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Almost nervous to look, I scan the boxes. I’ve been avoiding that entire section since we arrived, not wanting to catch even a glimpse of Guy. Khaos told me about his plea to my ex to stay with me the night we broke up, so I wouldn’t be alone. I have no idea if Guy ever did come by the house. He didn’t ring the doorbell, and I changed my code to the door after 7 Minutes in Sea Haven. A part of me wishes he did try the old code only to realize I blocked him from my life, too.

I spot the Humphrieses in their usual box, and sure enough, in the one next to theirs, is Sergeant Sera. No sign, no smile, but she does what looks like a signature motion with her hand in the air.

“What… I don’t…”

“I think she wants you to get a prenup,” Khaos says.

We share a laugh. We literally have outdoor wicker furniture in our living room and only because Khaos bought it.

“I’ll sign one if you want,” I tell him, earning myself an incredulous look.

“Everything about me is yours, past, present, and future. You know this.”

“Even if you make millions?”

“Especially if I make millions. It’ll all be because of you.”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit. You were already making changes before I took that bullet.”

“Only because you gave me a reason to.”

As my teammates start to surround me, Khaos quickly makes a cage around me with his arms.

“Careful, careful,” Wesley says, making her way through the melee. “Precious cargo.”

“I didn’t get knocked up. Just shot.”

“I don’t know what’s worse.”

We both say “Pregnant” at the same time, then laugh.

Khaos wants to have kids, and so do I…in the future. Like, way in the future. Once I’m out of school and have a stable job, and we have, like, real indoor furniture.

Wesley’s gaze strays over to the stands, and if I had to guess, I’d say it’s locked on a certain new student. I caught sight of Trick McDaniel earlier and he was absolutely riveted by Lit U’s best tumbler. It might explain why she was performing at a twelve tonight.

It’s a good thing her boyfriend—Littoral’s star quarterback—is currently in the locker room.

“Anyway,” she says, bringing her attention back to me. “Congratulations, Scoops. You’re going to make such a beautiful bride.”

“Thank you.”

“Just do me a favor and don’t set the date during comp season.”

“Never.”

The rest of the team gives their congratulations as well, then Khaos and I make our way up to our friends and my family. Apart from Khaos’s intense handshake with my dad, it’s not that awkward.

My mom doesn’t come down but I didn’t expect her to. It’s probably better that way. She does have a knack for ruining things.

Hand in hand with my fiancé as we head back to the lawn, I ask him, “So? You know my dad?”

“Yeah.”

“How?”

“After you told me you couldn’t get ahold of him, I went to his house and—”

“His house? In New Jersey?”