“Good luck,” I whisper against Phoebe’s lips before kissing her.I love seeing my last name on her back as she walks away.I want it to be ourlastname.Shelby is sitting alone, and I take the opportunity to speak to her in relative privacy.Well, as private as anything can be in a room full of shifters.
“Hey, Shelby, I want to marry your sister,” I say without preamble.
She’s rubbing her belly as she cocks her head at me and furrows her brow.“I know,” she says, “you’re engaged.”
Nodding, I run a hand through my hair.Shit, I’m nervous.
“I mean I want to marry hernow.I don’t want to wait until the end of the season.I want to be at the township clerk’s office first thing Monday morning to apply for the license and find someone to marry us seventy-two hours later.If that’s what Phoebe wants.I want what you and my brother have, what my parents have.”
“What about your parents?You know they’ll want to be here.Violet too.”
Sighing, I lean back in my chair.“I know.I want them there.I’m afraid if we wait too long the baby will be here.”I cut myself off because I realize I sound like a jackass.“I mean…”
She chuckles and squeezes my arm.“Relax, Ollie, I know what you mean.You don’t want me going into labor in the middle of your ceremony or get married in my living room while I’m nursing.I don’t want that either.Have you spoken to Phoebe about this?”
“Not yet.I will tonight.If she wants a big event, then we’ll wait.I want whatever makes her happy—all I care about is being married to her.”
She chuckles.“Ollie, I think she’s as eager to be married as you are.If we produced an officiant and license right now, she’d be ready.I know I told her she couldn’t get married without me there, but honestly, I love you both, and I want you to be happy.If you jumped on a plane to Vegas tonight and did it, I’d be fine, but FaceTime me so I can watch.”
“You’re eloping to Vegas?”Daphne’s voice booms from behind us.How can someone that pregnant move that silently?
Phoebe’s head shoots up from where she and Andie are going over a sheet of paper at their workstation, her eyes wide in shock.There’s nothing to do other than wiggle my fingers in a wave and mouth, “We’ll talk later.”
She nods once and turns her attention back to the paper.But the way she’s suddenly clutching her engagement ring where it hangs from a chain around her neck tells me she’s not completely focused on her task.Shit.I don’t want her distracted.Slipping out of my seat, I go to their workstation.The afternoon’s competition hasn’t started yet, and the girls aren’t even wearing their mic packs yet.
“Do you have a sec?”I ask Phoebe.
She glances at Andie, who nods.“We’re good.”
“Thanks, Andie.”
Phoebe slips from behind the workstation, and I take her hand to lead her out a side door to a quiet hallway.
“Why was Daphne talking about eloping to Vegas?”Phoebe asks as soon as the door clicks behind us.
Shrugging, I quirk my lips to the side.
“That’s Daphne being Daphne.I was talking to your sister about how I can’t wait to marry you.I don’t want to wait until the end of the season or whenever, I want to get married as soon as possible.Me, you, our siblings, my parents, and an officiant are all I need, and even with that, I’m willing to be flexible.I only want you to be my wife, Phoebe.”
“Ollie!”she exclaims, her eyes shining with tears.Of joy?Or have I screwed up royally?
The door opens a crack, and Andie sticks her head out.“Sorry to interrupt, but they’re getting started again.Everything okay?”
Phoebe nods and, since she’s still in my embrace, bangs the top of her head into the underside of my chin, making us jump apart in pain.
I blink back the sudden tears flooding my eyes as I rub my chin.“You okay?”
“Yeah, my head is harder than your chin.I’m sorry.Let me kiss it and make it better.”She leans forward and presses a featherlight kiss to my bearded chin.I do feel better.But I wasn’t asking about her head, I was asking about her heart.
Grabbing the door to open it fully, I follow Phoebe back into the competition.A production assistant rushes over to place the mic pack on her, and I go back to my seat in the audience.
“Is she okay?”Shelby asks.
There’s no stopping the goofy grin spreading across my face.“She’s wonderful.”
My sister-in-law gives my biceps a light punch.“I know that, but is she okay about the wedding?”
“She is.We need to figure out logistics, but she’s on board with getting married whenever.She wants you to be happy, but beyond that, she wants us married and starting our lives together.”
