The fuck she wouldn’t.

“The garden at sunset is beautiful,” Felicity offered with a kind smile, ignoring her daughter’s protest. “I was telling Jet last night it would be perfect for a small ceremony.”

“I prefer the beach,” Nova interjected, only to continue to be ignored.

“Garret is out getting us both white dress shirts,” Jet said, pouring himself another cup of coffee. “I didn’t expect to need one, so I didn’t pack for this. But after yesterday, I figured we would be having an impromptu celebration of some kind tonight. Either a wedding or a birthday party. I’m fine with either. Both will have cake, I’m sure.”

“I mean, it is my birthday,” Nova complained. “Shouldn’t I have a say in any of this on my day?”

Cali snickered, but she spoke directly to Jet. “Garret told Maria to make a cake as he was leaving earlier, actually. I guess he had the same thought that you did.”

Pop grunted. “Samara is going to be so pissed that we didn’t bring her now.”

“I miss Samara. We should wait until she’s with us.” Nova squirmed, trying to get free, but I slapped her ass again. “And Ciana.”

“Be still,” I ordered. Refusing to let thoughts of Ciana ruin this moment, I nuzzled my lips against Nova’s neck. She shivered and made a soft mewling sound, snuggling closer.

“I’ll video call Samara during the ceremony,” Mom dismissed with a wave of her hand, her tears already drying. “And then we can have a huge reception with the entire family when we get home. I don’t think she will mind much anyway. Not when we will be bringing her a sister back with us. That’s all she’s ever cared about anyway.”

Nova huffed against my neck. No one was paying her the least bit of attention, speaking over her every time she even opened her mouth. I shifted her more comfortably in my arms. “It sounds like you have this under control. Excuse us while my bride and I have a long-overdue conversation.”

“Take your time, sweetheart,” Felicity said as she and Mom moved to sit on the empty couch. They angled their heads over Mom’s phone while Cali left to speak to Guzman about getting the priest.

Keeping Nova wrapped around me, I turned and left the room. “I don’t like you leaving our bed without me,” I informed her as I climbed the stairs. “Next time, wake me so I know where you are.”

“Oh, so I need your permission to leave your side. Is that how it’s going to be now?” She huffed again. It was equal parts adorable and infuriating. “Don’t turn into a controlling asshole, Ryan. If you do, we’re going to have some serious problems.”

I tried to squash my rising frustrations, but after she’d said she wasn’t going to marry me, there was no holding it back. “You left me, Nova,” I gritted out. “I spent months thinking you were dead, missing you so bad it literally hurt to breathe at times. I need you at my side until this fear of losing you starts to ease.”