Natalie
"You're flying to the luxurious resort tonight?" Frank exclaims. "You're not joking with me, right?"
Laughter sips out through my lips. Frank blinks rapidly at me while his wife, Carmen, is chuckling to herself. They are both sitting on the couch, yet Carmen is the only calm one.
Frank is panting.
"That's right," I say with a smile playing over my lips. My life is finally coming together, and the strange thing is that I've been waiting for this to happen even though I didn't know it myself. "Tonight, my little family is leaving this country behind."
Frank rakes his finger through his dark hair, still not believing what I'm telling him. He repeats the question. "Tonight?!"
"Yes, tonight, Frank," Carmen sighs and shakes her head at her husband in irritation. "Aren't you listening to anything she is telling you? Or are you going deaf on me?"
Frank inhales with his lips twitching into a smile. "Sorry... It's just a lot to take in at once."
I smile at him from my seat, knowing Frank only means well. He is in shock but has always been rooting for Noah and me.
Frank and Carmen are the most supportive people I know, and the old couple has become the parents I never asked for but always needed.
Therefore I felt the need to come here. I'm now sitting in a chair in the couple's living room. Emma is in my arms, and I'm hugging her while trying not to cry in joy.
I'm so damn happy.
"I'm still on clouds," I let my eyes travel between Frank and Carmen. My smile grows more prominent. "Noah and I have decided to marry each other in a tropical country where the sun always shines. It will be good for Emma too. But we have to go soon since we don't want to spend another minute not being married."
Carmen touches her cheeks with her fingers, and her expression turns all dreamy. "That's so romantic—a couple that can't wait to be together! And marrying each other in another country? Dear Lord, it will be beautiful! It will be a day to remember, I'm sure!"
I blush when Carmen strokes my leg. My smile curls higher up my face, and I meet her eyes. "Thank you so much for your support. I don't know what I would do without you and Frank."
Noah is smiling from the doorframe with a cup of coffee in his hands. Frank turns around to face him. It doesn't matter that Noah is a billionaire. He doesn't frighten Frank.
The older man sizes up my future husband. "So you remember everything now? Will you take care of Natalie?"
Noah's lips tilt by the corners until forming a smile. "I remember everything, thank you very much..." his eyes travel to mine. It makes butterflies swarm my chest. "And I think it will be Natalie taking care of me, not the other way around. But if another accident happens, I think the safest option is to put rings on our fingers—it should be a hint enough that we belong to each other."
Frank and Carmen laugh. Noah does too, and I smile back at him, knowing he is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. I'm feeling so bubbly on the inside.
"That's true," Frank takes a deep breath. "I know you're wedding will be wonderful. And I know you will be happy together—you're both miserable without the other."
"That reminds me," Noah faces Frank. "Natalie and I would like to put you two on a private jet to come to our wedding. We won't hold a big ceremony, but we will bring our closest friends. We will pay for your food and hotel. Everything exclusive, of course."
Frank's eyes grow huge, but Carmen replies before he has the chance to turn down the offer. Not that I think he would.
"And we will accept the offer!" Carmen says and laughs. "I can't wait to sunbathe and try out my new sunhat! The waves and the palm trees will make your wedding an escape from here! I would love to go!"
Frank laughs and shrugs at Noah. "I guess it's settled then? Happy wife—happy life! We are coming to see the wedding!"
I smile and discreetly swipe on my phone. Nervous laughter leaves my lips upon seeing Linnea's messages. Frank gives me a curious look over, and Carmen's expression grows curious.
"What is so funny, dear?" Carmen asks. Her shining eyes are filled with curiosity. "Will you let me see what you're laughing at?"
"Here," I hand her my phone, and my lips curl toward my ears. "Linnea has been blowing up my phone since I escaped from my own wedding. We are putting her on a plane with her boyfriend too. And I will talk to her once she is on the island."
Carmen laughs while reading the text messages. "Oh, you have to talk to her, my dear!" her eyes travel to Noah, and she winks. It makes my blush intensify while Noah appears amused. "Your best friend needs to know that you're finally with the man of your dreams. Call her tonight?"
A smile graces my lips. I feel guilty for not talking to Linnea, but I've been too busy kissing Noah. "I definitely will call her tonight. She needs to hear everything."
"Which name will you take?" Frank suddenly asks. "Parker?"
"Parker," Noah answers and walks over to me. He hands me a charming smile and sits down in the chair next to mine.
"Good choice. I prefer it over Gracen," Frank turns to me. There is an evil gleam in his eye. "And what about Cynthia? Did she see the two of you leave through the doors?"
Noah tries not to laugh, and I have Frank an evil grin. "We have invited my father and Cynthia to our wedding, and if they don't show up, Noah is throwing them out of their apartment."
"Really?" Carmen asks.
Noah shrugs. "I'm paying for the apartment, and... If they won't come to our wedding and apologize to my wife, I won't keep paying for their living expenses."
I look at Noah and take his hand. He squeezes mine, and I laugh when Emma peers up at me with her big eyes. It reminds me of something that probably needs to be said.
"Oh, and I've stopped taking birth control," I grin at Carmen and Frank, feeling my happiness swarm my senses. "Sooner or later, we hope Emma will get a sibling. And we can't wait for it to happen—we want to become a big family with many kids."
Noah breathes a laugh. "Why do I have this feeling all our kids will be girls, and I will be stuck in a house with hormone-filled teenage daughters?"
I laugh at him. "Would you hate it?"
His smile is warm. "No. Every minute spent with you is heaven."