Page 17 of Her Inconvenient Wedding Date (Unexpected Dates #2)

Lily

“You know that tingly little feeling you get when you like someone? That is your common sense leaving your body.” ~Unknown

I think I’m having another malfunction, but this time it’s the blue screen of death kind.

Not only is my mind jumbled, my body’s acting like it’s going through puberty all over again.

My emotions and skin are a mess—thank the Lord for good concealer—and I’m as angsty and dramatic as my former fifteen-year-old self.

One minute I’m happy and hopeful; the next minute I’m ready to write depressing haikus and wear all black.

There’s no reasoning with myself either.

Things are going too perfectly, which means it’s only a matter of time before the other shoe drops.

And no doubt it’ll be my favorite leopard print wedge sandal that faces its demise.

My shoulders sag with worry. I can’t shake the thought that Hunter’s going to realize he made a mistake marrying me and he’ll change his mind about staying.

That’s why I want to give him an out first. In any sport, it’s better to play offense than defense, right?

At least it seems to be in theory. My idea of athleticism is juggling two boba teas in one hand.

Since our cafeteria only has coffee and hot tea this early in the morning, I grab a cup of chai, then head over to one of the company’s “quiet rooms.” There’s no better place to think and pray, especially when I need to be alone for a few minutes.

I soon make myself comfortable in one of the blue-themed spaces, leaning back on a large bean bag and staring up at the mirrored ceiling.

A minute passes as I focus on breathing in and out.

Memories of the day before play in my head, making my pulse race.

I thought I’d be more relieved today. After all, I made Jasmine’s wish come true.

But I never expected this marriage of convenience to produce real feelings… and real fears.

My phone suddenly buzzes in my pocket with a new text. Lily, why did I have to hear from Hadley that you got married?! What’s going on?

It’s from my friend Hope, the only one in our book club who’s married. She’s a fifth-grade teacher in the Bay Area, and her hubby is Amelia’s younger brother (yes, their relationship was a surprise to us all). I quickly start typing: Sorry, I was going to tell you guys, but ? —

The screen lights up with an incoming call from Hope. “Hey, Hope. I was just replying to you.”

“I know. I saw the text bubbles, but I thought it’d be faster to call.”

“Don’t you have work today?”

“I took the day off. I’ve been extremely nauseous, so I likely can’t talk too long. If the line goes silent, it’s because I’m rushing to the porcelain throne.”

“Oh no. Do you have the stomach flu or food poisoning? ”

“Nope and nope. It’s related to something more long term. Like for the next eighteen years or more.”

I gasp as I catch on to her hint. “You’re pregnant?! How exciting! Congratulations!”

“I could say the same to you! How did you go from being fake engaged to being a married woman? Hadley said she saw you and Hunter kiss! As my students would say, I need all the deets.”

I cover my eyes, so I don’t have to stare at my grimacing face reflected in the ceiling.

Where do I start? “The condensed version is that my mother wasn’t satisfied with me only being engaged.

I had to get married so my sister could start planning her wedding.

Then Hunter offered to have a marriage of convenience with me for three months, but now it’s kind of turned into a marriage of inconvenience. ”

“Marriage of inconvenience? Is that a new trope?”

“It’s a long story. Let’s just say that we’re both having some real, unexpected feelings.

Now Hunter says he wants to stay married, but I know it’ll only be a matter of time before the honeymoon period ends and he wants out.

So, I told him to take some time to think about this.

I don’t want him to regret his decision. ”

Silence comes over the line before Hope bursts out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I ask. I’ve heard of pregnancy hormones causing mood swings, but do they produce laughing episodes, too? “Did I miss something?”

“I just can’t believe how funny God is. This is like déjà vu, Lily. We had this exact same conversation about me and Shane. Remember how I called you up early one morning last summer because I couldn’t sleep?”

“Yeah.”

“And I told you that Shane said he liked me, and I liked him, too, but I was freaking out about the whole thing and didn’t know what to do, and you said it was because I was afraid of commitment.”

“Mm-hmm. But my situation’s different. I’m not afraid of commitment.”

“What are you afraid of then?”

A long sigh pops out of me like I’m a deflating balloon. “It’s what I’m always afraid of, that I’m not good enough.”

“Oh, Lily, that is so far from the truth. You’re so amazing. You’re the smartest person I know and the most fashionable. And you’re such a good friend.”

