Hollywood Prince (Hollywood Royalty 3)

“Are you feeling okay?” my mother asks me, and I just nod. “Good.” I look at her, and she is in her own beautiful gown. Hers is a champagne-colored chiffon dress that flows around her with a beaded belt. Her hair is curled just like mine. “You look beautiful.” I smile at her and then hear a knock on the door. “I swear if that is your man again,” she says, shaking her head. Carter is not a fan of traditions especially when it means he isn’t sleeping with me or waking up with me. He’s come by at least ten times today just to check in and make sure I was okay. The last time, my mother said if he came back, she would take me away. He left with a huge belly laugh and shouted through the door that he would find me no matter where they hid me.

“Hey, princess.” I hear from behind me and see my father walk in. He is in his tux, and he looks so handsome. He comes to me, and I see the tears in his eyes. “You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.” Then he turns to my mother. “We did good.” She nods, and he puts his hand around her waist and brings her close to him. “Are you ready?” he asks me and then looks at my mother. “Carter is about ready to bust down the door.” I laugh, and my mother shakes her head. “Can you imagine what he is going to be like when she gives birth?”

“He’s going to need to be knocked out. I’ll take Lamaze classes, too, just in case,” my mother says, and then they look at me and smile. “Let’s go,” she says, handing me my bouquet. I walk with them out of the room to the door that leads outside. We are getting married at my father’s house. I stand with him at the door, and I hear the song for my mother. She turns and kisses me on my cheek. “See you down there,” she says and walks down the aisle.

We take our places, and I look down at the ground. “Thank you,” I tell my dad, and he looks down and then up at me with tears pooling in his eyes. “Thank you for being the best dad a girl can have.” I hold his cheek in my hand. “And thank you for not killing him when I know you wanted to.” He laughs now.

“Daddy,” I say softly, “take me to my husband.” He nods and holds out his arm, and I wrap my hand in the crook of his elbow. The doors open, and I finally see outside. I want to look around, but I can’t. The only thing I can see is Carter standing right in front of the big willow tree where I used to swing. The tree my father had planted when I told him it was my favorite tree in the whole world. He stands there in his black tux wearing the biggest smile I have ever seen. He looks at me as I walk down the rose petal pathway. I watch him the whole way, my stomach doing little flips. I swear this child knows when he is near. When I make it to him, my father hands me over to Carter who thanks him and then looks at me.

“You are so beautiful,” he says and then kisses me softly on the lips, causing the officiant to clear his throat.

“It’s not that part yet,” he says, and the whole crowd chuckles while Carter just shrugs. We go with traditional vows, and when he slips on the eternity band, he grabs my face and kisses me again, making the officiant speak up.

“She’s mine. I can kiss her anytime I want to,” Carter tells the man, and he just laughs.

I finally slip the black gold band on his finger, and this time, the officiant finally says, “You may now kiss your bride.” He puts a hand around my waist and kisses me, and everyone cheers for us. I turn around and walk back down the aisle. This time, I’m on the arm of my husband.

We take more pictures than I’ve ever taken in my whole life, and that night, Jessica finally makes her way to us. “Thank you so much for having us,” she says, looking over at Tyler. “It was beautiful.”

“Thank you for coming,” I say, and then she looks over at Carter.

“I just published the story.” She’s wearing a huge smile on her face. “Congratulations,” she says, and they both walk away.

“What is that all about?” I ask him, and he brings out his phone. His screen saver is the picture of me lying on the couch holding my belly. He types in something and then hands it to me. I read the title right over a picture of us at the altar right when we were announced husband and wife.