That Wedding (71 page)

The YouTube video of a certain young NFL quarterback doing the stanky leg at your reception already has over 87,000 hits.

I knew we were going somewhere warm, but I had no idea Phillip's parents would splurge like this on our honeymoon. Talk about a gift we'll never forget. We're at a gorgeous luxury resort in the Bahamas, where we have an amazing beach front suite.

I guess he wasn't lying when he said that me in nothing but a bikini all week sounded like his idea of heaven.

We just got back to our room from our quick tour of the resort.

Phillip says, "So, this isn't really a love letter, but it's my lame attempt to tell you all the things I love about you. Remember I told you about the pros and cons list I made? I wrote it the night before I told you I wanted to go out with you for real."

"So I finally get to read it?"

Phillip nods and hands me the paper. "Yeah, providing you promise not to laugh at me."

I read the list. "Phillip, are you serious? You like all the bad things about me. All my flaws. Like how I always think I'm right, how I'm stubborn, how I blurt out stupid things before I think."

He pulls me into his arms. "Yeah, those are the things I love the most. I love you, Jadyn James Mackenzie."

"Oh, wow. That sounds beautiful when you say it."

Phillip grabs the present Danny and Lori sent with us and sets it on the bed. "We were given strict orders to open this as soon as we got here."

I ignore the box and put my hand down Phillip's pants. I'm not feeling the need to be particularly subtle right now.

Phillip moans, "Our XXX honeymoon."

"Well, if you're a good boy."

"I'm a very good boy."

"Yes, I already know exactly how good you are, but you know, it's our honeymoon, you're maybe gonna have to step it up a notch."

"I think I can handle that. So open the box."

I take the lid off, and we both go, "Holy shit!"

Because inside is, um, I don't even know if I want to know all that's inside this box. There are all sorts of XXX type goodies.

"No wonder the guys in airport security were laughing at us!" I scream.

"I think we're gonna have fun on our honeymoon," Phillip says. He's wearing his own version of a Devil Danny grin.

"I think our honeymoon is gonna be like naughty dream week on steroids."

Phillip paws through the box. "Hey, what's here at the bottom?"

I look at the sweet sign he's pulled out of the box. "I think that is Lori's contribution. Don't you love how she cutified our XXX honeymoon?"

Phillip tickles my sides. "Cutified? I'm pretty sure that's not a word."

"Well, it should be. It means she made it all cute."

"I think Lori just gave us the best marriage advice of all. Our marriage should be full of hugs and kisses with a lot of XXX thrown in to make it fun."

I put the hotel's do not disturb sign on the outside of our door because I don't want anyone to take Lori's, then I put the one she made on the inside. It's definitely coming home with us.

I walk back toward Phillip, shedding my clothes along the way.

"I think we better get this honeymoon started, Phillip."

"Mmmmm, Princess," he says as he grabs me and throws me on the bed. Our XXX honeymoon favors cascade onto the floor.

But I don't think I care about that right now.

Acknowledgements

To my readers, thank you.
Thank you for all your kind words, great reviews for
That Boy
, tweets, and encouragement. If it weren't for you, this book would probably not exist. Know that I love talking to you. From chatting about who would play the movie version of Danny, to how adorable Phillip is. I'm very active on goodreads, twitter, and my blog. (Be sure to come hang out with us at Glitter, Bliss, and Perfect Chaos!) Also a big thank you to Jennifer Howell, from Late Bloomer Online. Thanks so much for pre-reading the book and letting me know I was on the right track!!

To my mom.
Words cannot do justice all the help you've given me with this book. You've encouraged me, read countless versions, and always kept me true to the characters. I think you might know Jadyn better than I do. Thanks for making me change Jadyn's meltdown and Phillip's wedding gift. It is a much better story because of you.

To my daughter.
Your taste in fashion mimics Jadyn's. Thanks for helping me pick out the perfect wedding dress. Thanks for rolling your eyes at me and saying, "She'd never wear that!" Also thanks for all the social media work you do for me. I'd be lost without you!

To my son.
Who asks me every day how many books I've sold on the way to school and is always excited by my results. Even though I can't get you to put a big pink heart or a wedding cake on your go kart, I'm still your biggest fan.

To my husband.
This book was dedicated to you because I love you. I could never write about love if I didn't feel it in my own heart. You and Phillip share so many wonderful characteristics. Thanks for pushing me to self-publish
That Boy
. I don't think I would have had the courage to do it on my own. You believed in me when I wasn't sure if I believed in myself.