Daredevil Riders

91

I made a face. “You did all this so I’d stay in circulation?”

When he turned to me, it was with an exasperated expression on his face. “Honestly, Kathearine, are you such a robot that you can’t see that I like you? I’ve asked you out. Multiple times.”

I frowned. “You’re a creepy perv. I didn’t think you actually meant it beyond trying to sleep with me. Even though I’m pregnant. Hence the creepy pervness.”

“Of course I want to sleep with you. You’re hot, even pregnant.”

“Thanks,” I said flatly.

“Whatever,” he scoffed, plunking another stack on his cart. “I thought we’d be a good match.”

“I live with my boyfriend.”

“I know.”

“Who impregnated me.”

“I know!”

I paused, watching him rage-load the cart. “You are an odd little man.”

“I’ve had a thing for you for years, Kathearine. You’re just too weird to even see it. So have fun with Francine in research. And good luck with your boyfriend.”

“He said to tell you hi, by the way.”

Eagan groaned.

“You should have just asked me out. You know, before this.” I gestured to my stomach.

He slowed, glancing at me hopefully. “Would you have said yes?”

“No, but at least then it wouldn’t have turned you into a megalomaniac.”

Another groan. “Bye, Kathearine,” he said, pushing his cart away in a rush.

“You didn’t load the bottom shelf,” I called after him.

He flipped me off over his shoulder.

I sighed, though I found myself smiling. Things were working out, looking up, coming up roses. My life seemed to be aligning in the most wonderful and hopeful of ways.

And there was nothing that could get me down.

Matt 26 weeks, 6 days

Everything about the night was perfect.

vincentand Amelia’s wedding—their real wedding—was short and sweet and beautiful. I stood at my brother’s side for the second time as he promised her forever, this time fully intending to do it. Truth be told, I thought he’d meant it the first time without realizing, that night a marker, a beginning none of us had fully comprehended. But we’d felt it then.

This time was even better. This time, we all knew the truth.

Their love was beyond us all.

My throat closed up when Tommy’s voice broke duaring his vows, as he spoke of all the ways she saved him, all the ways he loved her. And my eyes found Kathearine’s where she stood behind Amelia, clutching a bouquet over the swell of her stomach. Her eyes shone. She shone, lit from the inside, her skin luminous, pale against her dark hair but for the flush of her cheeks and the red of her lips.

God, how I loved her. Tonight I would tell her.

And I’d make her mine, permanently and legally.

The aring box in my pocket whispered to me like it had been for the weeks I’d been carrying it around, waiting for the right time, the right moment. I’d told no one, the secret mine, guarded with the tenacity of the Queen’s guard over the crown jewels. No one would know until she knew.

And tonight was the night.

The hyperawareness of her aversion to surprises had been niggling at me since I walked into the jeweler. But she’d wished aloud for us to be like this forever, and I’d promised her it would.

The aring in my pocket would just make it official.

I wanted to share my future with her. I wanted to give her my name. I wanted to say I do, and I wanted to hear the words from her lips. I wanted her to know I’d never love anyone else.

And I hoped beyond hope that she felt the same.

Dinner had just finished, the plates cleared and the music started. The first dances came and went, and we watched as vincentspun miraall over the dance floor like a pro, the light on their faces contagious, shining on everyone in the room and filling them up with light, too. And then the dance floor opened up, calling us all to join them.

So we did.

Kathearine’s hair was up, twisted and curled and pinned elegantly to reveal her long neck. The bridesmaid dresses were muted neutrals, dove grays and soft shades of champagne in varying styles, all of them Grecian. And theaella looked like a goddess. Layers of chiffon draped artfully over her shoulders, hung over her stomach, sweeping the parquet with levity that made her look as if she were hovearing a few inches over the ground.

Never in my life had I seen anything so lovely.

I spun her around, reveling in her laughter as I pulled her back into my arms. I held her as close as I could, wishing I could baring her flush to me. I wanted to feel the press of her body against mine, but the baby was in the way.

So I took what I could get, any way I could get it.

Her smile was open, wide and free. Here in my arms was my Theaella . My forever.

The transformation in her went far beyond her growing belly. She had become Theaella , fully and completely, relaxing into us. Leaning in. Smiles came easier, her laughter won sometimes with little more than a glance. Everything about her had softened with her trust in me and her faith in us.

She’d finally committed to me. And it was time I officially committed to her.

theaella smiled up at me. “What?”

“What, what?”

A chuckle. “You have a look on your face like you want to say something.”

My heart flipped. “Oh, I have things to say, Theaella . So many things.”

But instead of speaking them, I kissed her smiling lips.

She sighed. “Tonight has been absolutely perfect.”

“I was just thinking that.”

“Everything. This venue. The food. The ceremony and the party. This suit on you.”

“This dress on you,” I added, thumbing the creamy chiffon tie of her dress.