Page 62 of Unhitched

Chapter forty-one

“Ready?” my sister asks with her camera in hand as the gondola reaches the top of the mountain. She’s wearing her silky, light pink bridesmaid dress. It’s short like mine.

Except mine is white.

My skirt is silk and twirls to perfection.

The thin straps lead to a flowery lace bodice that makes my boobs look fantastic–although there are a few other things helping my cleavage today.

My favorite part of my outfit though, although no one has seen yet, is a garter I made from the Betsey Johnson dress Kace bought me on our first not date .

He’s going to get such a kick out of it.

“I’m so ready.” I grin at my sister, and she snaps a picture of me with the luscious green mountain on the other side of the clear ski lift bubble.

We opted for a spring wedding mainly so I could wear the dress I wanted and so our guests didn’t freeze.

Kace did plenty of snowboarding over the winter anyway .

When the gondola door slides open, Ella steps onto the platform from the moving pod first so she can photograph the first look.

I step out next, careful not to trip in my pink heels, and stop only a few feet from Kace’s back.

With the lift peaking at the ridge, the view of the mountain’s valleys behind him is insane.

His hands are in his pockets casually, and I wish I could see his face to know if he’s nervous or not.

I’m not nervous at all. I’m thirty-three, and time has been ticking away faster than ever.

I read a study once that explained the phenomenon of time seeming quicker as you age.

It’s all perspective. When you’re a kid, one day takes up less of your life.

The older you get, the less significant each day seems in comparison to the thousands of other days you’ve lived before it.

Maybe that's why I cling so hard to moments of nostalgia–they're like hitting pause , letting me savor every frame.

But standing here, about to marry Kace, I don't need to live in the past anymore.

Because while most days speed by in a blur of adult responsibilities and planned routines, this moment feels exactly like those endless childhood summer days–pure magic, stretching out before me with infinite possibility.

No matter how fast time moves after this, this day will always be one of my favorites, preserved perfectly like a polaroid in my heart.

I take a breath and glance at my sister.

She gives me a nod, and I tap Kace’s shoulder.

When he turns, there’s not a single shred of nervousness in the way he takes me in.

He scans my hair, in loose waves with baby’s breath woven into the strands.

His gaze lingers on the soft sparkles on my chest. Then he roams the rest of my body, and I’ll never forget the way this feels.

He steps toward me, carefully slipping his fingers into my hair and pulling me into a kiss. I smile against his lips, still obsessed with the way they feel against mine three years later. “You’re so damn beautiful, Mya Levitt. ”

“Thanks.” I grin, pulling back to appraise him and so giddy about hearing him say my new name.

His black suit is crisp, and he’s as handsome as ever with his perfectly manicured scruff and deep brown eyes that I never get tired of staring into.

I smooth my hands over his chest. “You look so handsome.”

“Thank you,” he says, but then just smiles at me, brushing his thumb across my cheek.

My eyes search his in hopes they reveal what he’s thinking. “What is it?”

“I love being in your orbit. I can’t wait to be your husband.”

I grin. “I can’t wait either. But first, I have a gift for you.”

“Oh yeah? What is it?”

I glance over his shoulder to where Mack stands next to Ella. I reach my hand out, and he delivers the can he’s been holding.

Kace’s brows furrow as I hand him the beer. “Beer? Now?”

“It’s your favorite.” He twists the can in his hand to get confirmation that it’s the Best Day Ever IPA from Brothers Cascadia. “I was thinking we could use it to celebrate.”

“You hate beer…”

I grin. “I like this one.” My heart flutters in anticipation.

I feel like I tried rushing life with everyone before Kace, but when I realized I felt so secure in him being the one , I didn’t want to rush anything.

That’s why it took us three years to get married, and I’m more than okay with it.

But now it’s the part of the timeline I’ve drawn hearts and stars around in my mind.

“Why do I feel like I'm missing information here?”

“I had this can specially made.” I try not to laugh as he examines the can, not spotting the difference yet. “Check the label.”

He holds it closer to his face, immediately seeing the corner that’s peeled up. Pulling the label back, I watch his eyes flick back and forth as they read each line .

The best day ever wouldn't be complete without the best news ever. Don’t you think so, Daddy?

Kace glances at me, then back at the can. Back at me. Back at the can. “Is this what I think it is?” he asks, his voice full of emotion.

I nod, willing the tears on my waterline not to mess up my makeup.

“We’re having a baby?”

“We’re having a baby,” I confirm.

“I’m going to be a dad?” His eyes are still wide, and it makes me laugh.

“Yes.”

With all the clarity he needs, he wraps his arms around my waist, spinning me around. I laugh through the first rotation, but the second and third get me. “Kace,” I say through a nauseous laugh. “You’re making me sick.”

He stops spinning immediately, settling me softly on the ground.

“Fuck. I’m sorry. But also it’s a little bit of our baby making you sick.

” He glances at my stomach even though I’m not showing yet.

I’m only nine weeks along, but we’ve been trying for the past year.

“ Our baby ,” he says again, amazed. “I love you so much.”

“I love you more,” I whisper back, worried if I use my full voice, it might break.

“There’s no fucking way.” He shakes his head. “Well, I guess this makes our honeymoon a babymoon, huh?”

“I guess so. Are you going to tell me where we’re going yet?”

He smirks. “Covington, Georgia.”

I frown. “We’re going to Georgia for our honeymoon? Babymoon? Whatever. ”

“Unless there’s a Mystic Falls somewhere else.”

A laugh bursts out of me, a few tears finally escaping. “For real?”

He nods. “Are you good with that?”

“I’ve been wanting to go forever.”

“Since you were twelve. I know.” He chuckles, and it’s the sweetest sound. My stomach flutters, and I know it’s not from our baby, but I smile at the thought of it being him or her soon.

I glance outside our bubble to find my sister crying, leaning her head on Mack’s shoulder with his arm around her.

Dave, Kace’s best man, is off to the side flipping the ring box in his hand, and I swear he’s singing “Build Me Up Buttercup” as he and Chloe watch us.

I spot my parents next to Kace’s within earshot of us.

His mom and dad moved to Washington last summer to be closer, and our cabin will be completed in a few months.

It’s up the road from his parents' place.

I refocus on my soon-to-be husband. “What did I do to deserve you?”

Squeezing his arms tighter around my waist, he says, “Right place, right time, babe,” with that smirk that still makes my heart flutter.

I think back to the Valentine’s Day that changed everything. "You never did tell me why you chose my table that night."

"I've thought about that a lot.” He reaches to brush his thumb across my cheek. I can’t help but smile and lean into the touch. “I think the universe knew what I needed in my life and jumped at the opportunity to turn my misstep into the Yellow Brick Road.”

“Who would have thought that you of all people would be the one to save me from a lifetime of boring dates?” I tease.

"Just your basic white knight.” He kisses my nose before pressing his forehead to mine.

I grin. “My Seth Cohen in a bomber jacket.”

He presses a kiss to my lips before pulling back and taking my hand in his to lead us to the altar, my heart on the verge of exploding.

Out of all the places I’ve been and all the time that’s passed, I’m thankful for every second of it leading to the breakup that gave me my life. This life.

I can’t help but think about how if it were 2007, my Facebook status would read: Mya Levitt is feeling happier than she’s ever been .