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47
CHARLOTTE
NOAH
Fun fact: you become my wife today
ME
I think that’s the most fun fact you’ve shared yet
NOAH
Can’t wait to see you later
ME
Love you Mr. Caruso
NOAH
I love you Mrs. (almost) Caruso
“It’s my wedding day, bitches!” The girls and I clink glasses in the middle of the glorious hotel room. It may only be ten in the morning, but their flutes are filled to the brim with champagne and mine with ginger ale.
We sip, and I return to my seat by the vanity so Andi can finish curling my hair. It reminds me of us getting ready for the gala at camp, and I can’t help but smile at all that’s changed since then.
“Is she almost done?” Sophia asks, dressed in jeans and a cropped graphic tee that says The Camera Sutra with a bunch of funny poses of a photographer. Her own camera is flung over her shoulder.
“I’m right here?” I say. “You could just ask me.”
Andi and Sophia share a mischievous look. “Yeah, she’s almost ready.”
“There are a few dress shops I found nearby,” I say. “Hopefully I’ll be able to find something there.”
“I don’t think you need to worry about that,” Sophia says, fighting a smile, and I turn towards her, brows furrowed.
The door of the suite opens and closes, and Abbs walks inside holding a garment bag. “Theo sent this for you. He said he knew you were planning to go shopping, but he thought you might not mind the option.” I need to hire him as my personal stylist at this point.
“So that’s where you’ve been all morning?” Sage asks, and Abbs shoots her a glare.
“I was retrieving this for the bride ,” Abbs says.
“Gimme, gimme.” I reach with grabby hands, hopping out of my chair. “If it’s half as nice as the gala dress, Noah won’t be able to breathe.”
Abbs hangs it on a wall hook, and we crowd around. I unzip the bag, and a beam of angelic light streams out, displaying the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen.
It’s a white corset top covered in rhinestones, reflecting light around the entire room. A wink to the night Noah and I became friends officially while I was dressed as a drunk little disco ball. The bottom is a flowing satin that will leave plenty of room for my bump.
“It’s perfect,” I say with a breath.
“Put it on,” Sophia suggests. “Make sure it fits.”
“And put this on under it,” Abbs says, tossing me a teeny tiny little lingerie set.
“Did Theo pick this out too?” I ask with a cocked brow. “Noah would not be very happy if his best friend knew what I was wearing underneath that dress.”
“No,” she says with a laugh. “That was all me.”
“Pretty,” I say, fingers dragging over the delicate lace. “But isn’t it way too early for this? The wedding’s not till…” My thoughts drift off. “Well, I guess I haven’t been much in the loop of anything, but it’s definitely later.”
The only thing I was in charge of was picking out Noah’s ring. And I am positive he’s going to love it.
Sophia takes my hands and forces my gaze to meet hers. “Charlie.”
“Sophia.”
“Put. On. The. Dress. Before your fiancé kills me for making you late.”
My veins buzz with excitement. “Damn, you don’t have to go all Mommy on me.”
“You’re right,” she says, placing a gentle hand on my belly. “That’s your job.”
* * *
Our town car flies through the Vegas streets, passing hotel after hotel. Every famous landmark I know from the movies zooms by. I’ve got the drop-dead gorgeous dress and the lingerie under it. Sophia is still in jeans and a tee, we left the rest of the wedding party back at the hotel, and I am utterly confused. Maybe we’re just taking photos?
“Put this on,” Sophia says, a white silk blindfold dangling from her fingertips.
“You can’t be serious?” I ask with a laugh.
“Husband’s orders,” she says, and I narrow my eyes at her, eventually caving. Partly because I don’t want to ruin anything Noah’s planned and partly because the thrill of the surprise really is exciting.
The blindfold is secured on my face, and it’s another twenty minutes before I’m given a hand and taken from the car. Sophia leads me through—well, I have no clue where. All I know is a few minutes—and what feels like an elevator ride from the butterflies in my stomach—later, we’re at the top of what I assume is a tall tower.
A door clicks open, and Sophia ushers me through it, warm, dry air hitting my skin.
“If you wanted to throw me off a roof, you didn’t have to make it so mysterious,” I tease.
“Don’t worry,” she says. “I would be way more creative than that.”
“Good to know,” I say, huffing a laugh. “Do I get any hints?”
“Patience, young grasshopper,” she says. “We’re almost there.”
I swallow hard, and a little flutter in my belly has me placing my hand over her instinctively. It’s like she can feel my excitement. She kicks again, getting my palm, and I imagine her giving me a little love tap of encouragement.
I’m happy you’re here too, baby.
“Stay facing that way,” Sophia says authoritatively.
“What do you?—”
“Not you,” she cuts me off. “Noah.”
“Noah’s here?” I ask, heart soaring, wiggling with anticipation.
“Of course he is,” she says with a laugh. “Can’t very well get married without the groom.”
“Married?” I say, reaching up and ripping my blindfold off. My mouth falls open as I take in my surroundings. We’re on the top of a building. A helicopter is parked in front of me with Noah facing it, bouncing on his feet. As anxious to see me as I am to see him. Sophia stands off to the side taking photos of us, and Elijah’s behind her with a smug, happy grin on his face.
“You can turn around now,” Sophia calls to Noah, and he wastes no time turning to face me, his hand covering his mouth. I stand frozen, holding my breath as he takes me in. He glances to the sky for a moment, muttering something to himself, then strides towards me with glistening eyes.
Oxygen becomes more difficult with each step he nears until it’s all but nonexistent as he stands before me, forest eyes locked on mine with a softness that tells me everything I need to know about this man.
