“But do you think weshoulddo it,” Ava said.
I pressed my lips together. Why couldn’t they just agree without all this fuss?
“Yes,” I said with a nod, trying to look more confident than I felt.
“Are you just doing this to impress her? Because, Doc, if that’s the case…I’m not sure this is the right way to go about this.Maybe we could brainstorm some other ideas.” Ava reached out to grab my hand.
“It’s not that. Come on, this requires a special skill set, and it’s one we possess. We can help her. We have to help her.”
Ava licked her lips, bobbing her head. “All right, we’ll help. But the thing is…I’m a little worried about you. I know she means a lot to you, but this request…Doc, it just seems like maybe she’s–“
“Don’t say using me because that’s completely untrue,” I said, pulling my hand from Ava’s and rising again.
“Is it?” Ava heaved a sigh, standing and stopping me in my tracks as I stalked back and forth. “Doc, I can see in your eyes how much she means to you, but was this all about getting us to help her? Did you even discuss a relationship?”
“We did,” I answered with a nod. “And that brings me to the second thing I need to ask you.”
“Oh, Doc,” Ava said, a consoling look softening her features. “If you need us to tell her how worth it you are, of course we will, but?—”
“No, it’s not that.” I shifted on my feet, nerves buzzing just beneath my skin. I didn’t know how they’d take the news, but I hoped they’d be happy for me.
“We, um… I was really hoping Alex would be my best man.”
“Best man?” Alex’s brow furrowed. “Like, for a wedding?”
Ava’s eyes went wide.
“Yep,” I said, swallowing hard. “Nattie and I are getting married—tonight.”
“Tonight?!” Ava exclaimed. “What? How did this happen?”
I grinned, letting the excitement wash over me as saying the words aloud made it seem all the more real. “Well, uh, turns out…this whole unfreezing the father thing is going to take a while, right? I mean, we don’t want to make a mistake, right?”
Ava nodded, silently urging me to continue.
“So, apparently, her brother’s moving forward with having him declared dead before we can bring him back.”
“So? Wouldn’t that make her queen?”
I held up a finger. “He found some ancient law—says a female monarch can’t take the throne unless she’s married.”
Ava’s features turned concerned. “So she asked you to marry her?”
“No,” I corrected, “I asked her. She insisted she didn’t want to put that on me. Didn’t want me to feel pressured, but I want nothing more than to be married to her. I have never felt a connection to anyone like I feel with her. I’m not missing my chance.”
“Doc, this could be…” Ava shook her head, trying to come up with the rest of the statement.
“What? The best thing that happened to me? I mean, everyone else went into a marriage for other reasons and look how it turned out. Dad and Julia are happy. You and Mav are crazy in love. Why can’t it happen for me?”
Ava glanced at Alex who shrugged before she rubbed my shoulder. “We want that for you too. You know we’re just worried about you, that’s all. We want you to be happy.”
“I am. I will be. I’m going to be married to this beautiful woman who doesn’t think I’m over-the-top and crazy. In fact, she seems to enjoy my line-crossing personality which is kind of refreshing.”
“Hey, we enjoy your line-crossing personality, too.” Ava wagged a finger at me.
I grabbed it and shifted it to the side. “Yes, I know. But you two are married. I’m the third wheel.”
“Hardly, but we understand. And we definitely hope this works out the way you expect.”
