Page 43

One month later…

Bailey

“. . . So, that’s the story.” I clasp my hands in my lap, avidly searching the therapist’s face for what she might be thinking.

“You’re waiting for me to tell you I think you’re moving too fast.” It’s not a question.

I shrug, wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans.

“Well, yeah, I guess. Everyone else thinks it’s too fast.”

Kenya eyes me, a glimmer in her eyes. “And what do you think?”

I let out a breath through my teeth.

“I think it’s just right. I’ve never been surer of something in my life.”

“Marriage is a big step for two people. There’s no set time that two people should get married. Sure, magazines and movies will tell you the perfect length of dating time to propose, but you have to do what feels right.”

I nod, touching the locket on my chest. This does feel right. I know with every fiber in my being that I’m one-hundred percent, devastatingly in love with Charlie Coulter and there’s not a single thing I can do to change that.

We’ve been apart for the last month while I finish up things here. It’s been stressful, missing him, but hearing the deep timbre of his voice on the phone every night — and morning and afternoon — almost makes it worth it.

Of course, last weekend, it hadn’t been enough and I had flown down to New Orleans for an impromptu surprise visit. I just wanted to sleep in the same bed as him, feel his warmth, enjoy him. Not to mention, the sex was great, too.

“How has your mother adjusted to the idea of you marrying Charlie and moving to New Orleans?”

I swallow, before I sigh dramatically. I’ve been working on being a better daughter to my mother. In turn, she’s put her all into accepting Charlie as part of the fucked-up group of people we call our family. Marcus, not so much, though Mom did convince him to fire Drew after I brought out the pictures and texts he sent me.

“She’s good. She’s . . .” I can’t put it into words. “I think she really likes Charlie.”

Kenya smiles, closing her notepad and sitting it on the arm of the chair beside her.

“So, you completed the homework,” Kenya smiles as she jots something down on her clipboard.

“I don’t know,” I muse. “I guess I did.”

“You wrote a book, something you had been thinking about for years. You found your voice to stand up to your mother for what made you happy. You found a place that you can call home. And you scored a hot man? I’d say you surpassed my expectations. The only question is, what are you going to do first?”

I smile to myself, toying with the ring on my finger.

“I think I have a wedding to plan.”