“Yeah, not going to lie. I wouldn’t have believed out of all the girls in the academy that you would be pregnant with a mini Elias,” Camilla says, giving me a pointed look. “You always struck me as the most responsible and you are the first to get pregnant.”
Eva laughs. “Yeah, you would have thought it’d be me.”
Adrianna shakes her head. “No, you are too sensible, Eva Carmichael.”
I laugh. “Would all of you shut up?”
Giorgia pretends to be scandalized, holding her hand to her chest. “How rude.”
“I’m trying to calm my nerves and you lot chattering isn’t helping.”
Camilla comes to my side and grabs my hand, forcing me to look at her. “You’ve got this, Nat.”
I pull her into a hug. “Thank you.”
“For what?” She asks.
“Just for being there every step of the way.” I glance at Giorgia and then Adrianna and last at Eva, who feels like an old friend even though I’ve only known her for a short time. “All of you.”
Giorgia pretends to wipe a stray tear from her eye. “Quit it, or the wedding will be delayed if we all have to do our makeup again.”
We all laugh.
“She has a good point,” Adrianna says.
Someone knocks on the door and Eva goes to answer it. Mikhail stands there in a form fitting tuxedo, looking as smart as ever. “It’s time, if you are ready.”
I swallow hard and nod. Mikhail is walking me down the aisle and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If my dad had still been alive, he’d have been the one, but Mikhail has been like a father to me since his death. My four bridesmaids hurry out of the door to take their positions before the two of us, but Giorgia pauses and squeezes my hand. “I’m so happy for you, Nat.”
I smile in response, nodding. “Thanks.”
Elias and I opted for a wedding on the beach in Mexico, much to my brother’s disgust. He hates the heat and sun and couldn’t believe I didn’t want to marry in a church.
“It’s too fucking hot,” he grumbles, as he pulls at the bow tie around his neck. “Trust you to pick Mexico, of all places.”
I raise a brow. “Quit your whining.”
He smiles, shaking his head. “You look amazing, Natalya.” He offers me his arm. “Shall we?”
I nod and allow him to lead me out of the little beach bar we selected to hold our ceremony and the reception. It’s a small, intimate affair rather than large and lavish. The sand is warm, not hot, beneath my bare feet, and the sea breeze rustles through my hair, making me wonder why Mikhail is complaining, as it’s a lovely temperature.
My four bridesmaids walk down the aisle ahead of me, and I stare down it. Those ice-blue eyes find mine from across the beach and it feels like time stands still. This is it. There’s no going back. I thought Elias intended to break me, but in the end he completed me instead and I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.
* * *
Elias spinsme around on the dancefloor, smiling at me. “You take my breath away, nena,” he murmurs.
I shake my head. “I still find it difficult to look at you and not expect an insult out of your mouth.”
He chuckles then. “Is that right? Even after ten months of me groveling and proving to you how serious I am?”
I nod in response. “Ten months doesn’t erase six years.”
“Touche.” He dips me to the music and then pulls me back into his arms. “I’ve got a lot more making up to do, haven’t I?”
“You do indeed,” I say, pinning him with a glare. “Five years and two months to go.”
He chuckles. “You’ll lose count in the end.” His hand moves to the faint bump in my stomach. “Especially when this little one comes along.”