Page 24 of Falling for the Forward

He shakes his head. “You’re insane. But don’t say I didn’t try to talk some sense into you.”

“I have to go get pictures done.”

I walk away, knowing he’s right. Thisisinsane. But Chad has me backed into a corner, and this could be my only hope of keeping custody of the girls. Aunt Rosie is coming this weekend, when I have a rare Friday and Saturday night off, to stay with the girls so Suki and I can have a quick “honeymoon.”

That’ll be awkward as fuck, but I guess we should complete the charade.

The photographer poses me and the girls in front of the fireplace, the pig squealing in Charlotte’s arms like he’s being tortured.

“Charlotte, ditch the pig,” I say.

“No, he’s part of our family.”

The photographer snaps a photo I’ll definitely look pissed off in. We only have around a dozen guests and all of them are staring at us right now.

“Do you want me to hold him?” Leo offers.

“No,” Hallie answers. “I’ll take him. He loves me. He’s my darling.”

I swear the pig has put on five pounds already, and we just got him a few days ago. With her little hands, she can barely hold him. She wraps her arms around his midsection, his squeals getting louder as his legs hang down.

“Give me the damn pig,” I say wearily.

She passes him to me and I cradle him, trying to smile as the pig snorts and roots its nose around on my face. Bash and Leo are standing near the photographer, both taking their own photos. Fuckers.

Dex claps his hands. “Okay, we’ll have to finish up photos later. It’s time to move into our positions for the ceremony.”

My blood pressure ticks upward as I go to the smallXDex made for me with painter’s tape. My living room is large, but it still feels like a tight fit for a dozen guests, me, Bash and Leo, the girls, the pig and the flower arch thing.

I tug on the collar of my dress shirt. At least Bash and Leo are standing up here with me, both of them in suits because there wasn’t enough time for them to get fitted for tuxes.

I go to so many charity dinners that I own a tux. Fortunately, it still fits well even though I’ve been stepping up my arm and shoulder workouts this season.

My dress shoes feel tight and I’m sweating. The string quartet Dex hired starts up and I square my shoulders. I have to make it look like I actually want to be here right now, even though I wanted to exchange vows at the courthouse and be done with it.

Our handful of guests stand as Suki walks down the stairs. Once she turns the corner, I get my first look at her since yesterday. She’s on her friend Harry’s arm, her expression a perfect mixture of nervous and serene.

I, on the other hand, turn anything but serene, like a switch was just flipped inside me. She’s wearing a long, sleeveless, off-white dress with pearls sewn into the bodice and skirt in intricate, swirling designs. It hugs every one of her curves I’ve never paid attention to until this moment.

She’s not just beautiful--she’s stunning. Her hair is styled simply in a thick knot at her neck, a delicate tiara atop her head. Though her everyday look is very little makeup, today she looks like she belongs in a fashion magazine, the green in her eyes highlighted by her dramatic eye makeup.

My pulse is pounding like it does in anticipation of a high-stakes game. This isn’t real, but it’s still fucking with my head. That’s my futurewifewalking toward me.

Harry smiles at me when they reach the end of their short walk. Suki passes Mara her small bouquet of flowers and I catch a glimpse of the back of her dress, which is open all the way to the top of her waist. Fuck me, even her back is sexy.

She reaches for me and I take her much smaller hands in mine.

Our officiant starts the ceremony and I hear his words, but they don’t really sink in. I can’t look at or think about anything but Suki right now. She’s glowing. I feel an urge to reach over and cup the back of her bare neck and pull her closer.

That’s crazy. I’m just caught up in the moment. I have to stay focused.

Dex wrote our short, to-the-point vows. I look into her eyes as I recite mine, the depth of promising to love and honor one womanforeverhitting me even though I’m not really doing it.

I’m not made that way. My dad broke his promises to my mom and I saw what it did to her. I won’t do that to anyone, ever.

Suki does her vows perfectly, even promising to love and be there for the girls forever. I feel her sincerity. We talked about things alone last night and she asked for my promise that even when we end this fake marriage, she can still have a close relationship with the girls.

My sister’s death was a brutal twist of fate. I’m so damn lucky the nanny agency happened to send me someone who genuinely cares about my nieces.

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