Page 177 of Vegas Duology

“And Lexi,” the officiant said.“Do you have something you’d like to share with Leo?”

She nodded and squeezed my hands.“We’ve come so far since that first day all those years ago when our lives changed forever and I want you to know that my heart has never been so full than it is today.I vow to honor you and cherish you and our family every day of my life.You are my love and my inspiration and...”She looked down at our hands.We waited a beat and soon she looked up, tears in her eyes, a smile on her face and she shook her head.“There just aren’t the right words to express what we have, you know?”

I knew exactly what she was saying.The love we had, that we’d always shared.It defied explanation.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Leo.”

Uncaring about the rest of the ceremony, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her deeply and passionately.From somewhere behind me, I heard the justice of the peace declare us husband and wife, but it was merely a formality.

~Lexi~

I could have kissed Leo forever.No.I could have kissed myhusbandforever.

I didn’t realize exactly how much it would mean to have him declared officially my husband.But it was definitely a special feeling knowing that finally we were a family.Legally as well as spiritually.

The small group gathered as witnesses burst into cheers, but it was Ben tugging on my dress who finally forced me to pull away from Leo.

“Come on, Mom,” he said.“That’s gross.Seriously.”

We laughed and bent down to include him in our hug.

I’d meant what I’d said: my heart had never been so full.

“What do you say,” Leo whispered in my ear.“Should we get this party started?”

I nodded and linked my arm through Leo’s.With Ben holding my other hand, we turned to start celebrating with our small group of friends both present and with us through videoconferencing.

“Congratulations, guys!”Keith hollered and let out a whoop.

“It’s about time.”Nicole’s voice came through the speaker attached to her screen.“I’m so happy for you.Leo, give her a big juicy kiss for me.”An order he happily carried out.

We spent the next few minutes making our rounds, including stops by the video screens to check in with Nicole and Enid, and I was so busy with the chaos of the moment that when I felt the first twinge in my belly, I wasn’t sure that’s what it was at all.The second pain was definitely that: a pain.I turned away from the group before I clutched my stomach.I didn’t want anyone to see if there was nothing to see.I focused on a nearby candle flame and drew deep breaths, forcing myself to stay calm.

After a moment, the pain was gone and everything felt normal.I stretched and cautiously bent from side to side, but still...everything felt fine.

Lexi, you’re just being paranoid.Cramps are a normal part of pregnancy.You’re fine.

I’m fine.

I laughed at myself and my paranoia before I turned to rejoin the group.I was being ridiculous.As soon as I turned, my eyes met Leo’s.He raised his eyebrow in question, his concern obvious.I flashed him the biggest and brightest smile I could.Everything was fine.No, it was better than fine.We were married, going to expand our family, and I truly couldn’t be happier.I needed to stop worrying about things that hadn’t happened and weren’t going to happen.

No.Nothing was going to happen.

“Let’s dance!”I called out on a whim.“I feel like dancing.”

Right on cue, music started to play through the speakers, Chantal Kreviazuk’s version of “It Feels Like Home.”Leo took my hand, turned it and placed a kiss in my palm before wrapping it in his own and leading me to the middle of the marble floor.He swept me up in his arms, held me tight and moved me slowly around our makeshift dance floor.I tipped my head into his chest and inhaled deeply the scent that was uniquely my Leo.

“Are you happy?”he whispered as we twirled, my dress floating around my ankles.

I kissed his chest through the cotton of his shirt and looked up into his eyes.“I’ve never been happier.”It was true; my heart felt about to burst.The day had been full of twists and emotional highs and lows, but ultimately, I had my family all together and more importantly, safe.And even more than that, I was Leo’s wife.A detail I hadn’t placed that much importance on in the past, but now that it was my reality, I couldn’t imagine how we’d put it off for so long.“I’m your wife.”

“You are.”

“And you are my husband.”

“That’s true, too.”He bent to kiss me on the cheek, but he missed because another cramp seized my belly and this time I couldn’t hide it.