Page 248 of The Monster and the Masochist

“Think your sister can help us out with branding for the firm?” Nolan asked, and Theo cocked her head to the side in confusion.

“Your firm is rebranding?”

I laughed and shook my head. “No. Nolan’s trying to convince me to quit and open a new firm with him.”

Theo’s eyes grew wide, and if it was even possible, she grew even more excited.

“No way! That’s an awesome idea!”

“Right! I thought so.” Nolan grinned, and I rolled my eyes as they clapped their hands together again.

“Yeah, we’ll see. I need to crunch some numbers.”

But Theo was suddenly all over me, peppering my face and throat with kisses until I was squirming and giggling in her arms.

“You crunch those numbers, baby girl, then once you have it all figured out, I can’t wait to watch you take over the fucking world.”

I laughed, rubbing my nose against hers as I crushed her as tightly against me as I could.

“I already have the world, Theodora. I have you.”

Theo pulled back to look at me, her dark eyes shining with happiness, and I thought… This is it.

This is what life is supposed to be like.

This is what it feels like to be happy.

“Kiddos are starting to show up,” Jerry said gruffly, just as the bell chimed and several young girls and their respective parents came in.

I watched them look around the space with wide, excited eyes, and I forced myself to let go of my wife.

“Looks like you’re on, baby.” I smiled, and she grinned, dropping one last kiss on my forehead.

“Sure am. See you at home?”

I nodded.

“Of course baby. See you at home.”

Though I already felt like I was home, because just like she’d promised when she’d married me, my home was anywhere she was.

Fairview was bustling with wedding guests, and I couldn’t wipe the goofy grin off my face as Cassandra fussed with my boutonnière.

My brother was getting married to his soulmate today, and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.

“You nervous?” Cass asked. Her crimson lips curled as she moved on from the boutonnière to fluff the bow tie on my tux.

We were standing in the living room while guests milled about, waiting for the ceremony to start, and I was suddenly brought back to the day I stood here, moments before marrying my own soulmate.

“Not nearly as nervous as I was for our wedding,” I joked, and she raised a surprised eyebrow.

“You were nervous?” she asked, looking surprised. She was beautiful as ever, in a floral Gucci dress that flowed down to her ankles. The dress was covered in a bright lily print, making her look like a whimsical garden fairy.

“I almost puked trying to give you that ring. I thought you were going to fucking hate it,” I admitted, and her brows pinched together in confusion.

“I could never hate anything you give to me, Theo. I want it all,” she said softly, glancing down at the blood red stone she religiously wore with pride on her ring finger.

“Well, I know that now, baby girl. At the time, I thought the whole thing was fake for you.”