Everything was beautiful. Perfect.
Even though the forecast had promised heavy rain, the sky seemed to have other plans. The sun was shining above the coast, scattering fold across the restless sea, making the ripples of waves looked like it sparked with magic.
I can't help but grin at the sight.
Even the weather seemed to be celebrating with us, defying what was meant to be.
From my window, I watched as Alex helped set up the chairs on the backyard of his friend's villa. The wind from the sea tugging at the white fabric, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed through the air. I leaned against my hand by the window, enjoying the view.
He was still dressed in his black workout clothes, his earphones hanging loose around his neck like he had just came back from his morning run.
"Hey, Alex!" I shouted, the winds carrying my voice through the window of my bedroom, making me feel like a modern-day Juliet. Except, my window overlooked the backyard we were about to marry in, and the beautiful, vast ocean beyond.
He looked up, hand covering his eyes.
Ah, those dark green eyes. Bright with life and laughter, met mine across from all the commotion. His lips breaking into a grin, his dark hair already a mess from the wind, making him even more easy on the eyes.
God, I can't believe I'm about to marry that man.
I pressed my palm against the window frame, pushing myself up as my heart pounded with excitement and waved at him with my free hand.
Everything just felt so impossibly light. Too light and vibrant to be real. I was about to marry the man of my dreams.
"Can you believe we're getting married today?" I laughed, when he stalked closer. Close enough that I could see the sunlight catching his dark hair. The sea breeze tugging at his T-shirt.
He stopped just below my window, looking up at me with that teasing smirk of his that never failed to make my heart skip. It made him look boyish.
"Then shouldn't you be changing into your dress by now?" he asked playfully, crossing his arms, still grinning wide. "You're not getting cold feet, are you, Lara love?"
I rested my chin on my hand, pretending to think.
"I don't know," I teased, shrugging slightly. "Am I?"
Even as my chest swelled with the disbelief I was about to marry this man in an hour, one I thought had only existed in fairytales.
He chuckled, that reckless spark flashing in his dark green eyes. "Well then, looks like I'll have to remind you now, don't I?"
Before I could say anything, he reached for the nearest pipe. His fingers curling around the cold metal like he was about to climb. My brows furrowed in confusion, then horror.
He wasn't actually going to climb up here, was he?
"Wait, Alex!" My laughter faltered, the joy in my voice replaced with alarm. "Fuck! You'll injure yourself! You don't know these pipes...what the hell?"
He only responded with a wink as he climbed, as if the world would always bend for him. Something tells me he was used to power. But it just simply couldn't be true. After all, he was only a software engineer.
Our little commotion must've caught his friends' attention. They were still lining up the chairs when they noticed Alex halfway up the pipe, like a modern-day Romeo, climbing like it was nothing. Their heads snapped up, eyes wide, stunned.
"You're not supposed to see the bride before the wedding, you buffoon!"
"Dude, what the hell are you doing?!" another yelled. Josh, I think. Though I can't be sure.
"We need your help here, man!"
"Later!" Alex called back, nearly reaching my window. Really, he was doing this like it was easy.
I stepped aside when he finally swung himself over the sill. I can't help but feel a little relieved that the pipe didn't fall apart, or that he had tripped and injured himself. Though I should've had more faith in him, really. He was built like an athlete.
"You're insane," I breathed.
He was panting, sweat gleaming along his jawline. His dark hair damp against his forehead, but he still looked unfairly delicious. The kind of delicious that made me want to drop on my knees and lick the sweat off of his body.
Fuck.
"I'm only insane for you, Lara," he murmured, his voice low as he slipped his hands around my waist, pulling me against him. Already, I could feel his hard length pressing against my core as if to drive his point home. "You should know that by now."
I wrapped my arms around his neck as we swayed, a soft laugh escaping me. "I do. It's one of the things I love most about you, believe it or not."
Were we insane for doing this? Getting married after only three weeks? Abso-fucking-lutely.
But am I so hopelessly, recklessly in love, that I couldn't imagine living the rest of my life with anyone else? Damn straight.
And well, the fact that he was devastatingly easy on the eyes didn't hurt either.
"Then why aren't you getting ready?" he asked, pulling back just enough for me to see the faint crease forming between his brows.
I glanced down at my white silk robe, then back up at him, arching a brow.
"Not that you don't look beautiful already," he quickly added, grinning. "You know I'd marry you anyway, no matter what you wear."
"The dress is in that bag, Alex," I laughed, pointing to the garment bag just hanging from the closet door. "I just need to finish my hair and put it on."
He let out a breath, relieved, though that grin was still tugging at the corners of his lips. "Okay. Just checking."
I giggled, unable to stop myself. Happiness was bubbling out of me like sunlight spilling through the windows. I rose on my tiptoes and kissed him, soft and sweet, filled with all the love I bore for this man. And the life we're about to have.
"I'm not getting cold feet," I whispered against his lips. "If that's what you're actually worried about. So don't worry."
He exhaled, laughing quietly. "Oh, thank god."
I hesitated then, my heart thudding a little too fast all of a sudden.
"Actually," I began, swallowing the lump in my throat trying to calm the erratic beat of my heart, "now that you're here, there's something I have to tell you."
His smile faltered.
"What is it?" he asked, his brows knitting together, shoulders going rigid like he was already bracing for something terrible.
I swallowed hard, searching through his dark green eyes, barely containing the tremor in my voice beneath the weight of what I was about to confess.
What if he doesn't want this? What if he'd change his mind?
No. I have to do this.
I can't let him go through with this blindly.
He has to know.
Taking a shaky breath, I met his worried gaze.
"I'm pregnant."
The words hung between us, fragile and raw, carrying the power to undo everything.
And in that moment, the world stopped.