“You’re saying all of that because you’re such a good friend.”

“Uh-uh. You’re not going to redirect the conversation like you always do when you get a compliment.”

“I was only speaking the truth.”

“So was I. And part of that truth is that you also give great advice. It was you who asked me how I was so sure that Shane wasn’t the right guy for me. It’s my turn now to ask you—how do you know Hunter isn’t Mr. Right?”

“That’s the thing. He’s not just Mr. Right, he’s Mr. Perfect.” I go on to relay all the things that Hunter’s good at, from baking cookies to planning the best date. “He even kisses well!”

Hope shrieks in delight. “You guys obviously have chemistry. And he takes such good care of you! I don’t see what the problem is. I’d be a lot more worried if he didn’t treat you well.”

“When you put it that way…” I groan and flip onto my stomach, face-planting into the memory foam cushion. Turning my head enough so I can talk, I continue processing out loud to Hope. “Logically speaking, this is the best possible outcome—for me. Not so much for Hunter. ”

“Why not for him? You said he wants to stay married. I hate to say it, but you’re not making any sense at all. And you usually make a lot of sense.”

“It’s because there are feelings involved. I’m good when there are only ones and zeroes, but I can’t think straight when I feel so much. Why does love have to be so… illogical?”

Hope chuckles. The pleasant sound is soon followed by a gagging noise. “Let me know when you figure it out! I gotta run!”

I drop my phone onto the carpet, feeling more confused than ever.

What is my problem anyway? I should be happy and grateful that Hunter likes me.

I suppose a big part of me doesn’t believe I deserve a guy like him.

He’s so sweet, genuine, and funny. He loves the Lord.

An added perk is that he’s also tall—so tall that I can wear heels and still feel small next to him.

He’s basically everything I could have asked God for, and poof—I just get to have him as my husband, no questions asked?

Well, I’ve got a lot of questions.

Why me? What did I do to deserve this? How did my wild idea of marrying my coworker turn into the best thing to ever happen to me?

I flip onto my back again, and the answer hits me—literally.

My company badge, that is. The lanyard that it hangs from gets caught around my shoulder, so I flop around like a hot dog on a roller grill until it loosens enough for the rectangular card to fly into the air.

I watch it fall as if in slow motion until it smacks me right in the face.

Ack!

This rude awakening is probably a sign that I should get to work, but I wonder if it’s also God trying to tell me something. When I hold up my badge, my gaze automatically goes to my name. Lily Grace Lam.

Our company has a weird tradition of putting employees’ full names on their badges.

This is in case there’s ever two people with the same first and last names.

I always thought it was unnecessary until I met three David Wangs and two Amy Changs in the office.

But today, I’m extra thankful for this reminder of my middle name.

Grace. Unmerited favor.

That’s the only reason why anything good happens to me at all. I’m not perfect, not even close to it, but the Lord sees Jesus when He looks at me, so it doesn’t matter how good I am. Grace isn’t earned, it’s given. I just need to receive it. I. Just. Need. To. Receive. It!

Duh!

It figures that I’d need to be hit on the head for this truth to sink into my thick skull.

But now that I have been, the idea of receiving Hunter as God’s gift to me makes a lot of sense.

It feels like my birthday and Christmas rolled into one but also the Fourth of July because there’s a sense of freedom in my heart that wasn’t there before.

All my life I’ve been an overachiever so I could get the best scores and grades and the praise of my parents.

I may have deserved those accolades because I’d worked for them, but I certainly didn’t do anything to earn Hunter’s love.

Which is all the more reason for me to treasure it and to not take it for granted.

To not take him for granted.

I scramble to my feet and grab my belongings.

This feels like one of those aha moments in a romance story where the hero or heroine realizes they want to be with the other person.

A lot of times, I, as the reader, can see so clearly what the hold-up is and wish I could shake some sense into the characters because I know they’re perfect for each other.

Maybe a reader would think that I deserve a good shake, too, but at least I figured things out before Hunter could take off on a plane, train, or boat for a faraway land, never to be heard from again.

That has to count for something, right? He’s just temporarily stuck in meetings all morning, which some might say is the same as being out of reach.

But this does give me time to put a little plan into place, one that will let Hunter—and the rest of the world—know where I stand.

My first stop is the cafeteria, where I’ll be picking up some bagels.