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“What are you doing here?” I ask, my jaw slightly open as I stare at my best friend where she stands on my mom’s front porch.

“Surprise!” she says, and she giggles. “I’m here to see this new house this football player of yours bought for you.”

I giggle. “Come on in,” I say, and I open the door wider to my mom’s house. I’m currently taking a break from the new house. I’ve been back and forth most of the morning, dropping things off so I’m ready for Tristan when he gets back home tomorrow, and my mom shooed me out after the last trip, telling me I had to rest.

She’s right. I’m supposed to be resting, not running back and forth moving into a new home.

So I’ve been sitting on the couch for the last hour, doing exactly as she said. I watched Sara’s car pull up in front of my mom’s house, and I went to the door immediately as I watched her get out of the car and walk up the driveway.

“I’m just so happy you’re here,” I say, pulling her into a hug.

“That’s two weekends in a row with your bestie,” she says with a flip of her hair, and I giggle. “So first, let’s catch up. Tell me all the things.”

“Not much new since I saw you last weekend,” I admit. “But I did get my new phone working.” I grin as I hold it up to show it off.

“Maybe consider memorizing your password in case it ever happens again. And maybe a phone number or two.”

I giggle. “Sage advice.”

“Where’s the boy? Do I get to meet him?” she asks.

I shake my head. “Sorry, babe. He’s in Vegas for team stuff. They have these off-season workouts that aren’t technically mandatory, but he’s definitely expected to be there.”

She twists her lips. “Another time then.”

I nod. “Ready to go see the house?”

“Can I use your restroom first? And I hate to bother you, but could I get some water before we go?”

“Of course,” I say. “Excuse me for being a terrible hostess and not offering those things. I’m just so surprised you’re here in the best way.”

She grins. “Me too, girl. Me too.”

I point down the hall to where the restroom is, and I grab a bottle of water from the fridge. I set out a plate with some cheese, grapes, and crackers on it, too, and when she comes out, she sits across from me at the table.

“Have you thought about when you two are getting married?” she asks, nodding down to the ring sparkling on my hand.

I lift a shoulder. “We don’t have a date set in stone. At first I thought I wanted to wait until the baby got here, but I’m not so sure anymore.”

Her brows dip. “What are you thinking?”

“Maybe before then,” I admit.

She gasps a little. “Before then? But isn’t the baby due in like…”

“Less than two months?” I fill in for her, and then I nod. “Yeah.”

“Why so fast?”

“I want to be his wife,” I say softly. “It’s everything I wanted since I was twelve.”

“Right.” She nods like she already knows that. “And you’ve waited this long. So why the rush?”

I blow out a breath. There are a lot of reasons I want to do it sooner than later.

For one thing, I want Tristan’s dad to be there. It’s important to him, and it’s important to me.

I haven’t mentioned Russ’s illness to Sara, though, and it’s not my story to tell.

But it’s not just that. I’m anxious about the spotlight, and I don’t want our big day splashed all over the media because of who he is. I want it to be intimate and special and just for the two of us. And what better way to achieve that than to do it in nearly total secrecy?

But I don’t mention that, either. Instead, I set my hand on my stomach and allow her to draw her own conclusions. I glance over at her meaningfully, and her eyes widen a little as understanding dawns.

“You’re protecting yourself and the baby,” she murmurs.

“A stable home with two loving parents versus a broken home where the doctor is cheating on his wife? Seems like Tristan and I would have the advantage there.”

“You would,” she agrees.

I reach across the table and grab her hand. “I want you there. I want you to be my maid of honor.”

Tears glisten in her eyes at my words. “I would love to be, Tessa.” We’re both quiet a beat, and then she says, “Here?”

I shrug. “I’m thinking Vegas, as long as my doctor clears it. You up for a little trip?”

She giggles. “I’ve never been there.”

“Me neither, but I’m moving there in a few months, so time to get acquainted.”

“I’m in for whatever you need from me, girlfriend.” She pauses, and then she narrows her eyes at me. “Wait a minute. Does this mean you’re getting married before me?”

I shrug. “I mean…I have to talk to Tristan first, but it’s looking that way, isn’t it?”

She shakes her head with wonder. “I can’t get over it. I’m just so freaking happy for you. At Christmas I was so worried about you. You were devastated after what Cam did to you, and rightly so. I swear I glare at him every time I see him in the office, by the way. And now you’re getting everything you deserved. You’re getting your happy ending.”

She stands and I do, too, as she pulls me up and hugs me.

“Love you, my friend,” I murmur into our embrace.

“I love you, too, and I’m so happy for you.” She squeezes me once more before she lets me go. “Now go get your cute little butt changed so you can take me on a tour of this house your boy bought you.”

I grin. It sounds so weird hearing her describe it that way, but this is reality, and I couldn’t be happier.