Page 39 of Keeping Happily Ever After

They hadn’t even been dating a full month. Getting married was crazy.Right?

She needed to think about it. On her own. But what she didnotneed to do was talk about it with the ladies. No doubt they’d have some pretty strong opinions about it all. Even though there was still a lot Bella didn’t know about them, she did know that all the women of Glacier Falls had opinions onallthe things. Especially when it came to relationships and marriage.

They were sitting inthewedding venue, for goodness’ sake.

No. She definitely wasn’t going to tell anyone about the wholemarriagething.

“It was really nice,” she offered instead. “We had a fun day snowshoeing and then the cabin. It was all…really romantic. And absolutely perfect since I have to head back to the city tomorrow. It’s all happening so fast.”

“Oh my goodness.” Sarah bounced in her chair. “Tell us about the movie. I knew you were leaving soon, but tomorrow? That’s so fast.”

“That’s why we had to have this shower so fast.” Faith joined the ladies at the table. She held a tray of cupcakes, all of which had a little teddy bear made out of modeling chocolate perched on top of a cloud of what looked like very delicious icing.

“Is that why you had it so last minute?” For half a second, Bella was touched by the gesture, until she remembered that Steph was Hope’s half-sister, and she, too, would be leaving for the city the following day. So if they held the shower early, it was because of that,nother. She almost laughed out loud at herself.

“Of course.” Faith put the tray down and sat across from Bella. “We wanted all of you here.”

It was a really nice thing to say, and it wasn’t lost on Bella, who offered her new friend a smile of gratitude.

“And I have a feeling that this baby is going to come early,” Faith added. “I mean, if she’s anything like my twin sister, she’s going to be a pain in the ass.”

“I amnota pain in the ass.” Hope, in her decorated wheelchair—a surprise from Steph, who now pushed her around—arrived at the table just in time to hear her twin sister’s comment.

Faith winked at Bella before turning to her sister. “Hope? I didn’t see you there.”

“Yeah, right.” Hope laughed. “And you’re right, I am a pain in the ass.” She smiled sweetly at her identical sister. “But I’myourpain in the ass.”

“For better or for worse, right?” Faith groaned. “Oh wait, that’s something else.”

Bella couldn’t help but feel a twinge of…something…at her choice of words.

“Well, I’m glad I could be here for you, Hope,” Bella said quickly. “Congratulations. I can’t wait to meet the little guy.”

“Or girl,” Steph added quickly. “I’m convinced the baby is going to be a girl. With red hair, like her favorite auntie.” Steph twirled her hair around her finger and laughed. They may be genetically connected, but Steph’s signature red hair came from her father’s side. The girls all shared a very blonde—just like the twins—mother.

“Oh, you’re totally right, Steph.” Faith took a cupcake off the tray she’d brought. “But the little jellybeanisgoing to look just like her favorite auntie.”

Everyone laughed as they each selected cupcakes for themselves and raised them in a toast.

“Seriously,” Faith said when they all had a treat. “I’m so excited for you, Hope. The little jellybean is already so loved. I can’t wait until he—orshe—gets here.”

“To Hope.”

“Cheers.”

“To Jelly Bean!”

They alltoastedtheir cupcakes and took big bites full of frosting right as the men walked up to join the group.

Jeremy gave Bella a wink as she struggled with her mouthful of cake. A mouthful of cake she very nearly choked on when Logan said, “I understand there might be another wedding at Ever After soon.”

Logan wasn’t supposed to say anything.

Hell.

Jeremy shouldn’t have even told him that he’d sort of, not really proposed to Bella. Because it wasn’t a proposal—it was more of aputting it out there.Not that he would have been upset if she’d immediately agreed to the idea. Not at all.

Either way, Jeremy didn’t know why he’d told the guys about the wholelet’s get marriedthing, except of course for the fact that he was super excited about the idea and now that he’d actually said it out loud, he couldn’t think of anything else but making Bella his wife. He had to tell someone, and when they got to the party and everyone was there, most of his friends paired up with wives of their own, well...he couldn’t really help it.

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