There is no fear in love.

Nate’s words rang in my mind, beyond the final pronouncement of Lindsey and Bryce as husband and wife.

He spoke every word during the reading with that playboy confidence he used to chase me. It wasn’t his assigned passage, but he didn’t recite it for Lindsey and Bryce.

He read it to me.

For me.

Everything inside me turned from a jumble of confusion into a mooshed mess of panic, anxiety, and fear. My head hurt, I hadn’t slept, and every beat of my heart threatened to shatter it into a million jagged, lovesick pieces.

I wanted Nate, but I would not marry him because we were having a baby. I wasn’t going to risk everything on a man who would use marriage as an excuse for a mistake.

I could protect my own baby, and I didn’t need a ring on my finger to justify carrying the child.

I certainly didn’t need some bad boy swooping in to play baby daddy while he beat the shit out of our best friend ten minutes before the start of the wedding.

Rick bled through the ceremony, and we’d never get the deposit back on a blood-stained tux.

Stress cracked us all, and the only tape I had to piece us together was supposed to stripe my sister’s chest so her dress wouldn’t reveal the tips of her wedding bells for everyone to see.

It’d be a miracle if I survived the rest of the wedding without any more fistfights, banishments from the party, or unexpected pregnancies.

The bridal procession crossed out of the church and into the courtyard outside. The guests lined up to congratulate the new bride and groom.

No one was throwing rice. Not good. I hiked up my dress so I could run inside for the bag, but Rick stopped me.

“Don’t bother,” he said. “The caterers accidentally cooked it.”

Well, the party was off to a good start. At least we’d have another side for the taco bar.

Lindsey didn’t seem to mind the riceless well-wishing. She leapt into Bryce’s arms and gave him a kiss. The crowd cheered, and the bridal party hooted.

I applauded, though my hands stilled as I caught Nate’s gaze. He broke away from the groomsmen and stalked towards me.

Now or never.

I had no idea if I was ready to confront him.

Fortunately, my mother bombarded me. It might have been the first time I was relieved to see her.

She snaked her hand around my wrist and tugged me off the stairs to the church. Her dress didn’t fit her, and the hoochie-momma red mortified Lindsey, but at least we’d talked her out of singing Natural Woman during the ceremony.

She’d sing it during the reception instead.

Mom dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

“You were good to your sister today.” She stroked my cheek. “I’m proud of you.”

My heart swelled. I loved hearing that from Mom so much that I let it slide that I could only do right by her if I was doing right by Lindsey.

“Thanks, Mom.”

She tucked my hair behind my ear. Brushed a wrinkle from my dress.

Frowned at how the shoes fit my feet.

I cleared my throat to return her attention to me. She smiled.

“I wish you hadn’t told me I was going to be a grandma in such a fitful way today.”

I braced for it.

“But…I know you’ll be a better mother than I was.”

My eyes widened. I nearly choked. It was as close to an apology and compliment as I could get, even if she backhanded it to me. She expected sympathy, for me to assure her she was an excellent mother. That was fine. It was the best I had gotten out of Mom in forever.

“You’re not mad at me?” I asked.

“You can’t be mad about a baby.”

“That’s what Dad said.”

“Well…” She searched over the courtyard, watching as he gave Lindsey a big hug. “He’s pretty wise about some things. Certainly not everything, but you should listen to your daddy about that. Nothing made us happier than raising you girls.”

“Really?”

“If I had paid half as much attention to him as I did when I chased you rugrats around…” Mom shook her head. “Anyway. You keep that little bundle close to your heart. Sometimes it’s hard to show how much you really care. But you’re a special girl, Mandy. Your baby will always know.”

Mom kissed my cheek before screeching to meet her cousin. I’d never make it through this reception without breaking down.

I expected his hand on my arm, but I wasn’t ready to deal with him in the middle of the festivities, surrounded by friends, family, and everyone already gossiping about the expecting Prescott girl.

“Nate, later,” I said. “Please.”

His voice was low, a comforting grumble. “Not later. Right now. We have to talk.”

“Not here.”

“I won’t wait any longer.” He pressed close behind me. “Come on. We’ll find some place quiet…”

His hand grasped mine. My stomach churned.

Oh God, I could not throw up in the middle of the wedding.

Fortunately, Lindsey squealed.

“Pictures!” My sister clapped her hands, summoning her bridesmaids to a tight circle of drunken, bouncing fun. “Mandy, come here!”

Oh, no way was I jumping into that fray. The strapless dress already struggled to contain my chest. One good jiggle and I’d cause an even bigger scandal than the rumor of my secret pregnancy.

The other bridesmaids pulled me from Nate. Lindsey hugged me, squeezing until I thought she’d pop the baby out. She ordered everyone away and demanded the first picture be with me.

