~Cami~
Did that seriously just happen?
I glance down at my left hand, and yep, it sure did. Landon proposed. I’m wearing the ring I’d admired on his nonna for years. The ring is classic, vintage, and because of the sentimental value it holds, it’s absolutely perfect.
But the words that came along with it?
Holy. Crap.
“Let’s go tell the others,” he says, and takes my hand in his, then leads me into the restaurant and back to the bar, where Mia, Kat, Addie, and Riley are all sitting. They break into applause as we walk in. Kat is already pouring drinks.
“We’re getting married!” I announce.
“And having a baby,” Riley says, and throws her arms around me.
“So much for keeping it on the down low,” Landon mutters beside me.
“Yeah, like I’m going to keep information like that to myself,” Mia says, rolling her eyes. “Did you say yes?”
“Of course she said yes. I’m a catch,” Landon says. We all gather around the bar as Kat passes out the drinks, passing nonalcoholic ones to Addie and me, then she raises her glass in a toast.
“To Cami and Landon. May you have many years of great sex together.”
“I’ll drink to that,” I say with a laugh, and sip my drink, the bubbles from the cider matching my mood. I feel light and happy. I can’t stop smiling.
I glance up at Landon and see that he’s already watching me, a grin also spread over his lips.
Love you, he mouths. I tug him down so I can kiss his cheek and whisper the sentiment in his ear.
“We get to start planning a wedding,” Addie says. “We should go dress-shopping right away.”
“Why? I’m going to be huge,” I reply with a frown, and then pout. “I don’t want to be one of those pregnant brides the size of a house in a huge white dress.” Jesus, just the thought of it is depressing.
“You don’t have to be,” Mia says. “You could get married before you start to show.”
“That’s fast,” I reply, but the idea doesn’t sound bad at all.
“You should just go to the courthouse in a couple of weeks,” Riley says. “Then you can still wear any dress you want.”
“A couple of weeks?!” I ask, as if she’s lost her mind. “We can’t pull a wedding off in a couple of weeks, even if it is at the courthouse.”
“Why not?” Kat adds. “We have a reception hall right here with the best chef in the city. We buy some flowers and a cake, and there you have it.”
“You’ve never wanted a big, fancy wedding,” Riley says, nodding. “Your sister and her family can easily come down from Seattle for it, and we’ll all be there.”
I’m looking around the room, trying to take it all in. Finally, I glance up at Landon.
“What do you think? Is it too fast?”
“I think it’s a great idea,” he says. “If I had my way, I’d fly us down to Vegas tonight.”
“No. No eloping. Mom and Dad would never forgive you,” Mia says.
“Sounds like it’s the courthouse in a couple of weeks, then,” Landon says with a grin. “Unless it’s too fast for you?”
“It’s a lot to take in,” I reply, and glance around the room at my best friends. They’re smiling and Landon’s hand on the small of my back is reassuring. Wow, this is overwhelming.
But, it’s what I’ve always wanted.
“Okay,” I say, and shrug. “Let’s do it!”
“Right on!” Kat says, clinking her glass to mine.
“I know I’m a selfish bitch,” Addie says, and laughs, “but I’m a little happy you’re doing this before I’m the size of a house too.”
“Oh my God, our babies are going to grow up together!” I wrap my arms around her and hug her tight. “And we get to go baby-shopping and stuff too!”
“I know, I’m so happy,” she says, sniffling. “And I’m warning you, everything makes me cry. Everything. I heard a Britney Spears song in the car this morning and had to pull over because I couldn’t see the road anymore.”
“I’m already a little weepy,” I say with a nod.
“Oh, goodie,” Mia says, rolling her eyes. “We’re going to have two emotional pregnant women on our hands for the next nine months.”
“But then we get two babies to snuggle,” Riley says with a smile. “And I didn’t have to give birth to them.”
“Me neither,” Kat says, fist-bumping Riley. “I’m not having kids. Y’all can just keep shooting them out for me and I’ll spoil them like crazy. Aunt Kat is going to be their favorite.”
“One at a time,” I say firmly.
