as Eli stares at me in bewilderment. And I pray that the curse word I just used isn’t the first word he learns.

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