Alana

        I stared at my reflection in the mirror and looked at the girl in a beautiful white dress. A few years ago, I would never have thought that I'd be pregnant and marrying my economics teacher.

     "Alana, you look so pretty!" Nina walked into the room. She was wearing a lush pink gown and looked so gorgeous in it. I'd asked her to become my maid of honor, and Gabriel was Rowan's best man.

    She took my hands in hers. "Why are you crying?"

    "Crying?" I wiped the tears from the corner of my eyes. "I'm not crying. I think something flew into my eye."

     Nina laughed as she wrapped me in a side hug. "I think it's your pregnant hormones."

    I hugged her back. "I can't believe this is happening, Nina." She wiped my tears with a napkin. "I'm finally marrying him. You know how impossible I thought that was going to be?"

    She nodded and that's when Chez walked in. He was wearing a navy blue tux, his hair unruly, but he looked cute. He glanced at Nina and his eyes lingered on her for  a good few seconds before he wrapped me in a hug.

    I always thought they were meant to be, just like Rowan and I, but that didn't seem like the case. Chez was going to France next month, he had been accepted into a good art college in Paris and when that happened I'd been so glad for my best friend because I knew that was his dream although with that, chances of Nina and him becoming a couple were slim as long distances were hard, and especially harder if the guy happened to be a professional man-whore.

   Nina had been patient for two years straight, and I couldn't blame her if she wanted to move on and I had Chez to blame for it.

Chez kissed my forehead. "Can you believe that your dad thought we would get married when we grew up?"

   I laughed waving my hand in dismissal. "That's so stupid." 

   "Right?" He asked. "And you know, I'm glad I was never attracted to you, because I always loved you like a sister I never had, believe it or not."

   "Aw, Chez. When was the last time you said anything sweet to me?"

    "I'm in this room too." Nina chimed in.

    "Nina, you look smokin' hot in that peach dress." Chez complimented her, passing her a wink.

     She rolled her eyes. "I appreciate your attempt at trying to make things less awkward, but you didn't have to lie. I know I look like a potato in a peach dress. You on the other hand, you're looking handsome. GQ kinda ish, but you're still no match for our professor."

    The room filled with laugher.

   Claire burst into the room. She literally looked like a goddess. I noticed Chez doing a quick once-over and Nina throwing him a nasty look.

   "I heard you guys had a blast at the bachelorette party." Chez said.

    Claire, Nina and I exchanged looks and we burst into a fit of laughter. Claire said. "We had fun. We'll just spare you the details."

    Chez smirked. "That's okay if you don't want to tell me, because we had our own fun at the bachelor's party."

   I knew better than what Chez was suggesting, all they had was some drinks at a bar that Dwight had booked followed by bunny eared women offering them lap dances which I was positive Rowan declined because he'd called me later that night and told me all about it.

"We had so much fun, Alana got a lap dance from a hot police officer." Claire bragged.

    "I don't believe that." Chez said.

     Claire was lying. Nina and her had planned us the bachelorette party, Dwight's on and off girlfriend, Katelyn included. My cousin Emily had come for my wedding so she was there too. It was a private bar. I was sitting in the lounge when three men entered the room. One was a fireman, the second one was in a police officer clothing and I almost choked on my non-alcoholic drink when I saw a guy was in teacher's clothing. Nerdy glasses and a whip.

They sure were hot, biceps and all. They danced to the beats of Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back and the girls cheered when the hot teacher took off his shirt and walked towards me. I was laughing hysterically until he took my hand and placed it on his oily slicked abs.

    I glanced sideways and noticed Claire and Kate getting a lap dance from the police and the fireman keeping Nina and Emily busy. I was kind of uncomfortable when he unbuttoned his jeans.

    The cheering and the music stopped when a very enraged Rowan walked in. Poor Claire got to hear an earful of Rowan's lectures. He threw a glare at the teacher stripper in glasses and proceeded to drag me outside the bar.

    "Did you really want a lap dance from that guy?" he asked.

    "Of course not, Rowan."

    He cupped my face. "Please don't touch another man, baby. I get really upset when I see you with someone else. You want a strip tease? I'll give it to you. I'll become your policeman, fireman, teacher, pilot, doctor or whoever you want me to be."

    I laughed. "That sounds great."

    He then led me inside a private lounge where he loaned a few clothes from the club manager and I got my own naughty strip tease that night which obviously led to something else.

    "Earth to Alana!" Claire called me, pulling me out of my thoughts. "I actually came in to tell you that I heard your dad wanted to have a little chat with Rowan."

    My heart sank. Dad was still against Rowan and I marrying and it made me nervous to think what he had up his sleeve on my wedding day.

****

         Rowan

     I don't think I'd been this nervous in my life before. So far, everything was perfect. I hoped things went smoothly when she walked down the aisle. I blew out a breath.

   "Calm down, Rowan. You're getting married, not executed." Dwight cracked, then added. "On second thought, I'd say it's close to life imprisonment."

    "I'm happy with life imprisonment if it's with Alana." I said.

    "One pussy for the rest of your goddamn life." Dwight teased me. "Are you sure?"

     "Positive."

     "Are you saying that because you knocked her up?"