I knew my sister. The next hour of our lives would become a hellish blitz of flashes, poses, and duck-faces. As per her instructions, we became a team of string-less marionettes for her wedding pleasure.

She shoved me into Rick’s arms and ordered me to smile with a bouquet of billowing white flowers. He didn’t need pictures, he needed pain-killers. Nate had handed him a baggie of ice, but it hadn’t stemmed the swelling yet.

Lindsey hummed. “Rick, turn to your right. Pose with your good side.”

“I can’t feel my good side,” he grumbled.

“Just guess.”

I reached for his cheek, touching the tender injury. “I’m sorry.”

Lindsey snapped at me. “Mandy! Hands down!”

“Sorry,” I said as he flinched and my sister shrieked. “Are you hurt?”

Rick shrugged, offering a pained smile, but nothing that couldn’t be Photoshopped to Lindsey’s specifications. “I’ll be okay. Probably deserved it.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I should have talked to Nate first.” Rick wound his arm in mine. “He’s crazy about you.”

I didn’t answer. The flashes momentarily blinded me, and I used it as an excuse to avoid the conversation. Rick lowered his voice.

“I know it’s scary,” he said. “And I know he hasn’t been the greatest man in the world. But you’re a girl worth changing for.”

“You’re very sweet.”

“You should go find him.”

I squeezed his arm. “What if…what if that’s a mistake?”

Rick grimaced for the camera one last time before the rest of the bridesmaids crashed our picture. “And what if it’s the greatest thing you ever did?”

Lindsey berated the photographer into a hundred different shots of her “second kiss” with Bryce, and Rick casually passed his brother a tube of Chap Stick for the next twenty she demanded.

I snuck away once Lindsey began her one-on-one pictures with the bridesmaids, peeking through the church to find Nate. Of course, I wasn’t permitted to cross the threshold into the yard where the reception was held, not until the bridal party was formally introduced. I nearly broke out anyway.

Bryce caught me before I took a step.

“Nate’s gone,” he said. “Didn’t he tell you?”

My heart stopped—the only defense it had against breaking. I collapsed against the wall, my eyes welling with tears.

“Whoa! No!” Bryce pulled me into a hug. “The caterers didn’t have a bartender like we thought. There’s no alcohol.”

“Nate’s gone…and now there’s nothing to drink?” I covered my face. “This is a disaster.”

“Mandy, listen to me. Nate went to help. He’s grabbing a couple kegs from Arrogance.” Bryce sucked in a breath. “Ohh, you thought I meant…that he left you.”

No wonder Lindsey was always pissed at him. I slapped his arm.

“When’s he coming back?”

“Hopefully soon. We have to serve dinner.”

I groaned. Suddenly when I had to talk to him, Nate wasn’t around. This wasn’t fair, especially since I couldn’t drink whatever he’d bring to the party.

We lined up in the church, arranged by couple. Originally, Lindsey demanded each of us make up our own dance when we were announced. However, I was a klutz, and Rick was a cardiologist who lost the ability to dance in lieu of conducting surgeries. He twirled me instead. Safe and easy.

We sat as the DJ announced the newlyweds, but I stared only at Nate’s vacant seat. My heart pounded. I had no idea what I’d say to him when I finally had the chance to face him, but I couldn’t hide how I felt anymore. I spent nearly three months denying my feelings to everyone, including myself. It did nothing but cause problems.

If I wanted a relationship with Nate…that meant confronting every mistake, every insecurity, and every fear head on.

It took a pregnancy for me to learn that lesson, but it was going to stick.

I wanted Nate, and nothing was going to stop me from getting him.

Except a lack of booze.

The DJ promised that the alcohol was on its way, and the caterers did their best with lemonade and water. I sucked on my ginger ale and chewed the straw as I waited for him to return.

At least the reception looked amazing. A field of tables with white tablecloths lined the party, and we had enough room for a big dancing area. As an additional perk, the church had a small playground to entertain the kids running amuck.

Everyone sat to watch Lindsey and Bryce’s first dance—not the crazy Dirty Dancing routine she planned, but, to my surprise, Bryce’s favorite song. The held each other close and swayed to the music.

I had no doubt that it would be my sister’s favorite part of her special day.

It was the first time I was envious of Lindsey.

Dinner was served before Nate returned. I picked over the vegetarian meal, actually enjoying the polenta and mushrooms. I wasn’t hungry though. I bit my lip until it was raw and shredded my napkin under the table.

I popped out of my seat the instant I saw the glint of sunlight strike the metal kegs. Nate carried in more alcohol than we could possibly serve, and he earned a rancorous applause. He took a bow and laughed, but he searched only for me.

This was it.

I had to confront him. He had to know how I felt.

I slipped away from the table.

Then someone handed Lindsey a microphone. She grabbed my wrist before I escaped.