“Unless there’s two,” Landon says thoughtfully.
“What?” My gaze whips up to his. “You don’t have twins in your family.”
“On my dad’s side,” Mia says with a nod. “There are a few sets. So good luck.”
“You’re mean,” I reply, looking back and forth between the two. “And if there’s even a tiny possibility of that, we definitely need to do this before I really do look like a house.”
“It’s okay, baby, you’ll be a beautiful house.”
THE FIVE OF us all took the day off from the restaurant just a few days later to go shopping. That’s unprecedented. We’ve only ever left it unattended once or twice before, and that was for Addie’s dress shopping and her wedding.
It’s a nice tradition.
We walk into a boutique wedding-dress store in downtown Portland, just down the block from the mall, and I am immediately overwhelmed. The girls all split off, oohing and aahing over frilly dresses in every corner of the store, calling out suggestions for which ones I should try on.
And I’m just . . . paralyzed. There’s so much to take in. There are mannequins in white dresses with veils and flowers. There’s a display table with a guest book and a basket full of pink rose petals.
Chandeliers dripping with crystals float overhead, casting the space in soft light, and there are deep, soft couches placed strategically before trifold mirrors with a pedestal where the bride can show off the gown she’s chosen to try on.
Holy fucking shit! I’m getting married.
“You must be Cami,” a middle-aged blond woman says with a smile as she approaches me and shakes my hand. “I’m Lori, your consultant. We spoke on the phone.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I reply, surprised that my lips even work.
“Are these your bridesmaids?”
“No,” I reply, still feeling a bit guilty about this. “My fiancé and I decided to just have one person stand up with us, and I could never choose between these four, so I’m having my sister as my matron of honor.”
“It’s perfect,” Addie says, pulling dresses out to study them. “You need to stop feeling guilty. None of us are mad at you.”
“If I say I’m mad at you, can I pick out the dress?” Kat asks with a laugh. “Just kidding; I’m totally not mad.”
“You look a little intimidated,” Lori says with a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
“This is all happening a little fast,” I say with a smile.
“How long have you been engaged?”
“Two days.”
She raises a brow. “And when is the wedding?”
“In eleven days.”
Now her jaw drops. “Afraid he’ll change his mind?”
“No.” I laugh now, starting to loosen up a bit. “It’s a long story.”
“Okay, well, the important thing is that you’re here now. You gave me a description of what you think you’d like over the phone.”
“She wants to try on a few different things,” Addie informs Lori from across the room.
“They’re making me,” I correct her, rolling my eyes.
“Trying on a few things is a good idea,” Lori assures me. “Wedding gowns are very different from other dresses. Plus, this is the fun part.”
“I found one,” Kat announces.
“I’m not wearing black,” I reply, rolling my eyes.
“Don’t judge,” Kat says, scowling. “It’s pretty.”
“Help,” I whisper to Lori, who just laughs.
“This is just like Say Yes to the Dress,” Riley says. “I love that show.”
“Do you have a Randy?” Addie asks hopefully.
“Unfortunately no,” Lori says, laughing at the mention of the man in the TV show, “but we will make up for that with some champagne.”
“I really like it here,” Kat says with a satisfied smile.
“I hope you have cider for Cami and me,” Addie says.
“Certainly,” Lori replies.
After drinks are poured, Lori leads me back to a dressing room, carrying three dresses that the girls chose. I immediately shake my head when she holds up one that Kat pulled off the rack.
“No. I’m not a frilly person.” I stare at the fluffy dress, then sigh. “But because it’s Kat, I’ll try it on for her.”
“That’s the spirit.” Lori helps me step into the dress, zips me up, and when I turn to the mirror, I have to admit, it’s not bad.
“Let’s go show them.”
I walk barefoot into the showroom and climb onto the pedestal, facing the girls.
“It’s pretty,” Mia says, her head tilted.
“It makes your ass look fantastic,” Riley adds.
“I think it’s awesome,” Kat says with a wide smile. “And it’s totally not your style.”
“No, it’s your style,” Addie tells her with a grin. “So now we know what to go for when it’s your turn.”
