Page 93 of Imperfect Match (Imperfect Match 1)
When she found out we were having a baby, Willow regretted that choice since there is no denying it with her very prominent bump. She’s seven months along and absolutely radiant.
“I’ll do improv,” Leo offers. “My teacher says I’m totally ready.” And before I can stop him, he’s in the center of the aisle.
“Hey everyone! I’m excited to be here with you today. My brother is marrying Willow, which you all know, but in case you made a wrong right turn on your way to someone else’s wedding …”
Crickets.
Oh, I’m going to die for this.
“Tough crowd.” He chuckles. “I met Willow a few years ago when my brother let me come live in his apartment, which I guess is now my apartment, since he’s moved out. I’ve known Reid since, well, since the day I was born. Since he’s my brother and all …”
Dear God, this is why he’s broke. It’s time to take matters into my own hands before my brother is booed out of my wedding.
“Okay,” I say and clap Leo on the shoulder. “Willow is going to be down soon and then we’ll get on with the wedding. I know it’s hot, and you’re all sweltering, but just give me a few minutes and I’ll be right back. Try not to kill the entertainment, it’s unpaid.”
I head up the aisle and into the house. After climbing the stairs two at a time, I hear her voice.
“He’s never going to want me!”
“Willow, stop, you’re being crazy, of course Reid will want you,” her mother tries to soothe her.
“What’s that saying? Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? I’m an entire herd of cows, and he’s going to take one look at me and run away.”
I never understood the guys at work who would talk about their pregnant wives being irrational. It made no sense how a woman that was perfectly normal became someone else, and now I get it. The hormones make them fucking crazy.
Well, I can handle crazy, I was born and raised in that. What I can’t handle is her thinking that I don’t want her.
“Not a chance of that, Wills,” I tell her as I open the door and look at her. I know we’re not supposed to see the bride before the wedding, but I snuck out at six am this morning, so I think that ship sailed.
However, nothing could’ve ever prepared me for this moment. She’s stunning. Her long blond hair is in some kind of twists and curls down at the base of her neck. She has a lace veil that frames her perfect face, and she rests her hands on her swollen belly over the robe she’s wearing. Willow is absolutely breathtaking.
“Run away while you can, Reid.” She sniffs and turns her back to me.
“Only place I’m running is to you, so get your gorgeous ass down there and marry me.”
“Just go away.”
“Not a chance of that.”
Her tear-filled eyes meet mine. “I can’t zip my dress. I can’t marry you if I don’t have a dress.”
“I don’t care if you’re naked. We’re getting married today.”
She shakes her head and points at her stomach. “You did this.”
“Damn right I did.”
“Well, I’m not going down there naked. No dress, no wedding.”
I walk over to her, cupping her face in my hand. “Willow Hayes, that’s the last time that name will ever be used. I don’t care if you’re wearing a bedsheet, nothing is going to stop me from making you my wife today. If that means I get the priest up here and I marry you in this bedroom, then so be it.”
A tear falls down her cheek. “You still want me?”
As if that’s a question. “Always.”
“Even now when I’m fat and puffy?”
“You’re not fat and you’re not puffy. You’re perfect.”
