Page 183 of From Best Friend to Bride
He laughed as he stopped in front of me, and it softly died out. “Do you mean it, Deli?”
“Mean what? That I’m in love with you?” I raised my eyebrows. “Of course, when have I ever lied to you?”
“Well, there was that time in year four when you never gave my pencil back. And that hoodie you borrowed when we were fifteen that still lives in your drawer, and—”
“Shh,” I said, pressing my finger to his lips. “About anything important, silly.”
“I liked that hoodie.”
“You can have it back, then.”
“It won’t fit me now.”
“What are you whinging about, then?”
“Just because I can.” He grinned and kissed me. “Hey, call me that thing again.”
I frowned. “Again?”
“Yes, again.” He drew me closer to him, snaking his arms around my waist.
“Okay. Husband.” I tilted my head to the side, studying his handsome face. “Husband, husband, husband, husba—wait, are you getting hard?”
He answered me with a kiss. A deep, slow kiss that stoked my own arousal, and before I knew it, we were on the sofa with him beneath me and me on his lap.
“Wife,” he said, sliding my dressing gown off my shoulders. “My pretty wife. I love you.”
I pressed my lips to his, smiling against his mouth. “I love you, too, husband.”
EPILOGUE
DELILAH
Two Months Later
“I’m sorry we lied, Nana,” I said softly, wiping the cloth over the top of her gravestone. “I just… Well, I wanted you to be happy. I didn’t want you to worry about me, and it seemed like the easiest option at the time. It was a bit silly, I guess, looking back at it.”
There was no response, of course. Just a gentle breeze rustling the leaves on the trees.
“And now everything has sorted itself out, I suppose I just wanted to come clean, even if it has taken me a little while. I think going on our honeymoon for our anniversary next week has woken me up. I know you’re not here and you can’t actually hear me, but I’d like to believe you’ve left a little piece of you behind to watch over us.” I spritzed the front of the stone and gently cleaned it in circular motions. “You’ll forgive us, won’t you? More than anything, Nana, I’m so happy you were at my wedding and walked me down the aisle. It’s one of my most precious memories with you.”
I leant against the headstone and squeezed my eyes closed, gripping it tightly.
“I miss you so much,” I whispered. “Your little Judy cow is so healthy and friendly. Spice is mostly outside now, although she still refuses to sleep anywhere other than the boot room withEsmerelda. She’s finally learnt manners, by the way, although she does still zoom everywhere.”
“And she did poop in your sister’s shoe last week,” Fred added from behind me. “Spice is much better trained.”
I laughed through my tears. “Yeah, in both her shoes, too. Can you believe it?”
“She was furious.” He chuckled. “Here’s the flowers. They’re all trimmed properly.”
I smiled and took the vase from him. “Here you go, Nana. They’re fresh from the estate. Your favourites.” I settled them in front of her headstone and shuffled back.
“Feel better?” Fred asked, glancing down at me.
I nodded. “Seems silly, doesn’t it? Wanting to come clean even though she’s not here.”
“Not really. I know how guilty you felt about lying to her.” His voice was soft, and he reached down to smooth the top of my head. “If this makes you feel better, then I’m sure she’d want to know, too.”
