“What is it?” A horrible thought crossed her mind. “Oh no. Let’s just forget it.” This was so embarrassing. He was sizing her up, probably worrying about breaking his back in the process of picking her up.

Mortification crept into her cheeks, and she turned away. But he caught her arm. “What is it? What just happened?”

“Just forget this. Like you said, it’s just…you don’t have to carry me after all.”

“Forget what? What did I miss?”

She sighed. “I get it that I’m not exactly a tiny size.” Svana’s size popped into her head. Which was crazy because she’d never even seen Svana. And why should she care, anyway?

He laughed. Not again. Why did he always do that?

Her anguish turned to outrage as she crossed her arms. “Are you laughing at me?”

He said very gently, “Tessa, I’m not laughing at you. I just—I just don’t get how someone as stunning as you wouldn’t be happy with having some curves.”

Before she could say anything, he’d scooped her up—but not in the traditional newlywed way. Instead, he hiked her over his shoulder.

Which was appropriate, considering this upside-down day. This upside-down marriage.

She gave a little yelp as he whisked her through the door, closing it behind them with his foot, and stood for a moment in the dark room, lit only by the stars and the distant streetlight. Her hair fell out and hung down in an unruly curtain, making her part it with her hands to see anything.

When he deposited her upright in the middle of the living room, amid all their various boxes, couches, lamps, and wall art, she was dizzy.

And maybe not just from being whisked through the door, caveman-style.

He smiled, dusting off his hands.

“That was very untraditional,” she said, a little out of breath.

“And yet I carried you over the threshold.”

“Yes, you did. I suppose we’re going to do this marriage our own way.”

Before she could react, he flicked on their only light—a bare overhead bulb—illuminating the waist-high pileup of boxes around them. There were her purple velvet couch, her multicolored patchwork ottoman, and her teal chair. In stark contrast to her boho hippie furniture sat Leo’s leather couch and clean-lined, expensive glass-topped tables, looking very clean and mid-century modern. And—very out of character—the most giant oak desk she’d ever seen, complete with a hutch full of drawers. It was already tucked into a little nook under a window overlooking the backyard.

“That thing is huge.” Yet the space seemed made just for it.

“It was my grandfather’s.” Leo grabbed the matching chair, brought it over to the desk, and sat down. “It’s got some really cool features.”