I don’t know what tricks she had in the bedroom, but none of them worked as leverage where Aiden’s decision-making side was concerned. Mary Ellen called two days later to say Aiden wasn’t going to budge on the lawsuit. He wanted the Dune Scape ground into the beach and two million in his bank account.

The conversation was stilted. I wasn’t sure if it was starting to sink in that we were on opposite sides of a lawsuit, or if Mary Ellen was distracted because Aiden was spending a few days with her.

There was no way things could ever be normal as long as our boyfriends were suing each other. This sucked.

For the next few days, at least, I knew Aiden was far from the Dunes and Cole.

I tried to put all of it in the back of my head as I climbed the steps to Sasha’s aunt’s house. Today was the last of her bridal showers. I clutched a white box in my hand, topped with a white tulle bow. I had gone with something on the registry. There was a reason she and Cal had chosen the cream china and the colorful accent pieces. I opted for an oval blue platter I thought they could use for entertaining.

I rang the doorbell.

“Come on in, the party’s in here.” A young girl let me in. I wondered if she was one of Sasha’s cousins. I heard there were a lot of them.

I dropped my gift on the table before entering the room. With only one week until the wedding, everyone was in good spirits. Sasha was surrounded by women, but when she saw me walk in, she waved me over.

“Kaitlyn, come meet everybody.”

I hugged her and smiled at the circle of women. This was a traditional shower. The women ranged in age from twenty to eighty. I wasn’t sure I had seen so many sets of pearls in one room. My neck felt a little bare. I was wearing a sundress with a sweater. It was flowy enough I had room to breathe.

“This is my Aunt Chrissy, Aunt Shannon, Aunt Lacy, and Aunt Sarah.”

I smiled at all the women, trying not to be overwhelmed by Sasha’s family numbers. “Nice to meet everyone.”

Sasha hopped up from the circle. “Tara and Mindy won’t be here until Thursday. I need a non-relative friend right now.” She ushered me into the kitchen.

“What’s going on? Are you ok?” I noticed she suddenly looked pale. Her cheeks matched the white roses on the wrist corsage she wore.

She shook her head. “I’m freaking out.” I saw little beads of perspiration dot the top of her forehead.

“Ok, why don’t you sit down?” I pulled a chair out from the kitchen table. “What’s wrong?” I grabbed a paper cup on the counter and poured lemonade into it before shoving it into her hand.

Sasha was visibly shaken. “All of this. It’s too much.” She looked at the kitchen door separating us from the rest of the party. After a few seconds, she took a sip.

“There are a lot of people out there. Maybe you just need a break.” I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to have everyone fussing over me like that. I was already feeling claustrophobic and I was just a bridesmaid.

“I’m starting to think I can’t go through with it.”

My jaw dropped. “But, you love Cal. He loves you.” Was I possibly witnessing a runaway bride moment?

Her Duness covered her face and she let out a whine. “It’s not him. It’s the wedding. I thought if I rushed it, I could skip all this stuff. There wouldn’t be enough time for showers, parties, and a big reception. All I want is to be married to him. A courthouse ceremony would be fine with me. Or maybe a little destination wedding in Jamaica with ten people. That I think I could handle.”

Sasha had grown up with a mother as a wedding planner. Her weekends had been full of brides, wedding cakes, champagne toasts, and bouquet tosses. She was such a hopeless romantic I had assumed she wanted all those things. I never stopped to ask her. Apparently, no one else had either.

“Have you talked to Cal about how you’re feeling? He’s always good at getting you to smile.”

“He says I just have pre-wedding jitters. I’m supposed to be the older, mature one in this relationship.” She managed a giggle. “He’s the one acting all mature and seasoned about the wedding. He seems completely fine.”

I pulled my phone from my purse.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Getting a mature and seasoned groom over here.” I waited for him to answer. “Hey, Cal. Do you know where Sasha’s aunt lives? Ok. Head on over, but come to the kitchen door and don’t let the fifty women out front see you.”

I hung up and looked at my miserable friend. “He said he’ll be here in five minutes.”

“You didn’t have to do that.” I thought I already saw the color coming back to her cheeks.

“Yes, I did. Sometimes the only thing that can make you feel better and reassure you everything is ok is a pair of strong arms.”

“Speaking from experience?” She smiled.

I laughed. “Totally. Now, I’ll go out, mingle for a few minutes, and tell them you’re in the bathroom or something. Why don’t you wait on the kitchen porch for your man?” I motioned to the door.

She hugged me through a sniffle. “When I get through this, I’m giving you the award for best bridesmaid.”

“I don’t need that. I only want you and Cal to get married. Courthouse, beach, church, Jamaica. I don’t care—as long as you are happy and get to wear that awesome dress.”

She walked on to the porch and I guarded the door. She needed Cal more than anything right now.

And why couldn’t I take my own advice? I’d been carrying this secret around on my own. Terrified. Worried. And sick and exhausted.

If I kept waiting for the perfect time to fall in my lap it would be when I was in labor. So what if there were wedding parties? Who cared if my best friend was in town? What difference did it make if Cole was on crutches and Grayson had an earache? Was I really going to let Aiden’s decisions dictate our lives?

This was our life. This was our messy complicated beautiful life. I fell in love with Cole ten years ago because he was gorgeous and sexy. Strong and charming. He could handle anything.

I knew this pregnancy wasn’t planned. But I also knew he loved me. Loved me enough to stand up to my family. Enough to ask me to move in with him. Enough to share his son with me and be a family.

I smiled when Cal ran up the stairs and hugged Sasha. I looked for my purse. I couldn’t wait any longer.

I think I had found my perfect time.