     "I would have married her despite that." I said. "It's just that she found out the ring and she told me she was pregnant, I didn't understand why we needed to hold off the marriage. We were living together, it's only natural."

   "Yeah, the caveman that you are." Dwight snorted and I couldn't think of a better situation to punch my brother.

    After a few minutes of silence he asked. "What are you so worried about?"

    Why was he so good at mind reading?

I stared at my brother and saw the concern in his eyes. "I'm worried about what comes after this. It scares me so much, Dwight. I couldn't sleep this past week thinking about the future. I would never hurt Alana...."

    Dwight appeared confused.

   "I signed up for a six month program last month in the psychiatric facility. I didn't know Alana was pregnant then, and I can't tell her that now. I need to be with her during this time. Do you know how amazing it is to see each day as your child comes closer to the day he or she is born? I want to be with her."

    "So what are you going to do?"

     "Cancel the program and reschedule for later. Sofia will understand." 

     "I seriously had no idea that there would be a day when I'd say you make me proud." Dwight said. I smiled.

   I was busy giving my appearance a last touch when we heard a brief knock at the door. Rick Hayes peeked in. "Hope I'm not intruding."

       Dwight and I exchanged glances. "Of course not." I said.

       Rick and Dwight exchanged a handshake. "I would like to have a word with Rowan in private if it's alright." 

     "Be my guest." Dwight continued, "If you are here to punch him, you need to hold off until the wedding. It's not nice to look at a groom with a bloody face and missing teeth."

   Rick laughed. "I don't use my fists unless necessary."

   The door closed behind Dwight leaving the two of us to deal with each other.

   "Please have a seat." I told him.

    He took over the single couch facing me as I slid into the love seat.

   This was the most disturbing silence of my life. The kind where you would just want to walk away. I was never good at this.

   "I'm going to walk her down the aisle, but that doesn't mean I'm okay with this marriage. I'm agreeing to this because I want to see Alana happy and that also doesn't mean I have to like you."

   My jaw tightened. "I appreciate your honesty."

   Rick's eyes were narrowed at me. "You have a daughter too."

    "I do." I nodded. "Where are you going with this?"

    "What if she found a man like you? Would you be okay with it?"

     I was angry, but I knew what he was getting at.

     "No. I wouldn't."

     Rick smirked. "Then how do you expect me to be okay with you getting married with my daughter?"

    "Because I'm fucking selfish." I admitted.

     "That's what you are, Rowan Masters. A very selfish, manipulative sociopath who is just going to ruin my daughter's life." His jaw tightened. "If you were man enough, you would have never proposed to her and let her go..."

    "I can't do that." I said.

    "What do you mean?"

    That's when I realized Alana hadn't told her father the truth.

    "Alana is pregnant with my child."

     Rick's jaw remained slack. I continued. "Even if she wasn't, I would never let her go. I love her too much to even entertain that thought. I did try to end things between us for her, but it didn't work out. She needs me as much as I need her." I was almost in tears by then. "Please don't do this to us, Rick. I promise to keep her happy."

    He seemed to have recovered from whatever was going on. He stood up, patted my back and left the room without another word. Seemed like he was throwing down his weapons finally.

   Dwight came back into the room. "Looks like he did some serious damage. It's time. Are you ready?"

****

        Alana

      Life is too short for regrets, and I never regretted any decision of my life, whether good or bad because in the end, life is about making the choices, not always the right ones. I made mine, and here I was walking down the aisle in a white gown with my father beside me on our big day. The venue was the Carmel Lake Garden, an outside chapel decorated with flowers overlooking the beautiful lake. It was perfect.

    My smile became wider as I noticed my groom, standing tall, and proud, handsome in a black tailored tux, looking alluring and enticing, better than how I'd imagined him. His mocha eyes never left mine, but that didn't mean he wasn't checking me out. He mouthed 'Wow'.

   Gabe stood by Rowan as his best man, he winked at me. Nina seemed more excited to be the maid of honor then I was as a bride. There wasn't one second when I couldn't give my jaw some rest. Minnie was our little flower girl, she'd told us she wanted to be standing near her daddy while the vows were taken.

   I noticed my mother sitting in the front row, she smiled. I smiled back. The cold war could wait. Everyone else from Carmel was present, Rowan's ex-colleagues, ex-students and some of my old friends.

  My father shook hands with Rowan briefly, placed a kiss on my cheek and backed away. I took a deep breath, and glanced at Rowan. I had fresh tears in my eyes, joyous tears. This was actually happening. We'd made it happen.

    Rowan leaned in to whisper softly in my ear, "I can't wait until later tonight when you're officially mine, I've arranged for a surprise."

      "You look so hot like in that tux, Mr. Masters. I can hardly wait because you're driving me insane." I whispered back.

    "Are you seriously flirting with me?"

    I laughed.

    There were going to be days when Rowan would be difficult to understand, so here I was. Rowan's cure. His better substitute for the addictions.

And this was our story.

Our beginning.

****

A.N: Hey guys! The Epilogue comes next but I hate to say goodbye to these characters 😭 I hope you enjoyed this chapter :) Please don't forget to Vote and Comment telling me what you guys think.