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The last thing I want to do is admit to my brother that the exact scenario he described has crossed my mind in the last twenty-four hours, but he’s the only one besides Elodie who knows about my real feelings for Lennon, feelings I swore had gone away with time.

Seems like it only took a few days for them to return with a vengeance.

But time is of the essence with this arrangement—from both my work perspective, and Lennon’s need for health care. So there hasn’t been much time to talk myself out of this monumental decision, even though changing my mind is the last thing I would do.

“That’s not what she wants.”

“Exactly,” he fires back. “And if you want to save yourself from eventual heartbreak, you need to set an end date to all of this.”

I don’t get a chance to reply because Lennon walks into the courthouse with Elodie at her side. She’s wearing a white sundress that stops right above her knee, and her hair is pulled away from her face with the rest falling down her back in soft curls.

She’s breathtaking, and for a second, I want to tell my brother that he’s right.

I am so fucked.

Owen groans beside me. “You are so fucked.”

“Gotta say, this wasn’t the reunion I was expecting for the three of us,” Elodie says playfully as she leaps toward me, pulling me into a hug.

“You and me both,” Lennon mutters beside her before finally meeting my gaze. “Hi, Easton.”

“Lennon. You look…beautiful,” I manage to croak out. But beautiful is too simple a word to describe how angelic she looks, and how much I want to pull her into my chest and keep her there where she belongs.

My brother is right.

I have to keep my distance because my head and heart are at war right now, and my heart is definitely winning.

Owen slaps my back, making me choke on my own spit while knocking that insane thought from my mind. “Well, no use delaying the inevitable. Are you two ready to make this official?”

Lennon smiles up at my brother. “Thank you for being here, Owen. I know it’s probably weird…”

He waves his hand through the air. “Hey. I always told you, our friendship wouldn’t be affected by what happened between me and your sister. Besides, that was a long time ago.”

Funny how he pretends not to be affected by Sloane so easily to everyone else when I know the truth.

That’s because we both know each other’s secrets and have fallen victim to the hopeless romantic side our mother instilled in us.

Lennon nods. “I know, but this is…” Her eyes move around the room, searching for a way to explain what she’s feeling, I’m sure.

Wanting to comfort her, I do the only thing I can think of. Reaching out, I take her hand in mine, extending my index finger along her wrist, and give her our signal.

Circle, circle. Tap, tap.

Her gaze snaps back to mine, along with a hint of a smile.

Mission accomplished.

Elodie interjects before Lennon can keep talking. “It’s smart. You’re both going to get what you want. Lennon will get to finish the nursing program, and baby and mom will be covered by health care so everyone is safe and healthy, barring any complications.”

I nod, grateful that Elodie appears to be on my side through all of this. “Exactly.”

Lennon blows out a breath. “Yeah. Uh, I need to use the restroom before we start. Is there enough time?”

I twist toward the front of the courtroom where the judge is talking to the bailiff. “I’m sure he can wait a few minutes for you. Go ahead.”

She doesn’t waste a second moving toward the doors to find a restroom, and I’m so engrossed in watching her leave, I barely register that Elodie and my brother are having a conversation about me.

“Oh yeah. He’s fucked,” Owen repeats his earlier assessment as Elodie waves her hand in front of my face.