"You have got to get this crying thing under control," I tell her.
"Totally fine," she sniffles, as Miles pulls her to him again. I'm not sure why she even tries to leave his reach. It's pointless. I laugh as she sneakily wipes her nose on his thousand-dollar shirt.
"This has been great and all," Captain says, clearly wanting everyone out of his bedroom. We'd made plans to not leave the bed all day.
"That's sweet, but I'm not going anywhere," Mal tells him, grabbing me by the hand. Captain lets me go as she pulls me from his room and down the hallway to the kitchen.
"You can't live here. There's no food in here," Mallory says, opening all the cabinets and looking around. "Captain, you know you're marrying Paige, right? Wait." She stops moving around the kitchen. "Where will you live? Are you leaving? Does Captain still work for Oz now that this whole Alexander thing is over?" She lets out a little gasp. "Are you still with the CIA?"
She whispers the last question, like she hasn't been asking the room questions all at once. We let her get all of them out before I answer.
"He will no longer be with the CIA, we are both staying at Osborne Corp, we will live in my place because it's bigger," I tell her. "But we'll have to move the Paige shrine because that's obviously coming with us. And never once has my man let me go hungry."
Captain rounds the kitchen island, picking me up by my hips and sitting me on it, then placing a deep kiss on me. "What do you want, kitten?"
"The bakery."
"I'll be right back."
"Oz is going with you," Mal adds. She walks over and gives Miles a kiss before pushing him out the door with Captain. I sit on the island, watching her rush them out.
"This is crazy," she finally says, when the door closes. "What happened last night? I really am sorry I broke down and told Oz. He was so worried about you. You should have seen him."
Her words warm me deep inside, knowing how much Miles actually cares about me. After the past week, I think he always has. He just hasn't known how to show his feelings. That is, until Mal ripped them open, and now they seem to be pouring out.
"He killed him for me." I lick my suddenly dry lips.
"The oh-so-perfect Captain isn't so perfect, after all. Guess you don't have an excuse now," Mal says, hopping up on the kitchen island with me.
"No, he is. Perfect for me." I look over at her, and her whole face lights up with a smile.
"That's the cheesiest thing I've ever heard you say."
"I know. You three must be rubbing off on me."
"Oh, I think someone has been rubbing on you." She wiggles her eyebrows.
"I thought when I lost him yesterday I'd never pull through. It hurt so bad. Worse than anything."
"I knew something wasn't right. I mean, I see the way he looks at you. I see the same look when Miles looks at me. Captain's so in love with you. He's been giving you that look from the first time I saw the two of you together."
We sit in silence for a moment. She reaches over and grabs my hand.
"How do you feel today, now that it's over?"
"All I feel is happy." I squeeze her hand. "And I don't think the happy comes from him being gone. I know I've wanted that for so long, but last night gave me Ryan. That man would do anything in the whole world for me. I have no doubt of that. I am the single most important person in the world to him. That's not something I've ever felt before. To be someone's whole world."
"I get that," Mal agrees, and I know she understands. She never had a family of her own, and she has a man who would do anything for her, too. It's empowering.
"So you need that pink wedding dress?" She bumps my shoulder with hers.
"You know, I think I'd wear anything as long as I got to marry that man."
"You going to be this cheesy all the time now?"
"Are you going to keep bringing up cheese when you know I'm hungry?"
"Hey, I'm the pregnant one." Mal jumps off the island suddenly. "I am the only pregnant one, right? Or are you and the Captain wrapping it up?"
I bite my lip, not sure what to say because I have no idea if I am or not. I hadn't given it much thought before now. I can't really think at all when Captain gets his hands on me.
Mal starts jumping around excitedly, and I can't help but join in.
Chapter Thirty
Paige
STANDING IN FRONT of the long mirror, I look myself over. My auburn hair is swept to the side and pinned with wavy curls over one shoulder. Mallory chose a deep blue color for me to wear as a bridesmaid because she said it matches my eyes perfectly. She's right, of course, and I look amazing. The halter neckline is silky, with a dark blue lace trim. The dress is fitted until it gets to my knees, flowing out slightly in a mermaid style. I look like I'm about to walk a red carpet, not walk down the aisle to watch my best friend get married.