Gemma coos. I force myself to open my eyes. All I see is Dom, and the hope marked on his face.

Be honest, Mom says in my head.

Be fierce, Pippa adds.

But their voices are so faded that I can barely hear them anymore.

“Everlynne Bellatrix Lawson—God, I love that name! So unique.” Dom laughs. “Would you do me the honor and do the thing you warned me is ninety-nine point nine nine percent not going to happen and marry me? Because, baby, I’ve always believed in miracles, and you are my favorite point oh one percent.”

Silence stretches for a few moments before I finally choke out, “Yes.”

It is small, it is unsure, it is pained—but it is there.

I have no choice. He is putting me on the spot here. How could I have said no, in front of his entire family?

Everything happens fast afterward. Dom swoops me from the floor, spinning me in the air as if I weigh nothing. Our kiss is tender and brief. Gemma and Brad hurry to congratulate us.

“Welcome to the family.” She holds my cheeks and smacks a wet kiss on either side of them.

“Been meaning to find an excuse to buy a new suit for a while now.” Brad winks.

I search for Joe. I find him in the exact spot he was earlier, on the recliner. He hasn’t moved an inch. His jaw is locked. He appears calm, but underneath the surface, I can feel that he is shattered. I’m shattered too. But I’m also happy. And there’s a selfish, horrible part of me that is happy Joe can never escape my proximity now. We’ll be bound forever soon.

“Seph, come congratulate your brother,” Gemma urges. She grabs Joe’s hand and tugs him to us. He doesn’t budge. Dom tucks me under his arm, cocking his head sideways.

“All good, bro?” he asks.

Joe flicks his lighter back and forth, his thumb running over the flame. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“Treat her well.” He says that in a way that implies Dom hasn’t so far, which is completely untrue. Dom has been great. “I mean it.”

Dom bows his head a little. I don’t understand this exchange, and it unsettles me.

Joe’s gaze drifts to me. There is something inside his eyes. Something I can’t read, but it tells me that he’s had enough. That he loves his brother dearly but that this charade needs to stop.

For a moment, I think it is all going to be over. That Joe is going to uncover what happened between us. That they’ll kick me out of their home, and I’ll have to walk my way back to Salem. But then Joe stands up, grabs his beer, and leaves.

“I’m going out for a smoke.”