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“How did they make that so fast?” I asked him, stunned. There was no way they just had something so specific on hand.

“I called ahead and talked them into a rush order. One more stop, and we’ll be good to go.”

“One more stop?” I asked, dazed.

Maddie was still standing by my open window and now she was rubbing her hands together and grinning. “A jewelry store, I bet.”

Carter nodded, handing me the crown through my window and heading around to the driver’s side. “That’s right. You can pick out a proper diamond later, but for now I’ve found a place that has wedding bands ready for us.”

Wedding bands in hand, white dress, and beautiful crown on my head, we made it to the courthouse in time to fill out the paperwork and get a wedding license. Ten minutes after that we were married in front of a bored judge and a gleeful, teary Maddie.

I cried too, happy, relieved tears. No matter what, I had a real family now. There was nothing I needed or wanted more than that.

Carter kissed me deeply to seal the vows and all that stopped him from getting completely carried away was Maddie giggling loudly in the background.

We were walking out of the courthouse when Maddie told Carter boldly, “I believe it’s a tradition to take your witness out to a fancy dinner.”

He glanced at her, clearly amused. “You’re not friends with Michelle, are you?”

Maddie looked taken about, but she answered easily, “Not after what she did to Nova.”

He smiled at her and it was much warmer. “You’ll do. And how about I make you both a fancy dinner instead of going out for one?”

“Deal,” Maddie said instantly. “I’ve always wanted to see your house.”

I shook my head, laughing at her. “Don’t be weird about it.”

Carter made us a creamy sun dried tomato and chicken pasta dish that was the best thing I’d had since I’d left him.

He didn’t seem to care that Maddie was right across the table, after he served me he sat down close beside me, rubbed my belly with one hand and started feeding me each bite with the other.

I waved him off when I was full. “You need to eat, too.”

“I’ve been eating between your bites,” he said, and as if to prove the point, put another forkful in his mouth. “Dessert?” he asked me after swallowing.

I shook my head. “I’m too stuffed. And sleepy. Something about the pregnancy makes me need to sleep almost the instant I stop eating.”

“I guess I’ll go,” Maddie said with a sigh. “You forgot I was even here. And here I didn’t even get a tour of the house.”

Carter laughed. “Nova will give you a tour the next time you visit,” he told her.

Maddie hugged me goodbye without making me stand and promptly left.

“Do you need me to carry you to bed?” Carter asked me.

I laughed. “No! My legs work.” I stood, and he stood with me. “Actually I think I’ll go drift off on the couch watching anime, if you don’t mind.”

“Whatever you want, pet.”

EPILOGUE

I FELL ASLEEP watching Jujutsu Kaisen while Carter rubbed my feet. I barely stirred later as he carried me to bed, undressed me, and tucked me in tenderly, hugging my back as I drifted back to sleep.

I was swiftly getting my old Carter back. Everything felt too good to be true, especially considering how things usually went for me.

We’d just finished breakfast and were sitting at the kitchen table the next day when I brought it up.

“Aren’t you the least bit mad about this?” I asked him.