After, we are spent, but we can't stay in the Closet of Lost Costumes forever. As we search for our own clothes, I see a new star on his back, and my breath hitches in my throat.
I trace it with my finger. "When did you get this?"
He turns, his face hard. "The day after we broke up."
"Who is it for?"
"Remember the little girl, Shannon? She died the night you dropped off the papers."
Oh God. Oh God, no. "Celene. That's why she was at your house?"
His face falls. "You saw that? Is that why? Oh my God. I'm such a fool. Yes, that's why she came over—to tell me. Shannon was her patient too. We try to keep it professional, to not care too much. You have to do that, to do your job well. But some of them just reach inside—they get to you. Shannon was like that, for both Celene and me. It was too much like losing Hope all over again. I don't love Celene, but I could offer her the small comfort of friendship that night. Nothing happened, Kacie. I hope you know that."
Tears run down my face. "I know that. And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have run. Shouldn't have hid behind my own fears. I've missed you every moment since that night."
He kisses me. "You'll never have to miss me again." Then he grins. "Assuming your ninety day challenge is a success."
***
He makes it sixty days. Sixty days during which we spend nearly every moment together when we aren't working. Sixty days of learning more and more about each other, spending time with his family, going to events and art exhibits, playing chess, reading books, swimming, hiking, having barbecues with Tate and Vi and whomever they are dating that week. Sixty days of falling more and more in love with each other.
And then I get the package.
It's the red shoe I left at his house the night I arrived with our annulment papers. In it is a note with instructions of where and when to meet him. I remember the place. All of my memories have returned, and I'm grateful for that.
Everything is ready when I arrive. There's champagne and strawberries and a little table set up with all of my favorite foods.
It feels like an eternity as I sit there in the quiet chapel alone, candles flickering around me.
When he walks through the door, I release the breath I don't realize I'm holding.
He looks as handsome as I remember, and all my love, my lust, my desire, my need, it all topples over me in waves, and I want to throw myself in his arms, but I wait, nerves sending butterflies through my stomach.
"I got your package," I say, holding up a foot to show him the red shoe he rescued.
"I'm glad. I know I said we had to wait ninety days, but Kacie, I'm done waiting for what I want most in the world."
My breath hitches. "And what's that?"
He kneels before me so that we're face to face. "You."
I'm trembling from the briefest touch of his fingers against my cheek. "I want you, Ms. Kacie Michaels. Always and forever, I want you."
A tear trickles down my cheek and over the spot his finger just brushed against. "I want you too. Always and forever."
When we kiss, it's magic. It's everything in my life, everything in the universe, falling into perfect place. It's our fates intertwining fully and completely, without fear, without hesitation, without distraction.
And when he pulls away, I'm about to protest, but he takes a small box out of his pocket and holds it out to me.
"I've been carrying this around with me since the night you left the papers at my house. I couldn't give up hope that someday you'd come back to me, but I needed to be sure that this is what you want too. These last few months have shown me that we're ready for the next step. Kacie Michaels, will you marry me? Again?"
He opens the box, and a beautiful white gold ring sparkles at me. The main diamond is large, at least two karats, circled by smaller diamonds, with even more diamonds running down the band. It's magnificent.
Now my tears are flowing as I nod. "Yes, yes I will! Nothing would make me happier."
When he pulls the ring out of the box, I notice something engraved on the inside, and I laugh when I read what it says. "Hitched 06/02, Married 4Ever __/__".
"The first date is the day we got married, right here. The second date is yet to be decided, but it will be the date you become mine forever."
Chapter 38
Happily Ever After
I'm dressed in silk and lace, in a gown so elegant I'm scared to breathe, let alone move. Clara runs around, making sure everything and everyone is in place. Vi stands with me—I'm too scared to sit—and mumbles the occasional reassurance every few moments like a pre-recorded program.
When the text comes, I'm almost too nervous to pick up my phone. What if I chip my French manicure? Vi rolls her eyes and picks up the phone for me. "God, Kacie, you're not made of porcelain. Relax!"
"I just don't want to do anything to fuck up this day."
"Stressing to the point of immobilization is the only thing threatening to fuck up this day." She scrolls through my texts. "Lover boy says he can't wait to see you. He's fantasizing about you. He… Oh my, he sent a cock shot. He is as huge as you said."