“Everyone…” My sister pouted until she had everyone’s undivided attention. “I want to thank you all for coming on this special day.”

The guests applauded. A few people tapped their glasses with their spoons, and Lindsey grabbed Bryce by the collar to haul him in for a kiss. It earned another round of cheers.

“I know traditionally everyone is supposed to toast me…”

Reflexively, the bridesmaids and I clamored over the table to find anything to raise in her honor. Carmen spilled her water, grabbed a candle, and set the tablecloth on fire. I lifted both my drink and Rick’s, which, coincidentally, helped to put out the flames.

Lindsey took the drink from Bryce’s hand and continued.

“But I’d like to make my own toast,” she said. “There is one person I want to thank more than anyone in this world. The one who stood by me. Indulged my every request. Told me when I was being unreasonable but still tried to please me. The one who put me first before anything else.”

Bryce grinned, but Lindsey turned to me.

“My sister is the greatest friend anyone could have. Thank you, Mandy. None of this could have happened without you.”

Well, I couldn’t run away now.

I hugged my sister. Lindsey relished the applause, but she pulled back and crinkled her nose.

“Now hurry up with your toast. You have to help me go to the bathroom.”

Oh, great.

Lindsey and Bryce held hands as I delivered a much abbreviated speech, wishing Lindsey a lifetime of happiness and Bryce all the luck in the world. Rick stood, keeping his short.

“To the newlyweds—we’ve been friends our whole lives, and nothing makes me happier than seeing everyone together. I wish us all the best in our new relationships. We are very fortunate that our group is so strong, passionate, and above all else, protective…even to a fault.”

Rick touched his cheek. Bryce laughed and earned a smack from Lindsey.

“But that just means we love each other as friends, sisters, brothers, and, finally, couples. Let’s never forget that.”

Glasses clinked, and Rick pulled me into a warm hug. I peeked over his shoulder. Nate waited at the bar, arms crossed. He had helped to tap the keg and serve the initial drinks, but now he was free.

And so was I.

This was really it.

I made it two steps before Lindsey dragged me to the bathroom.

Goddamn it. This wasn’t happening. Why couldn’t I get two seconds alone with the father of my unborn child?

Lindsey stuffed herself in the bathroom, walking sideways to fit her dress through the door. I held out the precut garbage bag, hoping the trick we found on Pinterest would work.

All she had to do was step inside and peel the garbage bag up to gather the layers of the dress. Then she could do her deed quickly and effectively.

The guests might not have had alcohol yet, but my sister sure had.

Lindsey stumbled and pierced the plastic with her heel. She ripped the bag over her waist. I groaned, but she shredded it above her head with a roar.

“Mandy! I gotta pee!”

Flashbacks of the bachelorette party blinked into my mind like images of ‘Nam. This was exactly what motherhood was going to be like…except I probably shouldn’t trap my kid inside a plastic bag.

“Hold on, I have to find another—”

“No! I have to go now!”

Oh lord. This was one of those moments that would redefine our relationship.

Lindsey didn’t have to beg. Hopefully she’d drink enough tonight that she wouldn’t remember it in the morning.

We both struggled into the stall, and Lindsey pranced while I gathered the folds of her dress. I looked away and let her grab a little too high on the back of my leg to steady herself. The door couldn’t close, and my sister’s giggling fit wouldn’t make this go any quicker or neater.

“We’re never talking about this again,” I said.

Lindsey patted my ass. “Deal. Did you find Nate yet?”

Oh lord, this so wasn’t the time.

“Why? You think he’d do a better job at helping you pee than I am?”

“Ha, ha, very funny.” Lindsey wobbled, but she hadn’t fallen yet. I gathered more of her dress to keep her steady. “You know what your problem is?”

“That I’m sharing a bathroom stall with you?”

“Well, that’s a big one.”

She finished and cleared her throat. Apparently her new wedding ring was too heavy to reach for the toilet paper herself. I grappled with the dispenser and imagined this would be good, billable time for the therapist who’d make a fortune off of my family.

I so didn’t sign up for a tinkle tantrum when I agreed to be her Maid of Honor.

Lindsey did her best. She looked at me for help.

“No way,” I said.

She grumbled. “Can’t count on you for anything.”

She eventually worked it out and flushed. We popped out of the stall, and I helped to rearrange her dress. She admired her ring while I ensured she was decent to return to the party.

“Mandy…” My sister washed her hands and watched me in the mirror. “I know you think that love is something mysterious and destined by fate. Well, it isn’t. You and Nate found each other. It’s as simple as that. Now you have the choice—take him or leave him. And I really hope you take him.”

Easy for her to say. She hooked her prince in high school.

“Is there ever a sign that you’re making the right decision?” I asked.

