18. Bailey

I exitof the limo as a taxi screeches into the drive behind me. Harper gets out and slams the door without actually shutting it. He rushes over to me and flings his arms around me in his adorably over-the-top way.

"Thank god, I thought I'd lost you."

"I needed some air," I mumble.

Harper holds me at arm's length. "You came a long way to get some air. I hope you realise I risked life and limb to chase after you."

"In a taxi?" I look past him at the taxi, which is reversing off the drive.

"Yes. I've never been in one before. It was hair raising."

I can't help but laugh. Trust Harper to bring a smile to my lips. It's one of the reasons I— I shake my head and pull away from him. "You didn't need to come after me."

"Yes, I did. Don't worry. I put Mrs Parkinson in her place. Most of Mother's friends aren't as classist and bigoted as she." He jogs in front of me and grasps my hands. "I'm so sorry, Bay. You were already anxious about tonight, and then that horrid woman had to go and open her big mouth and belittle you."

"After claiming you'd cheated on me."

Thinking the encounter through during the ride back to Harper's house made me realise Mrs Parkinson was either jealous, angry, pissed off, or all three, that Harper had chosen a nobody like me rather than her precious son. What was she expecting? To drive a wedge between us so Harper would reject me and choose Emmanuel? Maybe he should.

"Ugh. She's a vile woman, and her son is so boring. I couldn't stand either of them before tonight. Now they're at the very top of my blacklist."

"You have a blacklist?"

"I do now. Anyone who upsets my husband will go on it. Their names will get the stink eye whenever I feel pissed off with the world."

I smile weakly, tug one hand free of his, and cup his cheek. "Never stop being you, Harper."

His mouth quivers. "Why did you say that as if you're saying goodbye?"

"I don't fit in your world, Harper." I drag in a deep breath. "Maybe it would be better if we got divorced now rather than wait another seven months." My heart breaks with every word.

His mouth drops open. He blinks several times, the action slow and exaggerated. "You don't mean that."

I shrug, wrench my other hand free of his, and turn my back on him.

"Bay." He holds my hips and rests his chin on my shoulder. "Don't let one despicable woman drive you away."

"Have you swallowed a thesaurus?"

"Would I be sexier if I had? I hear nerds are in fashion."

"You're sexy the way you are."

"Hm, you say all the right things, husband. Why did you run away?"

"The things Mrs Parkinson said were a stark reminder I don't fit into your world, Harper. I never will. Your friends want me around about as much as my parents did." My words devolve as an ugly sob makes my chest shudder. I clench my fists. "I haven't cried since the day they threw me out."

Harper wraps his arms around me and coos softly. "Come inside, Bay."

I nod and let him lead me into the house. We sit on the sofa in the seating nook. Harper holds me while I rest my head on his chest. I cried so much the day they threw me out. I thought I'd shed every tear I could ever have. I was wrong. The stupid thing is, I shouldn't be crying now. So what if I don't fit into Harper's world? Our arrangement was only ever temporary. I knew from day one I would have to walk away from him. Five months ago, that wasn't a big deal. Now it feels like my world is ending.

Harper strokes my hair. "I don't know your parents' names, but they're on my blacklist, side by side with Mrs Parkinson and Emmanuel."

"You don't have to do that."

"Yes, I do. Anyone who throws their sixteen-year-old child out on the street deserves to be on the universe's blacklist."

I sob-laugh. "I think you're right."

"I am. I hate that they made you doubt how worthy you are. That you still doubt how worthy you are. Fuck, Bay, you're one of the most amazing people I've ever met. I would have to swallow a thesaurus to come up with enough adjectives to describe how wonderful you are. It's a long list. We'll be here all year."

"I don't want people looking down on you because of me. You're— And I'm—" I gesture at him and then myself.

"Kind, caring, talented, magnificent, stupendous?—"

I put my finger over his lips. "You're getting silly now."

He licks my finger. I yank it away.

"Who cares what snobby, jealous witches like Mrs Parkinson think? I bet you'd get along with everyone else in that room. Mrs Parkinson is jealous I chose you over Emmanuel. And you know what? I'd choose you over him again and again and again. I love you, Bay."

Wait. What? I lift my head and stare at him through tear-streaked eyes. He's blurry. "We're not in public right now, Harper. You don't need to pretend to be in love with me."

He holds my face and kisses me tenderly, snot, tears, and all. "I'm not pretending, Bay. I don't know when it happened, but somewhere along the line, I fell in love with you." He rests his forehead against mine. "I should have said something sooner."

"Me too."

He widens his eyes. "Come again?"

"I was going to tell you tonight after we'd survived the dinner. I love you, Harper."

