They're the most certain thing I've ever known.
"I've loved her for years. Longer than I admitted to myself. Longer than I had any right to, watching her from a distance, waiting for her to see me as more than just a friend." I swallow hard. "And now that I have her—now that she's mine and I'm hers—I don't want to wait anymore. I don't want to waste a single day pretending that what we have is anything less than forever."
Charm's hand comes up to cover her mouth.
Her eyes are already glistening.
Fenrir's expression is unreadable.
Stoic.
The VP mask is firmly in place.
"I almost died," I continue. "And when I was lying on that table, bleeding out, the only thing I could think about was Ingrid. About all the things I hadn't said. All the moments Ihadn't given her. All the future I might never get to have." I meet Fenrir's eyes. "I'm not wasting any more time. I want to marry her. And I'm asking—both of you—for your blessing."
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Charm breaks first.
A sob escapes her, tears spilling down her cheeks, and she's on her feet and crossing the room before I can react.
She pulls me into a hug so fierce it makes my still-healing side ache.
I don't care.
"Yes," she whispers against my shoulder. "Yes, of course yes. Oh, Gunnar?—"
She pulls back, cups my face in her hands the same way Ingrid does.
I can see where Ingrid gets it from.
"You wonderful, wonderful man. Of course you have my blessing. I've been hoping—praying—that someone would love her the way she deserves. The way she's always deserved."
"I do love her. More than I can say."
"I know you do." She wipes her eyes, laughing at herself. "Look at me, falling apart. Fenrir, say something."
I turn to look at the VP.
He's standing now, having risen from his desk at some point.
His expression has shifted.
Still controlled.
But there's something warmer underneath.
Something that looks like approval.
"You already have my blessing," he says. "You've had it since you took a knife trying to save those kids. Since you proved you'd die for what's right." He moves closer, extends his hand. "But more than that—you've had it since you started showingup for my daughter. Every time she spiraled. Every time she needed someone. You were there. You've been proving yourself for years, Gunnar. This is just making it official."
I take his hand.
His grip is strong.
