Page 100 of Leave Before I Love You
“Relax,” I say, rolling my eyes to mask my nerves. “I’ll find a good way to tell them we’re married.”
“And pregnant.”
“That’s in the fine print. Let’s start with the main contract first.” I wave him off. “Just like I trusted you to keep us alive on that island, you’re going to have to trust me to handle what I handle best. Henny, you know I have a way of telling people what they might not want to hear and still getting them to love me in the process. It’s my charm.”
Henry grins, but his eyes are tender, like he knows how much I need his quiet reassurance. He leans over and presses a kiss to my temple. “You’re definitely something, babe.”
I glance toward the house and take a steadying breath.
Here goes nothing.
When we walk inside, my mom is there to greet us at the door, her usual polished self in a cream blouse and gold jewelry. She smiles warmly, pulling me into a hug first, then Henry.
“It’s so nice to see you two,” she says, oblivious to the whirlwind of news we’re carrying or the fact that Henry and I arrived together—like a couple.
We head toward the kitchen, where the rest of the family is gathered. Beau and June are sitting at the island, with little Addy on Beau’s lap, stealing bites of fresh bread from the charcuterie board Chef Stone must’ve just set out. My dad is standing by the counter, sipping on a glass of wine.
But as we step fully into the room, my mom pulls something out from behind her back and plops it down on the counter in front of us. A tabloid magazine. Right there on the cover is a picture of Henry and me outside the Vegas chapel, the headline blaring,Island Survivors Tie the Knot!
“Got any news to share?” my mom asks, arching a perfectly shaped brow.
Henry freezes next to me, his eyes wide with panic. And Beau bursts into laughter so loud it makes Addy jump.
I stare at the magazine for a beat, my mind spinning. Then, in true Avery Banks fashion, I recover. Cool as a cucumber, I flash them all a breezy smile. “Oh yeah, Henry and I got married.”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what this tabloid told us,” my dad says, tapping his finger against the headline. “Which is wild because I thought this was news I’d hear from my daughter and…new son-in-law.”
Henry grimaces. “I’m sorry, Neil. Everything happened kind of fast.”
“And I’m pregnant too,” I chime in, becausewhy not drop all thebombs at once?Henry’s head whips toward me like I just said aliens landed in the backyard.
Both of my parents’ jaws drop.
“But that’s not why we got married,” I add quickly. “We got married because Henry is madly in love with me and couldn’t imagine spending another day without me as his wife.”
Henry, to his credit, chuckles and wraps an arm around me, kissing my forehead. “She’s not wrong.”
“See? He loves me.” I grin up at him. “And I love him too.”
For a moment, it’s as if everyone else in the room disappears. We’re lost in each other’s eyes, and I’m hit with this overwhelming wave of love for the man standing beside me.
Then my dad clears his throat. “I mean, I was a little hurt,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “But then I thought about how much money I’m going to save.”
“Money you’re going to save?” I ask, confusion probably making those horrid eleven lines want to pop out on my forehead.
“No wedding,” he says with a smug grin.
“Oh, Daddy, you’re so funny.” I pat his arm, giving him a sweet smile. “Of course I’m having a wedding. Abigwedding. I mean, obviously, we’re looking at the Biltmore or Vizcaya Museum for the reception—somewhere withgrandeur, you know? Chandeliers and maybe peacocks roaming the gardens for dramatic flair. And then there’s the dress—I’m thinking something custom from Oscar de la Renta or maybe Monique Lhuillier. And, of course, Louboutins for the shoes because what kind of bridedoesn’twear red bottoms? Oh, and we’ll need to book a live band—like one of those insane ten-piece jazz orchestras. Maybe we’ll fly them in from New Orleans or Memphis or New York or something. And, of course, the catering will have to be Michelin-star quality. You wouldn’t want me serving the guests justanything, right?”
I rattle it all off like it’s no big deal, while my dad just stands there blinking at me, probably calculating how much this is all going to cost in his head.
“But,” I add with a sweet smile, “don’t worry. You have at least a year to save for it. No way I’m going to be one of those pregnant brides.”
My dad sighs heavily, rubbing his face, but then he laughs, shaking his head. “God help me.”
“Actually,” my mom speaks up. “We have some news. Something we want to show you two.” She leads us toward the terrace doors, which are covered with blackout curtains. With a little flair, she pulls the curtains back to reveal the terrace, and my jaw drops.
The terrace is covered in twinkle lights, with flowers and balloons everywhere. A lit-up sign reads,Congratulations, Henry and Avery!And out there waiting for us is everyone we love—Ronnie, Maverick, my grandparents, Henry’s employees from Adrenaline Junkie, my old lady gal pals from The Pines. The works.
