Page 98 of Enemy Ex's Secret Baby

I flip around to face Lola. “What are you doing here?! Shouldn’t you –”

“Grant came to get me,” my sister says with a sympathetic smile. “Said you needed a pep talk.”

I glance over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of Grant through the cottage where me and the groomsmen were getting ready. He smiles to himself and then disappears. He really has become a good friend. Knew exactly what I needed. My sister.

Jeremiah has been helpful too, but he doesn’t know Gillian like Lola does. Lola is practically Gillian’s other half.

“You look great,” I say, getting to my feet. Her vibrant yellow dress brings out the green in her eyes.

She grins. “So do you. Let me just…” She starts to redistribute strands of my hair.

I try to duck away. “Moooommmm.”

“Relax, I’m trying to help you. You don’t want Gillian to run away, do you?”

“Is that a possibility?!” It’s not, right?

Lola rolls her eyes. “God, you’re such an idiot.”

“I’m about to get married. I’m allowed to be an idiot.”

Her hands settle on my arms. “Axel. You’ll be fine. Gillian’s not going to run away.”

I chew on my lower lip. “Is she excited?”

Lola squeezes. “Of course.”

“Good. Okay. Good.”

“What are you afraid of, Axel?”

I shake my head. “Snakes, for starters.”

“You’re such a dad, oh my god,” she says, slapping me on the arm. Then she starts to tinker with my tie and straightening out the brightly colored tropical flower on my lapel. “You have literally been working toward this moment for like a decade.”

I quirk an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Lola laughs. “Don’t you get it? You and Gillian were literally made for each other. It’s obvious.”

“You think so?” Because I feel the truth of that statement in my soul.

My sister smiles. Lola has been our biggest champion since everything played out this past summer. She likes to lord the betrayal of her only rule over both of us from time to time, but it’s always with a sly grin. Plus, she got Stella out of it and I know none of us would trade that.

“Axel –” Grant calls out from the cottage, poking his head out. “Time for us to head out.”

My heart drops into my stomach. But only for a moment. Because Lola grabs my hand and whispers, “Don’t you dare be nervous. This is the beginning of everything for you.”

* * *

I feel like I’m on autopilot up until I make it up to the altar under a canopy of flowers. The heat has broken for the evening, but I’m still feeling like sweat is beading across my forehead.

I nervously scan the guests though my eyes can’t seem to focus on any of their faces until I clap eyes on my dad who is sitting in the first row, looking grumpy as usual.

Things haven’t been the same since I wriggled the company out from under his iron fist. And that’s a good thing. For once, I think he’s considering retirement. And he’s getting his health in order, something that was never a priority to him before.

Being a grandfather was like a reset for him. Knowing that there was someone to live for beyond his children, to watch grow up and become their own person, softened him.

Still, he looks like the grumpy guy he’s been since Mom passed. But when he sees me looking at him, he sticks his thumb up and gives me a nod.

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