“I just hope we can finally put this all behind us,” I said, meaning every word. I found that, for the first time in my life, I didn’t care what anyone thought about me or my relationship with Aleks. I had nearly melted down when the exposé came out, and yet Aleks had remained calm, his hand in mine as he found a solution. I realized that day that I don’t have control over what anyone thinks of me, but I do have control over what I think ofmyself.
I know my heart. I know my intentions. I know my talent, my music, my journey.
And now, I had a man who wanted to proudly stand by my side and remind me of that power any time I lost sight of it.
He was the miracle cure for any anxiety I had left hanging on, and staring down the barrel of forever with him, I found I didn’t have a worry in the world.
“I did not see this coming, you know,” Isabella said, and when I blinked out of where I’d been yet again staring at Aleks from across the room, I found her with a knowing smile. “You swore to me on that plane to New York that he didn’t meananything to you, and I foolishly believed it. Don’t get me wrong,” she added quickly. “I saw the way you looked at him, the way he looked at you. But I never thought either of you idiots would admit it. I fully expected to have to pick you up off the floor when this was all done.”
“That makes two of us,” I admitted softly.
“I also expected abangeralbum full of angsty love songs,” she said with a dreamy sigh. “Alas, my dreams are shattered.”
I smirked.
“You better still be able to write music when you’re all happily married and getting dicked down on the daily,” she threatened, her long stiletto nail circling my nose before she booped it. “Otherwise, I’ll be calling up Aleks and telling him to do something stupid to get you in your sads. Shouldn’t be too hard.”
“Hate to break it to you,” Aleks said, making Isabella jump a bit as he rounded from where he’d walked up behind her and put his arms around me. He pulled my back to his chest, kissing my neck as I flushed red hot. “But I used up all my stupid in the years I didn’t admit how I felt about our girl. Afraid I’ll be nothing but a loyal, devoted husband now.”
Isabella pouted. “There goes our future Grammies.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure,” Aleks said, kissing my neck again. Chills swept over my skin. “I’ll give her plenty of inspiration. Promise.”
“Ew,” Isabella said, but she smiled as she said it. “That’s so cute. I hate it. Is there traffic on this street when it’s snowing? Think I’d like to throw myself in front of a plow right now.”
I rolled my eyes at her dramatics, kissing her cheek when she shoved Aleks off me long enough to give me a hug.
“I’m happy for you, babe,” she said sincerely. “Now, go enjoy the rest of your wedding night. We have a flight in the morning.”
I smiled, both at her sentiment as well as the fact that the flight she mentioned would carry us to yet another sold-out stadium show. It would be my first performance as a married woman, and I couldn’t wait to share that with my fans.
When Isabella left us, Aleks wrapped my hands up in his, kissing my knuckles before he toyed with where my engagement ring hugged the new diamond wedding band beneath it.
“Let’s grab you a coat and some boots,” he said. “I’d like to take my bride for a walk in the snow.”
• • •
The soft sound of snow beneath our boots was the only sound breaking the stillness of the night when Aleks led me outside. It was still snowing now, and it was the soft kind of snow that made it seem like the whole world had turned down the volume, a kind of quiet like nothing else.
Through the windows of the house, I could still see our family and friends in the warm glow of candles and fairy lights, all of them smiling and laughing and eating and drinking. It warmed me in a way I couldn’t explain, to see our worlds mixing like that — Giana and Isabella taking selfies, my mom holding Ava’s hand as she pointed out each of our Christmas ornaments, my father geeking out as he talked hockey with Vince, Jaxson, and Carter.
Aleks had been a part of our family for years, but this felt different. It felt… permanent.
Itwaspermanent.
I leaned into him as we strolled past the twinkling lights strung up along the path in Mom’s garden, his arm wrapped firmly around my waist as snow fell on our heads and shoulders. The garden didn’t look like much right now, but it bloomed beautifully every spring. And in a way, the plants hibernating for the season felt right tonight. It felt like the end of one season in my life and the promise of another on its heels.
My breath puffed out in little clouds, mingling with his as he turned to kiss the top of my head.
“Sorry we have to wait to take our honeymoon,” I said softly, glancing up at him. “We should be exiting under a stream of sparklers and rushing to the airport right now.”
Aleks shook his head, his dark eyes glinting under the soft glow of the lights, snow clinging to his lashes. “I’m not sorry. I’m excited for you to tour, and I have my season ahead. We can vacation in the summer.” His lips curved into a wicked grin. “Until then, I very much look forward to fucking you in every hotel from here to Tokyo.”
“Tokyo, huh?”
“You’ve got a show there, don’t you?”
“Not yet.”
