Chapter 49 February 24th The private airport in Miami is sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows that let the bright Florida sun pour in. Planes of every size sit on the tarmac, their polished exteriors gleaming like mirrors. Avery stands next to me, looking effortlessly beautiful as always, with her single suitcase parked neatly by her feet. "I'm impressed," I say, nodding toward the suitcase. "One bag? Really? Who are you, and what have you done with Avery Banks?" She smirks, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "What can I say? Surviving on whatever I could fit into a fanny pack for two weeks changes your perspective." I narrow my eyes. "You're so full of shit, baby. I know your ass is already planning on doing some shopping the moment we land." "Well, duh. I didn't exactly have time to find a wedding dress." I laugh, but the sound fades as we walk toward the plane. The shiny jet sits waiting for us, its engines humming softly. For a moment, the reality of boarding another plane hits both of us at once. I see it in the way her hand tightens around my arm, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip as she fidgets slightly. My own chest feels heavier, memories of that flight that led us to the island flashing through my mind. Before we reach the steps, I stop us and pull her into my arms. "We're going to be safe," I whisper, brushing a kiss against her temple. "I won't let anything happen to you or our baby." She looks up at me, her eyes soft and full of trust. "I know." She presses a kiss to my lips. "It's not in your vocabulary to let me down. Now, let's go get hitched." I chuckle, but as she starts up the steps, a thought grips me. Something I need to do before we take off. "Hey, I'll be right there," I call after her. "I need to make a quick call." She glances back, curious but not pressing. "Okay." Turning to the flight attendant, she switches gears instantly. "How many pilots are on this flight?" I hear her ask. "And are any of you trained in emergency medical situations?" The seriousness in her tone is so perfectly Avery, I can't help but smile. Shaking my head, I pull out my phone and hit dial. "I've been waiting for this call." Beau's voice-sharp but laced with humor-greets me by the second ring. "Oh yeah?" "Oh yeah," he says. "I mean, my best friend is apparently in a secret relationship with my sister, but funny thing is, I didn't hear this news from him. I heard it from my wife." Oh shit... "Be nice, Beau!" I hear June yell in the background. "So, about that," I begin, a cringe taking shape on my face. "I've been meaning to tell you." "Meaning to, but just haven't gotten around to it?" Beau asks. "Things have been a little busy." "Too busy to call your best friend and tell him you're not just in a relationship with his sister but also having a baby with her?" Well, fuck. "So, it seems like June really cleared it all up for me, huh?" "She told me, sure. Wouldn't say she cleared it up. Pretty sure that's your job." "I'm sorry, Beau," I apologize immediately. "It wasn't my intention to keep this from you. You're my best friend, man. That's the last thing I wanted to do. Things just... Being on that island with Avery, it changed everything." The line goes quiet for a moment before Beau speaks again. "Do you love her?" "More than anything," I say without hesitation. "I love Avery more than I've ever loved anyone or anything. And I swear, Beau, I'm going to take care of her. Take care of her and our baby. Protect them. Make sure they know every day how much I love them." "You know what's wild?" Beau questions after another long and excruciating pause. "I actually know all that to be true. You took care of Avery on that island, and fucking hell, it couldn't have been an easy feat being stranded with her." He laughs softly. "But I know you'll take care of her, Hen. Damn, though. My best friend and my sister. Who would've thought?" "So, you're not mad?" "Let's just say I'm adjusting to the idea. Might need a little time to fully wrap my head around it." Avery appears at the top of the plane stairs, gesturing for me to hurry up. "How much time are we talking?" I ask. "Think you can wrap your head around it in, say...five hours?" "Five hours?" "Yeah, five hours. That's when we'll land. In Vegas." "Vegas? What the fuck are you talking about, Hen?" "So, there's another thing I've been meaning to tell you," I say and shut my eyes for a brief moment, clutching the back of