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TWENTY-THREE
Elliot walkedaround the store with me, holding a snoring Evan as we looked at everything. The jeweler was friendly, even though he didn’t know that I was suddenly loaded again, which made me feel better about the whole thing.
Though I could afford it, I didn’t have expensive taste, and didn’t want something flashy enough that I’d need to take it off while I was running dance classes. I found a ring I loved in the right size, already ready to be purchased, with an emerald-shaped diamond surrounded by a simple halo. It wasn’t too flashy, or too modern, or too big.
I bought Elliot a ring too—he picked out a black one that sort of resembled wood—and we walked out grinning together.
When we made it back to our house, Elliot put Evan in his crib, and then we collapsed into our bed. Elliot’s arm was around me, his fingers playing with the ring on my left hand as I relaxed against his chest.
“What do you want to do, for a wedding?” Elliot murmured to me. “Technically, if we’re not relying on my job for insurance, we don’t need to get married right away. I’m all for it, but if you want to wait, we can do that too.”
I considered it. I’d dreamed about having a big, sparkly wedding when I was a kid, but those dreams had died when I met SD. Honestly, pretty much every dream I’d ever had died with SD’s abuse. Every moment of my life since then had revolved around surviving, and keeping my baby alive.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
“You don’t need to decide right now.” He flashed me a small grin. “We’ve got all the time in the world.”
The truth of that statement hit me so damn hard it brought tears to my eyes.
Elliot was with me.
For better, or worse.
Fate had bound us together, and our wolves had made it permanent. There was no separating us anymore—no dividing us.
We were a team.
Permanently.
“Let’s plan a wedding,” I said softly. “Maybe for the spring? A couple of months from now? I don’t want to half-ass it; I want the princess dress, and the cake, and the dancing… everything I used to want, before SD and my parents made me all jaded. They can’t take that from me.”
“Cake, dancing, and poofy dress it is.” Elliot’s arms both wrapped around me, engulfing me in a hug as he pulled me closer.
“Do we need to plan a dessert for tonight?” I asked, changing the subject suddenly.
“I was just going to order something,” Elliot admitted.
My lips curved upward. “Better not be looking for another mate, El.”
He laughed. “Not a chance.”
My head tucked beneath his chin, and a yawn stretched my lips. I’d been planning on jumping him when we got back, but honestly after everything that had recently happened, I just wanted a nap. Elliot seemed to be on the same page, too.
We fell asleep snuggled up together. It wasn’t sexy in any way, but the comfortable peace between us was worth so much more to me.
Evan wokeus up an hour later, and we rolled out of bed together, glancing at the clock. I had to leave for my afternoon class in thirty minutes—I’d forgotten to set a timer for that. Then again, Ev had never let me sleep through that class, so I didn’t have a whole lot of reasons to worry.
Elliot promised to find us something to serve for dessert while I was gone, and I gave him a long, slow kiss before leaving.
And though I enjoyed my class, my nerves flared up throughout the hour. By the time I finally got out of there, I knew I was going to be at least a few minutes late to dinner, but I hoped the pack wouldn’t mind.
I pulled up to the house as June and Zed walked up too. He was carrying bags of food, which didn’t shock me considering he was a fancy chef and very particular about ingredients and such. He and June were the pack’s sigmas, and she was a damned fireball.
I slipped out of my car, and June waved at me, flashing me a grin. “Lizzy?”
“Yep.” I grinned back, ignoring the nerves fluttering in my lower belly.
“I’m sure you remember, but I’m June and this is Zed. Also, your baby is fucking adorable. Had to get that out of the way.” She winked at me, and my grin widened.
