Page 25 of Silver Linings

She shook her head. That didn’t stop him from looking for the nearest bench or chair or any fucking human who looked like they could help. “I forgot to eat breakfast. Just got a little lightheaded.” Her eyes opened back up, and she brought her hand up to his chest. “Sorry about that.”

“Lily.” Gunner’s voice was harsh, and he didn’t fail to notice how tears filled her eyes.

“I’m sorry. It was a busy morning, and I was nervous. I didn’t want to throw up on your shoes in the middle of a courtroom.”

“So instead, you’ll just let yourself pass out here in the hallway?”

Ignoring his question, Lily removed her hand from his chest and pushed herself off the wall.

“Let’s just get back to the house and I can grab something before we do the ceremony in front of your mom.”

“Stubborn woman.”

Gunner moved his hand down her arm until his fingers were lacing through hers.

“Are you okay right now?” He tried his best to soften his voice.

“Yeah,” she whispered.

“Okay.” He walked them out of the building and back towards the truck, his hand still holding hers.

Five minutes after he pulled out of the courthouse parking lot, Gunner stopped outside a small cafe that sat on the edge of town. When she didn’t make any moves to get out of his truck, Gunner sighed.

“Let’s go, Lily. Our first meal as a married couple shouldn’t be something you just throw together while trying not to pass out.”

“Okay.” Her small smile nearly knocked him out of his seat. “It’s been forever since I’ve been here. But it’s always been one of my favorite places.”

“I remember. The grilled cheese with onions, tomato soup and a slice of their death by chocolate cake.”

“That is still my favorite order for sure. I can’t believe you remember that from high school. You know, Sprout loves onions, but now she makes me eat them on peanut butter sandwiches with a big glass of chocolate milk. It’s so good!”

He was sure the horror of what Lily had just described as delicious was written across his face, because she rubbed her hand over her belly, laughing.

“Hey! Don’t judge it until you try it!”

“As appetizing as that sounds, I think I’ll just leave it for you and Sprout to enjoy.”

Nine

He hadn’t kissed her. That was all she could think about as they left the courthouse. Of course, she had to almost pass out. She was so damn embarrassed at the scene she almost caused that it was hard to force her lunch down.

The fact that he hadn’t kissed her haunted her all throughout the time they ate, too. It was still all she could think about as they drove home. And even right then, as she sat in Gia’s room trying to freshen up before they went to say vows in front of Juliette, she still couldn’t stop thinking about how he hadn’t kissed her. Not even a small kiss on her cheek. He was just happy to get the ceremony over.

Just the smallest part of her heart had hoped that the kiss when they were made husband and wife would spark something between them. She knew it was selfish, and she hated herself for trying to force more out of the situation than she had already been gifted.

Sprout must have sensed how upset she was, because she rolled and stretched in Lily’s belly until a Braxton Hick contraction squeezed her into settling down.

“Hey, Lily,” a knock sounded at the door, and Lily watched as Gia popped her head inside. “Are you ready?”

“Of course. I’m already married to the guy.” She smiled as Gia pulled her into a hug.

When they walked into Juliette’s room, Lily gasped. Gia must have set up every candle she could find, and even though it was mid-afternoon, the effect wasn’t lost on her.

Juliette sat in her bed, dressed in a beautiful pale yellow dress instead of her usual silk pajamas, and she waved the girls into the room.

“Jules, what is all this?”

“Gia and I had so much fun getting ready for this. I just wish we could have done more.”

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