my neck with my hand. "Your sister and I are getting married. Today." "You've got to be fucking kidding me," Beau mutters, but then he starts laughing. "You're such a bastard, you know that?" "I do. But just remember, I'm a bastard who loves your sister more than anything in this world," I say, grinning. "Now, I gotta go. See you on the other side, bro-in-law." "You're such a dick," Beau laughs before the line goes dead. Sliding my phone into my pocket, I head toward the plane, but I get a series of texts as I climb the stairs. Beau: You're a total asshole. Beau: But I love you so much, Henry! Beau: You're a total dick. Beau: But I'm so, so, so happy for you! Me: Why do I get the sense this is both Beau and June texting me? Beau: Probably because it is. I'm on my phone, and my nosy wife is texting from my iPad. Beau: Nosy wife? Excuse me? Beau: BEAUTIFUL wife, I mean. Beau: That's what I thought. Shaking my head, I step inside the plane and find Avery already seated comfortably in one of the leather chairs, her legs crossed. I sit across from her, immediately pulling her feet into my lap. I remove her heels and start massaging her feet. She smiles at me. "If you keep doing shit like this for the rest of our lives, married life is going to be grand." "I rub your feet, you rub my cock kind of thing?" Avery laughs and rolls her eyes, and I just grin back at her, tickling her toes. She giggles, her laughter filling the cabin and settling something deep inside me. This is it. This is us. And in just a few hours, she'll be my wife. The lights of the Vegas Strip twinkle outside the chapel's stained-glass windows, neon blending with soft candlelight. It's almost surreal, standing here in a black suit Avery picked out for me, feeling more nervous than I ever have in my life. And I've jumped out of planes and bungee-jumped off fucking mountains. But nothing compares to this. This moment right here is the most important of my life. I turn my head slightly, and there she is. My Avery. She's standing at the other end of the aisle in a white dress that clings to her in all the right places, with lace sleeves and a neckline that's sweet and sexy all at once. Her brown hair is swept up, but a few loose curls frame her face. She looks...perfect. Ethereal. Mine. "You're so fucking beautiful, baby!" I call toward her, loud enough that everyone in the room can hear me. Not that there's a huge crowd. Just a couple of the chapel staff and the Elvis impersonator standing by the door. But still, Avery blushes, and it's my new favorite sight. She reaches the front of the room, and when I take her hands in mine, they're warm and steady. Unlike mine. Damn, how is she this calm? "You good?" she asks, her hazel eyes twinkling as she whispers just to me. I nod. "Better than good. You?" "I'm marrying you, Henny," she says with a grin. "Of course I'm good." The officiant clears his throat, clearly used to wrangling couples who can't keep their hands or eyes off each other. "Shall we begin?" Avery nods, squeezing my hands once. "Let's do it." As the officiant starts talking, saying the usual stuff about love and commitment, I'm not really listening. I'm just watching Avery, marveling at how she's moments away from being my wife. Being mine forever. Her lips curve into a soft smile, and I'm hit with a wave of gratitude so strong it's hard to breathe. The officiant goes through his whole spiel, and the entire time, I can't take my eyes off her. Fuck, I love this woman. Truthfully, I'm not even sure what he's saying for the most part, but I do know when I need to start paying attention. "Do you, Henry Callahan, take Avery Banks to be your lawfully wedded wife?" "I do," I say without hesitation. "And do you, Avery Banks, take Henry Callahan to be your lawfully wedded husband?" "Hell yes," she answers, making the officiant grin. "By the power vested in me by the state of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." I don't waste a second. I pull her close, cradling her face in my hands, and kiss her like my life depends on it. She wraps her arms around my neck, and she melts into me, her lips soft and warm and perfect. The room erupts in cheers-probably thanks to Elvis-but I barely notice. All I can focus on is Avery. My wife. When we finally pull apart, her cheeks are flushed, her eyes shining with happiness. "We did it," she whispers. "Damn right, we did." And then I kiss her again, because I can. Because as of today, she's officially mine.