“Take care of my little girl. She’s my whole world,” my father said.
“She’s my whole world, too, sir. ” Layton looked into my eyes.
As soon as his hands touched mine, I was suddenly calm.
We turned and walked up to the preacher.
Layton just stared at me. “My God, you’re the most stunning, breathtakingly beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. ”
I was just about to say something when Kate piped up and said, “Thank you, Uncle Layton!”
We all looked down toward Kate and laughed.
Layton squatted down and used his finger to call Kate over to him. “I was talking to Whit, baby girl, but you…my goodness. You look like a princess. You take my breath away, too. ”
Kate wrapped her arms around Layton’s neck as I fought to hold back tears from watching the display. As Layton stood, I was hit with the notion that I wanted to have a baby. I wanted to start a family right away. Layton turned back toward the preacher.
I held up my hand. “Um, Layton…can I ask you something?” I whispered.
Layton looked between the preacher and me. “Uh, of course, sweetheart. ”
I leaned in and whispered in his ear, “I want to have a baby—right away. ”
He stepped back and looked at me as a smile spread across his face. He pulled me to him and kissed me with so much passion that I wanted to let out a moan.
“Um…we haven’t gotten to that part yet, y’all,” Reed said as he tapped us both on the shoulders.
Layton smiled against my lips. “I love you so damn much, Whitley. ”
“I love you, too, so very much. ”
Chapter Thirty-One: Layton
I sat and watched Whitley making her way around to everyone, thanking them for coming. Her smile would always be my undoing. I was still flying high from her telling me she wanted to start trying for a baby right away.
Reed walked up and slapped me on the back as he sat down. “How’s it feel?”
“Amazing, like I’m flying high, and I don’t want to ever come down. ”
Reed smiled. “What did Whitley’s dad say to you?”
I shook my head and laughed. “He told me his best friend was part of the mafia in New York, and all it took was one phone call, so I’d better never hurt his baby girl. ”
Reed threw his head back and laughed his ass off. “And Whit? What did she say to you?”
I looked at Reed and smiled. “She wants to try for a baby right away. ”
Reed reached his hand out for mine. “That’s awesome, dude. I’m so happy for both of you. ” He took a sip of Shiner Bock.
I watched him as he looked out toward the dance floor. Christina Aguilera’s “Candyman” was playing, and Courtney was dancing with Kate all over the dance floor.
“She looks stunning in that dress. ” I looked at Court and then back at Reed.
“Yeah, she does. Too bad that fucker boyfriend of hers is ignoring her while he’s over there talking to Karen Rhodes. Who talks to his ex-fiancée at a wedding where his current girlfriend is the maid of honor?” Reed asked.
I took a sip of beer and nodded. I’d already noticed how Mitch had been talking to Karen practically the whole night.
Courtney was now standing alone in the middle of the dance floor as Brad Paisley’s “I Can’t Change the World” began playing. Reed jumped up and made his way over toward her. She had started walking off the dance floor when he reached for her arm.