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EMILY

ONE WEEK LATER

“And you’re sure you’re okay with the thought of never getting married or having Tate’s last name?

” Kelsey asks on my first day back home.

The shop hunting was a bust, which probably worked for the best. In a way, as much as adding on to Beach Babe sounded like a great idea, it wasn’t going to happen in Outer Banks.

If I thought it was expensive here in Alabama, well, let’s just say that North Carolina is outrageous.

Kelsey hasn’t been back to Florida yet, but I’m thinking it’ll be more lucrative investment wise and a shit ton closer without needing to hop on a flight to check on how the store would be doing.

“I am. We’re committed to each other in a way that I know it’s there until the end of times.

It might be different, but it’s ours.” Tate and I are different people than the ones surrounding us, and that’s okay.

Not everyone is perfect, and when he told me about the story of how his parents met, it only showed me a deeper side of him.

I mean, seriously, he’s not wrong. So many people change once that dotted line is signed.

Yes, it’s worked for my family and my sister’s family that she married into, but after doing my own research, it solidified it even more.

Tate will wear my ring, I’ll wear his, our children will have his last name, and I’ll get to keep my maiden name, which I could anyways, even if we got married; it just isn’t for us.

“And how do Mom and Dad feel about that?” I shrug my shoulders as I take a bite of the bagels Kels picked up, chewing as slowly as I can to annoy my sister while I get my words together.

“Mom wasn’t thrilled with the idea. It’s a good idea that you gave her that.

” Deke and Kels had a destination wedding, but that did not stop our mom from giving them the best of the best. Nothing was forgotten when it came to flowers, decorations, music, food, or drinks.

“Dad understands. He gave me a hug and did the thing he always does to us girls, whispering in our ear not to listen to Mom and to follow your heart, screw the rest. That could be because no wedding means more money in his bank account. He didn’t say that, by the way, but you know Dad and I are much the same.

We’re the go-with-the-flow, take-life-where-it-leads-you type. ”

I watch as Kelsey digests the words, taking a few bites of her bagel, so I do the same.

Really, there was a lot of pillow talk that happened after Tate and I reconnected.

He attempted to apologize. I told him it wasn’t necessary, going as far as covering his mouth with my hand.

He let me talk, then. It was my turn to apologize.

I clearly wanted more of his time in the relationship part of the equation.

It was me who didn’t vocalize it as well as I know and could have, so we talked, God did we talk.

Not making it to the bed was part of the fun.

It was Tate and me on the couch, my body on top of his, both of us naked, me touching him in small insignificant ways, one of his hands in my hair, the other holding the cheek of my ass.

“Well, if you two are happy, that’s all that matters at the end of the day.

Love is love, no matter how many ways you cut it.

All I ask is that you make sure Tate is okay with being an uncle because that’s going to happen sooner rather than later.

” She leaves me on a whopper of a cliffhanger.

I choke on the last bite of my sandwich, fumbling for my drink to swallow the rest down.

This is what I get for shoving too much food in my mouth.

Now I’m sitting here stuck, trying not to die or need the Heimlich.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You’re pregnant?

” I ask, moving until I’m crawling on my knees, literally, until I’m sitting right beside her, needing to know if I’m going to be Auntie Emie, because seriously, I will be the best ever, like it’s in the bag.

My niece or nephew will be spoiled with love, attention, the cutest clothes, and all the noisiest toys money can buy.

“No, oh my gosh, no. Well, not yet. That doesn’t mean we aren’t trying.

Jesus, my husband is hot as hell, and I’m shocked he hasn’t gotten me pregnant with one look, but yeah, we’re not not trying.

I’m not on birth control, he’s not using condoms, so the likelihood of it happening soon is there.

” I’m pretty sure Kels can tell by my reaction that I am absolutely freaking over the moon.

“Snap to it. You need to get pregnant, stat. Plus, I won’t scare Tate away too soon if I suddenly get baby fever.

That might take nine or so months or, you know, when my niece or nephew is born.

I bet it really kicks in.” Kelsey puts her food down, grabs me by the neck, and hugs me.

It’s awkward and uncomfortable on my end.

I don’t care, though; hugging my sister is worth getting a crick in my neck, especially if she’s talking babies.

“I’ll work on it. Lord knows Deke has really got in on the action.” I scrunch my nose and make a gagging noise.

“Too much information, Kels, way too much information.” Our hug ends, but I don’t move back to where I was sitting. Kelsey and I sit together talking more about our lives and what the future is going to hold for the both of us as well as Beach Babe Boutique.