Page 86 of Beautiful Storm

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be downstairs.”

I laugh again as he closes the door, but when he’s gone my brows furrow.What was that?I may have been joking, but my damn pulse picked up speed at the thought of it. And now I’m going to go downstairs wearing his shirt. To get married.

This is like a soap opera. Next thing you know, he’ll be pinning me against a wall and begging me to touch him. He’ll slip his hand under my shirt and—What the actual fuck, Amelia?Hormones. It’s got to be hormones. Or maybe it’s because he told me the kiss was real. And I felt things that I shouldn’t be feeling.

What would have happened if the fire had never been real? Would we—Nope. Stop right there.We’re moving on from the past.

I rush to the en suite and splash freezing cold water over my face in the hope that it will snap me out of this ludicrous notion, and open the drawer for some toothpaste. Despite what Luke said, I do actually find a brand-new sealed toothbrush, so I take that as a small win and brush my teeth before making a mental note to replace it for him.

After tying my hair in a loose topknot, I quickly get dressed, but pause as I’m buttoning his shirt.This is weird.No matter how I consider it or how many times I tell myself we’re doing this for Bean, it’s weird.

Blowing out a raspberry, I let the shirt hang over my black leggings—the only pants that fit since I haven’t made the move to maternity wear—and straighten the collar. I’m tired, stressed, and a little bit pale, but it is what it is.

Welcome to my wedding day.

Maybe I should have called the hair and makeup artists from the show. But that would require me filling them in on what I’m doing, and I don’t need anyone else telling me how crazy I am. Okay, no one is calling me crazy. If anything, Hayley thinks it’s a smart move, but she also pronounces Z as Zed so what does she know?

I walk down the stairs hesitantly, but the second my bare foot hits the wooden flooring, I stop and take in a breath. Like my appearance, todayis what it is.It’s happening so I have to stop doubting my decision. This is a smart move. And it’s temporary.

“Alright, Baby Daddy. I’m ready,” I announce confidently when I find him in the kitchen. “Let’s do this.”

Luke chuckles as he turns around, but the second he sees me he pauses, his eyes full of fire. “Damn,you look good in my shirt, Ace. It’s time to make you my wife.”

Oh God.My heart skips but I ignore it. I was not prepared for him to say that. And I was not prepared for him to use my old nickname.But there’s no way in hell I’m drawing attention to it.

“And are you both here of your own free will?” the officiant asks and I almost snap.What kind of question is that?No one asked me that at my wedding to Preston. My eyes flash to Lainey and Thomas—our witnesses—their eyes widening at the same time mine do.

“Yes, we are,” I nervously answer for both of us before realizing my mistake when Thomas smiles.

“We?”

“Sorry.” I grimace.

“I am too, your honor,” Luke finally speaks, making us all laugh.

“I’m not a judge. But thank you for the promotion. Shall we begin?”

“Please.” I hold back another nervous giggle as our officiant glances down at her paperwork.

“We’re here today to witness the marriage of Luke Harrison Bennett and Amelia Jay Rosenberg.”

I twist toward Luke when she says “Jay” instead of Joy, but I recover when he squeezes my leg off camera, my genuine smile shining through the shock. The officiant continues on, seemingly unaware of the silent conversation that transpired between us, and I make a mental note to double check the legal certificate has the correct name. Though, I know Luke better than that. He would have made sure everything was correct down the very last period.

I’m lost in my thoughts, listening to the officiant give her spiel until it comes time to repeat after her and Luke squeezes my leg again before turning me around to face him. And thank God for that because I would have directed my words to the screen. “I, AmeliaJayRosenberg, take you, Luke Harrison Bennett, to be my lawful wedded husband.”

Luke winks as the officiant gives him the same line, and when he repeats it, the strangest warmth floods my chest. “I, Luke Harrison Bennett, take you, Amelia Jay Rosenberg, to be my lawful wedded wife.”

And that’s it. We’re married. I’m married. Again. And it doesn’t feel as wrong as I thought it would.

“Luke mentioned that you won’t be exchanging rings, so by the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may share your first kiss.”

Our what?Dammit, how did we forget that part?

Luke spins me again until we’re face-to-face, but while I expect him to maul me with an over-the-top kiss, he surprises me by gently pressing his lips to mine, sending a spark through me asmy heart fires. I’m struck still as emotions warms my chest until someone claps and Lainey cheers, breaking my trance. Then it’s over. It’s done. We say our goodbyes and the officiant drops off the video call, leaving the four of us alone, while my mind spins.

Lainey’s the first to speak, or maybe it’s more of a squeal. “You’re married. My big brother is married.”

“Lainey. You know—”

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