“Marriage is in the same category as babies for me,” she says, shaking her red head. “So I’ll just admire it from here. Thank you for putting it on.”
I swish in a circle, enjoying the way the fabric feels against my legs. “It’s actually a fun dress. It would feel good to dance in.”
With that, I go back to the dressing room and change into a mermaid-style dress that Addie chose. I want something more demure, appropriate for a courthouse wedding, but I have to say, the bling on the bodice of this dress is awesome.
“This is perfect for your figure,” Addie says when I return to the pedestal. “It hugs your body perfectly.”
“And the sweetheart neckline makes your boobs look bigger,” Riley says.
“But it’s too much dress for my small wedding,” I reply with a sigh. “I like it, but it just isn’t the one.”
“I think I saw one,” Mia says, jumping up off her couch and handing her drink to Kat, who immediately takes a sip of it because she’s already finished her own.
“Girls, I wish you could drink so you could taste how bad this stuff is.”
“Yet you’re inhaling it,” Riley says. Kat simply shrugs as Mia returns with a dress covered in lace.
“Oh, good, she can be a doily,” Addie says, rolling her eyes.
“Actually, I think you’ll be surprised when she puts it on,” Lori replies with a smile. “That’s a nice choice.”
“Okay, let’s do it.”
Once I’m changed, I return to the girls, and rather than face them, I face the mirrors, my eyes pinned to myself.
“Wow.” Now, this dress is exactly what I had in mind. It hugs my curves in all the right places, the hem hitting the toe of my shoes. The sweetheart neckline still shows off my boobs, and the simple lace cap sleeve give it a soft touch.
It’s not puffy or too much.
“What do you think?” Addie asks. I can hear sniffling behind me, so it must look great from the rear as well.
I turn to look at my girls, who all have soft smiles on their pretty faces. “I really like this one.”
“It’s great,” Riley says, wiping her eyes.
“You look so happy,” Mia adds, also wiping tears. “And I just realized that you’re going to be my sister by marriage.”
“I know,” I reply, not even bothering to stop the tears rolling down my cheeks. Addie is in full-on pregnancy sob mode, and Kat is the only one simply sporting a wide, happy smile.
“It’s perfect,” Kat says. “It’s you.”
“Let’s add this,” Lori says, clipping a veil in my hair and turning me back to the mirror.
Holy crap, I’m getting married.
“Cami,” Riley says, standing dramatically. “Are you saying yes to this dress?”
I laugh, wipe a tear from my cheek, and say, “Yes!”
“We are so good at this,” Addie says before blowing her nose in a tissue. “Like, really good at it.”
“What, being friends, or finding wedding dresses?”
“Both.”
“THEY MADE ME try on some of the most hideous dresses,” I tell Landon that night as we lounge on my couch. His head is in my lap and I’m combing my fingers through his soft, dark hair. His eyes are closed. “Even after I found my dress, they made me try on others that were just ridiculous. I’m sure the saleslady was happy to see the back of us.”
“I’m just happy you found something you like,” he says, then sighs in happiness when I use my nails to scratch his scalp, grip his hair in my fist, and give a little pull. “That feels good.”
“Mm,” I reply. “Then we had lunch, and I was tired after that, but the others insisted that they needed pretty new dresses for the big day too, so we spent a few hours in the mall.”
“Did they find something?”
“Yes, they all found some great stuff. At one point, Kat tried on this jumpsuit and walked out the dressing room and was all like, ‘I’m gonna go like this.’ and Addie said, ‘Oh, no, you are not going to fuck up the pictures wearing that.’”
I chuckle at the memory.
“Sounds like you had fun.”
“We did.”
“Good.” He turns on his side, facing my belly. “Don’t worry, buddy, Mommy and her friends might be a little crazy, but I have your back.”
Mommy. My breath catches at his words. Oh my God, I’m going to be someone’s mommy.
If that isn’t enough to strike terror in my heart, I don’t know what is.
Suddenly Landon pushes his hand under my T-shirt and drags his fingertips up my rib cage, making me catch my breath for a whole different reason.
