Willow smiled. They both knew marriage wasn’t on the cards for a while, maybe ever. Eden was seeing a therapist to unpack her family bullshit, and among the useful information she’d gleaned, he’d learned that relationship labels and obligations terrified her. He hoped she’d be able to resolve her fears, but if he had to be her boyfriend forever to prove he wasn’t trying to trap her, he didn’t give a fuck. It was enough to be with her, to take care of her, and to know she was his and he was hers.

Their whole adult lives, Eden had worn a wedding dress as a costume and he’d daydreamed about the perfect wife and kids. Fantasies of love and acceptance where you didn’t have to do any work. But the more time he spent with Eden, the more he understood what a relationship really meant. He’d divorce a million perfect wives to sit in traffic on his way to Eden’s gigs, to tease her into eating Brussel sprouts. At her grumpiest and most distracted, she made him happier than anything he could have dreamed up. She was real.

Eden scrunched her small nose. “What are you thinking about, Doctor?”

Willow shook his head, knowing he could never explain. He kissed her again, lingering on her full, perfect mouth. “When we’re done touring, we should get a puppy.”

Eden’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yeah, a kelpie or a border collie. Something that needs a lot of attention. Give me something to do.”

She laughed. “You do need some more extra-curricular activities.”

“I do.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ve gotta go, pretty girl. See you at the reception?”

“Sure.” But she didn’t move, she stood there, twisting her delicate hands, her lips working on nothing. “Before you go, I have to tell you something.”

He frowned. “Is this the thing?”

For weeks Eden had been looking at him like this, opening her mouth then running away. It had become a joke between them. Willow liked accusing her of wanting to piss on him.

“It’s the thing,” she confirmed, gnawing her lower lip.

“Tell me, baby. I’m listening.”

She looked up at him, her eyes round and full of hope. “I love you.”

Willow didn’t want to say ‘I know’ but that was hardly a secret. “I love you, too, baby. Is that it, or…?”

“Um, no. So, it doesn’t have to be now. Or soon. But I need to tell you… It’s pretty important…”

Willow could see Byron giving him a death stare. “Baby, I love you, but you have to get your skates on.”

“Okay.” She cleared her throat. “I want a family.”

His heart stopped in his chest. “You mean…?”

She nodded and something inside him unraveled. “Sweetheart…  baby girl…”