“There are two weddings?”
“They’re overachievers and want to do it twice.” Sebastian straightens his tie, though he just ends up making it even wonkier. “Go on, then, put the ring on him.”
My everything skips a beat as I open the box and pull the ring out. It’s a black tungsten band with polished edges. It’s masculine, elegant, and perfect for him. Sliding it onto his finger is the highlight of my life. When I look back on my most important moments, this will be the one at the very top.
It looks so damn good on him that I want to suck his finger into my mouth, tasting the way it circles around the digit. I want to kiss him while he’s wearing it, while we’remarried. Grady’s right, we just need to hurry this up so we can kiss.
“What’s your middle name, Lake?” Sebastian asks, moving it along.
“Anton,” I say. “Also a grandfather’s name. We’re twins.”
“You don’t look like twins,” Izaac says, looking between us as if he’s looking for a similarity. I feel like I’d be more concerned about twins wanting to get married, but maybe that’s just me.
“Get on with it,” Grady growls. “I don’t care what we are, just marry us.”
“Kinky.” I snicker.
“Do you, Lake Anton McKenna, take this man to be your wedded husband?”
I beam, heart bursting. The ring Grady reveals is nothing like I imagined and the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. He’s gone the opposite direction with the engagement and wedding rings, with a simple platinum for the engagement and thenthis.It’s a black tungsten as well, but that’s the only similarity. The centre of the band, threaded like the depths of the ocean, is filled with an inlay of blue crushed stone and gold flakes. It’s bold, colourful, and I’m never taking it off.
His hand is warm as he glides the ring into place, snug beside my engagement ring, like they were made for each other. Just like Grady and I are.
Even though this isn’t real, it’s exciting. Besides, it is kind of real. To us it is. I’m gonna call him my husband after this, I don’t care what anyone thinks. “I do.” So much. This is the start of the rest of our life together, beginning in the bathroom hallway of a bar.
Chapter twenty-two
Grady
Theheadacheisn’tasbad as I feared, once I’ve showered and refreshed myself. I can almost ignore that it’s there at all.
Lake is in the kitchen by the time I’m done, the smell of coffee in the air. He’s at the dining table, sitting in a chair backwards and flicking through a magazine while he eats his Corn Flakes. Hades is at his feet, curled up and sleeping.
“How much sugar did you put on that?” Hades’ ears perk up at my words, but he doesn’t move or even open his eyes. He has a hard life.
“It’s so good,” is all Lake answers, smiling lopsidedly at me. “This is how you and Felix bond, right? Your obsession with healthy food.”
“I’m not at Felix’s level,” I say. I’ll eat pizza with real food on it, not cauliflower.
Lake points at the counter. “The coffee is ready, and I got the toaster out.”
I’m fixated on his hand, where his wedding band now sits comfortably around his finger. It suits him, just like I thought it would, and it complements the engagement ring. He put the same thought into mine.
As if noticing, Lake glances down atmyhand, my ring. “We should talk about last night,” he says quietly. We’d both avoided the subject on the way home and while getting ready for bed. Instead of confronting any of it, I’d fucked him slowly in bed and then in the shower, and then I passed out with him afterward, hair still wet.
“Okay,” I say, like a coward. I need a coffee for this. Or six. Great, I’m turning into Quinn’s lawyer. That’s how I know it’s the end of days.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were afraid I was going to change my mind?”
Right to the heart of the matter. I shouldn’t have expected otherwise from Lake. He’s always so open, forcing me to confront my own feelings. Not letting me hide. “They’re just leftover insecurities that will pass. I know you won’t, and that we’re both in this.”
“Fear isn’t always rational.”
In my experience, it rarely is. In this case, my past doesn’t help the situation or my feelings on the matter.
“I’m not like him.”
“I know.” It’s not the first time he’s said it. And this time, I believe him. “I don’t doubt you, or us.” With a sigh, I pour my coffee and wrap my hands around the mug. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you.” No, that’s not good enough. “I get scared that I’m going to be standing at the end of that aisle, waiting for you, andyou won’t be there.” I don’t know why that’s so hard to admit. “Iknowthat you wouldn’t. I just…”