Jesus, all he has to do is barely touch me and I’m on fire. He leans in and kisses my bare stomach, pushing my shirt up, gesturing for me to lift it over my head and toss it aside.
“Your skin is so soft,” he says quietly, his lips traveling over my ribs and up to my bare nipples. “I love that you weren’t wearing a bra.”
“I took it off when I changed clothes when I got home,” I reply, and tip my head back against the couch, when he tweaks one nipple with his fingers and the other with his tongue. “It came in handy.”
“Very,” he replies. His hand dips under the waistband of my yoga pants, but before he can make me too crazy, I move, urging him to sit up, and I straddle his lap, grinding my still-covered core over him. “Fuck, I never stop wanting you.” His voice is raw and his breath is coming in short pants. He drags his nails up my back and buries his fingers in my hair, fisting them and pulling.
“Oh, yeah,” I moan.
“You like that?”
“You know I do.” He lets go and I look down at him to find him grinning wickedly.
I love it when he looks at me like that. Very good things happen when he’s in this mood.
Wicked things.
Naughty things.
I can’t wait.
“I want to suck on you,” I murmur against his lips. Suddenly he palms my ass, flexing his fingers hard, and lifts me. I wrap my legs around his waist and hold on as he walks to the stairs.
“I have a better idea,” he replies, then kisses me as he climbs the stairs and gets us both settled, naked, on the bed.
“We’re never going to have sex on the couch.” I pout, then laugh when he bites the ball of my shoulder.
“Eventually,” he says. His tongue glides over my collarbone, and then he places a wet kiss at the hollow of my throat. “But for right now I want to make love to my fiancée in our bed.”
“I support that wholeheartedly.” I gasp when his hand glides down my stomach and his fingers find their way to my pussy. “You’re really great with your hands.”
“Just my hands?”
“So far.”
“Hmm.” He licks my neck, tugs my ear between his teeth, then proceeds to kiss me madly. His hand is playing me like an instrument, and I’m making sounds I didn’t know I was capable of. My hips are moving, rocking against him, and just when I’m about to fall over the ledge, he stops. “Not yet.”
“I’m so close,” I say, reaching for him. He captures my hands in one of his and pins them over my head.
“I’m in control here,” he says, his voice hard, but his eyes are happy and bright with lust. His gaze slowly slides from my face, down my torso to my wet pussy, and back up again. “You’re stunning.”
“You’re sexy as fuck and I want you.”
“God, I love it when you talk like that.” He lowers his pelvis to rest against mine. His cock is hard and heavy, resting against my wetness, and he begins to move in small pulses, rubbing the head against my clit. “How does that feel?”
“Shit, Landon.”
“Tell me.”
“I don’t know how,” I reply honestly. I can’t form words, and if he stops now, I’ll die. I bite my lip and gasp as my world splinters, sending me into an intense orgasm, and just when it’s almost over, he rears back and pushes inside me, burying himself to the hilt, and the orgasm starts all over again.
“Landon!”
“Yes, baby,” he growls. “Look at me.”
I open my eyes. I’m blind at first, but then there he is, above me, watching me with those ice-blue eyes, so full of love and lust and admiration. He releases my hands and lifts my left leg, hitching it over his shoulder, and opening me up so wide, plunging so deep, I can hardly stand it.
“You are so fucking sweet,” he whispers roughly, and begins to pound me in earnest, our hips rocking and meeting in a rhythm as old as time. I can’t take my eyes off of him now. His muscles are flexed, sweat has beaded on his brow and neck, and he’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.
Just when I think it can’t get any better, he slips his hand between us and circles my clit with his thumb, and suddenly my muscles flex, squeezing him, and I come undone, shaking, trembling, unable to control myself.
He cries out as he comes, pushing into me once, then again, and holding himself there as he empties himself into me.
When he covers me, bracing himself on his elbows, we’re both out of breath. I can barely move.
“Love you so much,” he whispers, his hands in my hair. I find the strength to drag my hands up his back and down his arms, and then circle back around to his ass, where I give him a little squeeze.
“I love you too.”