We grab hold of each other and kiss like there's no tomorrow, our lips fusing like we're an extension of each other. We stop to breathe.

Harper uses his thumb to wipe the tears from my cheeks. "Can we stop the silly talk about getting divorced now?"

I nod.

"In fact—" He slides off the sofa onto his knees.

"What are you doing?"

"Bay, would you do the honour of not divorcing me? Not now. Not in seven months. Hopefully, not ever."

I stare at him, unsure what to say. "I thought you weren't husband material?"

"I wasn't. Then I met you."

"I didn't do anything to change you."

"That's the point, Bay. Do you know what Emmanuel asked me to do on our date?"

I shake my head.

He puts on a pompous voice as he says, "Oh, for goodness' sake, tone it down, Harper. No wonder men only want you for your money."

My chin trembles. "He said that?"

"Everyone wants to change me into a meek, mild version of myself. But you never have. From the moment you met me, you've accepted me as I am. It's one of many things I love about you. I can carry on listing them all if you want?"

"No need. I love everything about you."

He kisses my nose. "That might be cheating, but I forgive you. Can you forgive me for subjecting you to that awful woman?"

"It wasn't your fault. I'm sorry for overreacting."

"You didn't. She said nasty things which triggered memories of your parents. Anyway, it was fun getting to dash after you, like Prince Charming chasing after Cinderfella. Well, aside from the fact that my heart was in my mouth with worry."

"There wasn't a glass slipper either."

"True."

"But you make a pretty good Prince Charming."

"And you make a sexy Cinderfella."

I laugh. "I love you, Harper."

"I love you too, husband."

"We should go back to the dinner."

"Or we could stay here and have getting-back-together sex."

"We didn't break up."

"We nearly did. You asked me to divorce you right now."

"True. Sorry."

"At the very least, we could have make-up sex."

I cup his cheek. "As much as I'd love that, your mum went to a lot of trouble to organise the charity dinner. We should go back."

Harper sighs dramatically. "I hate it when you're right."

"We can have make-up sex when we get home."

He grins. "Good plan. And, Bay?"

"Hm?"

"We're going to plan a renewal of vows service for real. On our first anniversary, you're going to get the wedding you deserve, not the dash to Vegas you got."

"I don't need another wedding, Harper. All I need is you."

"But you want one, don't you?" He waggles his eyebrows.

I chuckle. "If you're going to insist?—"

"I am."

"Then I'd love another wedding, especially if it means we have another honeymoon."

"Of course. The honeymoon is the best bit."

* * *

We get back to the charity dinner in time for Harper to introduce me. As we pass on the way to the podium, he catches hold of my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze. His smile is enough to convince me I can do anything, including speak to a room full of strangers about why they should donate generously tonight. It helps that I stare at Harper throughout the whole speech. Every so often, he gives me a double thumbs up and mouths, You're amazing. You've got this. I sniffle a little but get through the speech.

My legs wobble as I return to our table and sit beside him. The three couples we're sitting with congratulate me.

Once the silent auction is underway, Harper's mother joins us.

"I know what happened." She grasps my hand. "I am so sorry. I can't believe Mrs Parkinson and Emmanuel were so horrible to you. I told them to leave."

Harper glances around. "I hadn't noticed they were gone. I was too focused on my gorgeous husband."

My cheeks get warm, and my chest becomes fuzzy.

"I won't be inviting them to any other functions," his mother says.

"You don't have to cut ties with her on my account," I say.

She shakes her head. "Anyone who behaves like that is no friend of mine."

My chin trembles. "Thank you."

"You're my son-in-law. My family. I will always be in your corner."

I can't begin to tell her how much that means to me. When I agreed to Harper's crazy idea of marrying him for a year, I never expected to fall in love with him or to gain a new family in the bargain. But here we are, and I couldn't be happier.

She pats my hand and then returns to her seat next to her husband.

"Are you okay?" Harper asks.

"Yes." I put my hand on his thigh and rest my head on his shoulder. "I'm so lucky."

"No. I'm the lucky one."

"No. Me."

"No. Me."

I snort-laugh. "Are we going to argue about who is the luckiest?"

"Yes. Because it's me."

"Nuh-uh. It's me." I lift my head and peck his lips. "Does that count as an argument?"

"Absolutely. Let's go home and have make-up sex."

"Now?"

"Right now. No one will miss us." He grasps my hand and drags me to my feet.

I laugh as I allow him to tug me out of the room. "We haven't even been back for half an hour."

"Exactly. I'm bored already. I'd much rather spend the rest of the night with my husband. Any objections?"

"None at all."

"Let's go. Our limo awaits."