“You want a sign?” Lindsey grabbed her bouquet and tossed it at me. I caught it with a gasp. “There’s a pretty big one.”

“Ominous,” I said.

“Is it really?”

No.

It wasn’t.

Lindsey marched me out of the bathroom and pointed me toward Nate.

“I think it’s time you two talked…” She squeezed my shoulders. “And stop hiding behind the wedding and the family. You deserve to be happy too, rat face.”

“Thanks, bubble butt.”

The dinner had finished, and the DJ began his first set. The crowds moved from the taco bar and cookie table and danced in the grass.

I stared only at one man. He approached and took my hand.

“It’s time,” Nate said.

“I know.” I glanced over the party. “Where?”

“Follow me.”

The fellowship hall was jammed with people. The dancing area crowded with Mom, Dad, the Washingtons, and everyone else in their generation getting down to the best hits of the 1970s. Our table giggled as the first round of beer went down in a chugging contest. Rick served a second to the groomsmen.

Nate tugged my hand and led me to the corner of the yard. We’d rented a photo booth as something fun for the party. Luckily, no one was using it just yet. He pulled back the curtain, and we tucked inside.

The darkness swelled. A tiny black-and-white screen flickered before us, and I stared at Nate in the dim light.

My heart beat a little too fast. I wished I had been able to sip some champagne before tackling this. But I didn’t feel scared or worried. I couldn’t, not around Nate.

I just had no idea where to begin.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

Nate spoke at the same time I did. “You have no idea how sorry I am.”

I swallowed. “You don’t have to be sorry.”

He interrupted me. “Why are you sorry?”

“I never, ever should have kept the baby a secret from you.” I pulled his hand to my chest. “You were right. I was hiding behind the wedding and all the problems with my family. I thought I was making it easier on myself to focus only on the party, but it was all an excuse. I was…scared.”

“You had no reason to be scared.”

“But I was. I had no idea how you’d react. Hell, I had no idea how I felt about it. I still don’t. I’ve kept the secret for so long, and it became just that—a secret. It never felt like a baby. And then…that sonogram, and when we were together two nights ago. It got real. It was…”

“Was what?” Nate leaned close.

“I felt like we could be a real family.”

“Not could. Will be.”

“What about California?”

“What about it?” Nate shrugged. “Since I was young, I planned to leave home and abandon the life my father wanted for me. I rebelled against it. Hard. I never wanted a life of commitments and relationships and family. But you know what I realized when I finally had you?”

He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. His hand lingered on my cheek, and I smiled.

His voice strengthened. “That life isn’t something to fear or refuse. I would be the luckiest bastard in the world if I could just share a moment of that with you.”

I swallowed. My heart nearly burst, and I willed it to slow so I didn’t miss a single word.

“No,” he said. “I’m not leaving. I’m not hunting for that miserable existence anymore. Not when I can have a life with you, a life worth living and protecting.”

“What about the baby?”

Nate nodded. “What about the baby?”

“Are you scared?”

“Of course I am.” He grinned. “Hell, I’ve never been this terrified—and I don’t know what’s got me more worried. Losing you…or winning you over and tackling this amazing responsibility.” He brushed my lip with his thumb. “Don’t tell me you aren’t excited.”

I nodded. “I am.”

“About what?”

“Everything. You. The baby. This change. It was sudden, and I didn’t expect it, but with you…it doesn’t seem like anything to fear.”

“That’s because it’s not. It will never be. I know you’ve watched a lot of relationships crumble, but that’s not a reason to hide from one.” He leaned closer. “In fact, it’s one of the reasons I’m so damn lucky. You know how precious our bond is. You take it seriously.”

“Of course I do. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You’re not going to lose me. You can try your hardest, but nothing you do, nothing you say, nothing that happens will ever push me away. I didn’t fall for you, I surrendered to you. You are everything to me, Mandy, and I don’t deserve you or the gift you’ve given me.”

His hand lowered, brushing against my tummy. I cupped my hand over his.

“I’m in love with you, Nate,” I whispered.

“I love you too.”

His lips brushed mine. I welcomed his kiss, closing my eyes as he nibbled against me.

The four quick flashes blinded me. We jumped, but the damage was done. A crowd had formed around the photo booth. We slipped out to a chorus of awws from Lindsey and the rest of the bridesmaids. A few others cheered.

Rick handed me the picture that printed from the booth. I covered my face in Nate’s shoulder and peeked at the photo.

It wasn’t our first kiss, but it felt like it.

I clutched the photo series, four pictures capturing the exact moment when we confessed our feelings for each other and kissed.

The caption beneath the images read I love you.

It was true.

Nate grinned, pulling me to his chest and teasing me for getting embarrassed.

“No sense hiding it anymore,” he said. “I love you.”

And he kissed me as our friends and family cheered.