Not in the romantic, soft-focus way my mother thinks of when she looks at my rings and smiles like she’s watching a love story unfold.
In the legal way.
In theyour name is attached to mine in publicway.
In thepeople will decide what kind of wife I am before I even open my mouthway.
Julian exits without a word as soon as the car stops, and before I consider it, my door is open, and his hand is reaching for mine. Camera's flash as I step out, and like we've done this a million times before, Julian tucks me in his side in what feels surprisingly protective.
The night air is sharp, Chicago fall doing what it does best, biting at your ankles and slipping down the back of your collar like a reminder that warmth is never guaranteed.
A historic building downtown, all stone columns and carved detail, with valet lines and security and a carpet that isn’t red so much as the colour of expensive wine. Cameras continue to flash in the distance.
I tense automatically.
Julian’s hand presses once at my side, gentle.
“Breathe,” he murmurs, so low it’s only for me.
I do.
Itry.
This time, he doesn’t let me walk in alone.
This time, he helps me out of my jacket and hands it to the attendant along with his.
This time, when we step onto the carpet and the first camera swings toward us, Julian’s arm shifts, guiding me into him with a deliberate ease.
“Mr. North!”
“Julian!”
“Lucy...Lucy, over here!”
The sound of my name coming from strangers is still jarring. Like being touched by hands you didn’t consent to. Like a spotlight snapping on in a room you thought was private.
Julian leans slightly toward me, his mouth near my ear, his voice calm and controlled.
“Eyes forward. Smile once. You don’t have to answer anything that I don’t answer first.”
I nod, grateful and resentful all at once.
Grateful because he’s right.
Resentful because it still feels like I’m borrowing his armour to survive this.
We stop at the marked place where they want us to pose. Julian turns me a fraction, so the cameras get a clean angle. His fingers slide down my arm, then settle lightly around my wrist, guiding without gripping.
I feel his warmth.
I feel his steadiness.
I feel my own heart trying to leap out of me and ruin my entire life.
Flashes pop.
“Lucy, let's see the ring.”