My head becomes fuzzy as I drink him in. The blue fitted suit. The pure adoration on his face. The shiver that racks my body when he reaches out and tucks a curl behind my ear.
“Breathe, tesoro ,” he reminds me, and I gasp, sucking in deep breaths to replenish my oxygen.
I know this moment is supposed to be sweet and wholesome and lovely, but all that comes out of my mouth is “You look so fucking hot.”
A sexy chuckle leaves his lips, and he leans in, breath fanning against my ear. “If I said what I was thinking”—he takes a deep breath, then releases it as if to steady himself—“neither of us would be able to think straight for the next several hours.” He pulls away, nose brushing mine.
“I want to kiss you.”
“Not yet.” He smiles, taking my hands in his.
“Are we getting married here?”
“No.” He gestures toward the helicopter. “I have something better planned.”
I splay my fingers over my stomach. “Is it?—”
“It’s totally safe for baby. I even checked with Doctor Rigou.”
“Aren’t our friends gonna be mad?” I ask, shifting on my feet. “They came all this way to see us get married.”
“They knew the plan,” he says, waving me off. “Did you really think I was going to marry you in some cheesy wedding chapel with an Elvis impersonator as our officiant?”
I twisted my mouth. “Yes. And I would have. Happily.”
“I know,” he says, squeezing my hand. “But I wanted it to be about us. You and me, and the baby.” He places a hand on my stomach. “When you remember us getting married, I want it to be perfect. Not smelling of old cigarettes and tequila.”
“Anywhere would be perfect with you,” I say. And I mean it.
“I appreciate that,” he says with a wide smile, tugging me forward. “But could you get your beautiful self in this helicopter so I can make you my wife, please?”
“Who’s gonna marry us?” I ask, glancing around.
“The pilot is an officiant,” he says as Sophia and Elijah trail behind us.
“That’s convenient.”
“Well, it’s kinda his business,” Noah explains, helping me onto the helicopter, his hand protectively on my back.
“Alright, love birds,” the pilot says once we’re all buckled in. “Let’s get you hitched.”
* * *
Orange rock stretches as far as the eye can see, and the sun hits the canyon in a stunning scattered light. The only word I have to describe it? Sensational.
On a rocky platform, Noah and I face one another with the officiant between us. We’re far enough from the edge we don’t have to worry about falling but close enough to make my stomach drop.
Sophia circles us, snapping photos, while Elijah stands off to the side.
“Noah,” the officiant says. “It’s your turn.”
Noah retrieves what I’m assuming is my ring from Elijah and returns his attention to me.
“Charlotte,” he says, taking my hand, eyes boring into mine. “ Soffione, with this ring, I take you to be my wife. To have and to hold. To cherish and to make laugh. To love and to annoy.”
“I don’t think that’s how it goes,” I whisper, and he chuckles.
“I’m paraphrasing,” he whispers back before continuing, “I know you’re not used to people taking care of you. I know you want to be the strong one. The ‘I can handle this on my own’ one. But you don’t have to do that anymore. I will hold you when you’re weak. And stand behind you when you’re strong. I will be your partner, lover, father to our children. Anything you need me to be. That’s what I vow to you, today.”
“Noah,” I whisper, tears stinging my eyes.
“My nonna once told me when love knocks, answer it.” He pauses, a soft smile coming to his lips. “I’m so glad it was you on the other side.”
He squeezes my hand gently, the cool metal touching the tip of my ring finger, and I glance down, gasping. A gorgeous pear cut diamond ring on a gold band encrusted in more diamonds is slid on my finger, residing atop the band from Noah’s nonna . My eyes bounce back to his, and he grins smugly.
“Charlotte,” the officiant says, but I’m speechless. My eyes fall back to the ring.
“ Soffione , you can stare at it all you want later,” Noah says, pulling my gaze back to his.
“How am I supposed to follow those vows?” I ask, mouth agape, looking back down. “This ring? I didn’t prepare anything. I…” My eyes dart to Noah’s, panic setting in. Why didn’t I prepare anything?
Noah squeezes my hand. “It’s just you and me, baby.”
“Right,” I say, nodding, shaking my shoulders to hype myself. “I can do this.” Noah bites his lip, shit-eating grin breaking through. “Are you laughing at me?”
“No,” he promises, eyes soft. “I just love how flustered you are. It’s cute.”
“You know what?” I say, turning and retrieving Noah’s ring from Sophia. The one part of this ceremony that I was responsible for. The gorgeous gold band with a honeycomb design is pinched between my fingertips, and I’m reminded of my inspiration for it.
I return my attention to Noah, placing the band at the tip of his ring finger. “Noah Gabriel Caruso,” I say, our eyes connecting, a wide shared smile between us. “With this ring, I will love you and be faithful to you. And…” I think hard. It has to be good… “I promise to never, ever break pasta again. To always build Legos when we’re angry and make love when we’re not. I promise to love your shitty Dad jokes, or at least to pretend I do. To appreciate every moment when you’re home, and be understanding of all the times you can’t be. I promise to be by your side always, loving you, appreciating you, and just being… yours.” With a shaky hand, I slide the ring onto his finger. He glances down to it, eyes brightening at the realization, and they bounce back to mine. “And I promise our love will last like honey.”
A breath sticks in my throat, and I nod at the officiant.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” he declares. “You may kiss the bride.”
Noah’s hands are in my hair, pulling me to him. His mouth lands on mine, planting a kiss so deep, so searing, that even without the rings, I’m branded for life.
I am Noah Caruso’s wife, and no one will ever take that away from me.
Especially not my mother.
Table of Contents
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- Page 48 (Reading here)
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