Page 44 of One Whopper of a Love Story

I never would’ve believed that kissing a tall, handsome stranger would be how I found my happily ever after, but then it happened.

Nico slipped the ring on my finger. “Happy birthday, Layla.”

This was, hands down, the best birthday ever.

Chapter 22

Nico

Garrett helped Tessa into his truck, and when he leaned in to kiss her, I closed the front door. I had my own kissing to do.

“How are you feeling? Did you get enough mac and cheese?”

“I’m so full. And that cake was incredible. I’m not sure Tessa is real.” Layla snuggled into the corner of the sofa.

“Be right back.” I slipped into my room and slid her present out from under my bed. “Here. Open this.”

She tore away the paper, then lifted the lid off the box. “It’s beautiful.” The box fell as Layla picked up the charm bracelet.

“I’m not putting a time limit on my next habit. But I want to add charms to this bracelet, marking our special moments. I started you off with a mermaid and a frog.”

“This is amazing.” She snuggled closer to me. “Even with the unexpected trip to the hospital, today has been pretty great. I need to call my parents. Have you thought about when you want to get married?”

I loved that she was already thinking about wedding dates. “You do need to call your parents. I talked to your dad a few weeks ago—over the phone—and he gave me his blessing. They knew this was coming.”

“I’m surprised no one spilled the beans.”

“As far as wedding dates, I’d like to hear your thoughts on the subject.”

She blinked and chewed her bottom lip. Seeing her do that always made me want to kiss her.

“I don’t want anything big, so planning won’t take months and months. What about September? The weather then is usually nice. We could even have an outdoor wedding.”

“We’d have to scour the grounds for ants.”

She swatted my arm. “I’m being serious.”

“Me too. I don’t want anything to happen to you, and I don’t want to pass out in front of all our guests when I have to jab your leg.” I traced the soft curve of her cheek. “But September sounds perfect.”

After wrapping her arms around my neck, she shifted into my lap. “Thank you for the surprise party. And for not changing those plans after what happened.”

“I had everyone on alert, but once you seemed to be feeling better, I kept that plan in place. I’ve had the ring for a while, and I really wanted to hear you say yes.”

“Will we live here?”

“If you want. With my job, I need to live in this county, so I can’t pick up and move to Stadtburg unless I change jobs.”

She brushed her lips on my ear, then feathered her way down my neck. “I like it here.”

“Glad to hear that.” September couldn’t get here fast enough. “Are you thinking early September?”

She giggled. “Or late August.”

Time did its magical thing, and here I was standing at the front of the chapel, holding my breath and waiting for Layla to walk through the double doors at the back of the room.

When the doors opened, I managed one quick gasp of air. Her strapless dress hugged her shape, then spread out in an explosion of ruffles. She looked very much like a mermaid without scales.

I adjusted my collar, and Dag slapped my shoulder.

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