“Did you need something, Fylgja?” he asks, turning to give me his full attention.
That nickname still sends a shiver up my spine.
“I was going to order food while I work on inventory,” I say. “Anything you’re in the mood for?”
“I don’t have strong feelings about dinner,” he repliesthoughtfully, then flashes me a grin. “But I know exactly what I want for dessert.”
The fairy swoons dramatically. My husband laughs, clearly pleased with himself. I don’t know why I keep asking when the answer is always the same.
“I might be able to whip something up for you later,” I say, winking as I back toward the door.
I order a couple of pizzas and grab the inventory clipboard from my room. In the supply closet, I fall into a familiar rhythm: count, write, calculate, repeat. It’s almost meditative.
Strong arms slip around my waist, yanking me out of my focused haze. I jump, then catch sight of Aksel over my shoulder and roll my eyes.
“Done already?” I ask, forcing my breathing to slow as my heart settles back into place.
“It’s been twenty minutes since Jerry and Phillip paid and left,” he says. “You were so focused you didn’t even look up when we walked past.”
He nuzzles into my neck, licking my scent gland in a way that’s half playful, half distracting as hell.
“I’m almost done,” I say, fighting a smile. “I just need to finish counting the dermal adhesive bandages, then I’ll meet you up front to eat the pizza that I’m sure is ice-cold by now.”
I shrug out of his addictive hold, mostly so I can concentrate on literally anything other than the semi-hard reminder pressing insistently into my ass. He laughs, loud and unbothered, before heading back down the hallway toward the waiting room.
I finish quickly, input the numbers into the system so tomorrow’s order will be painless, then shut off the lights and head up front.
Turns out everyone decided to stay late.
Layla stands beside her husband at the pool table, belly leading the way as she talks relentless shit while Eric completely botches an easy shot. Our receptionist and piercer are pressed together against one of the bookshelves, mouths locked like they’ve forgotten the rest of us exist. I really need to have a conversation with them about PDA.
Ewan is sunk deep into one of the leather couches, utterly absorbed in whatever tragic romance novel he picked for the day.
Eric and Ewan have been together since the show. What started as an unlikely pairing has somehow turned into one of the most solid, deeply affectionate relationships I know. They’re so openly in love it borders on obscene. The air around them always feels… softer. Mushy.
Then I find him. Aksel.
My husband. My soulmate. My Fylgja.
That familiar feeling settles in my chest—the same one I’ve carried since I walked off that stage two years ago. The certainty. The quiet awe. We made it. Everything we build now, everything we choose, is for us.
Our parents are still holding out hope for grandchildren. They never moved out of the condo they rented two years ago, and Sunday lunch is still sacred. This Sunday, though, I have something new to bring to the table.
I rest a hand over my bloated belly, smiling to myself. I can’t wait to see their faces.
Chapter Forty
Aksel
“So, Aksel,” Cammie says, leaning forward with a grin, “it’s been five years since you lost to your husband on Tattoo Spectacle, and the world is dying to know, what have you been up to? You’ve dodged interviews for years. Please, put us all out of our collective misery.”
Aksel exhales slowly, dimples cutting deep as he shakes his head. “We’ve been living our best life,” he says easily. “Hale and Iopened Siren Ink with some of our fellow contestants. We built a family. We have two kids now, and Hale is currently pregnant with our first set of twins.” His smile softens, pride and awe bleeding through. “We couldn’t be happier.”
Cammie arches a brow. “I’m hearing a lot of we in that answer, but not much I. Is there a reason you avoid talking about yourself?”
Aksel doesn’t hesitate. “I don’t talk about myself in the singular,” he says simply. “Without my husband, I wouldn’t be who I am. Hale and our children are my entire world.”
Epilogue
