Chapter Sixteen-Remy
We say I do.
Andrea’s hand trembles in mine, but she signs the marriage license anyway.
Doesn’t look at me when she does it, just scrawls her name and breathes like she’s trying not to hyperventilate.
The rent-a-preacher Nico Jr. sent me just closes his little book, the lawyer nods, and I don’t wait.
“Thanks. Appreciate you both.” I’m already herding them out the door like the house is on fire. “I’ll wire the rest of your fee tomorrow.”
They’re gone just in time.
Because I hear it—the sound of heels and a measured, furious knock.
Then the door flies open because no, I didn’t lock it.
Andres Ramirez walks in like he’s about to go twelve rounds with the Devil himself.
Ellie is behind him, wide-eyed and frantic, holding her purse like it’s a weapon.
“Where is she?” she cries.
Andrea is sitting on the couch, looking shell-shocked. She hasn’t moved since she signed.
“Andrea,” her mom rushes forward, eyes shiny with tears, and drops to her knees beside her. “Are you okay? Baby, talk to me!”
Before I can even brace, Andres Ramirez is on me. He’s faster than I gave him credit for, and stronger, too.
The punch lands square in my jaw.
I don’t block it.
Don’t even flinch.
I let it come.
Pain flares white-hot across my face, and I grunt, spit a little blood into my hand, then I wipe it on my jeans, and I straighten my spine and look the man in the eyes.
“Dad! No!” Andrea yells.
“Andrea, don’t!” her mother commands.
“It’s okay, Andy,” I tell her, raising my hand to ward her off.
She’s on the edge of the couch, and her mother has her hands on her shoulders, holding her back.
I’m still mad, but when I see her like that?
Ready to defend me?
It stirs something inside me.
“You used her,” Mr. Ramirez snarls, shaking his head like he’s barely holding back the urge to go again. “Used her to secure your little promotion at Sigma. Used her good name. Her future. You fucking used her and if you think I’m not gonna make sure Josef fires your sneaky ass—”
“She’s pregnant,” I say.
His words cut off, turning into a whimper.
Silence crashes over the room.
I let it hang there.
“Your daughter is pregnant. With my babies. You can have Mr. Aziz fire me if you want, but you’re going to be grandparents.”
Ellie gasps. Her hands fly to her mouth.
“Oh my God. Andrea! Is that true?” her mother asks.
“Yeah. Yes, it’s true. I’m pregnant and I’m married,” Andrea whispers, and her dark eyes meet mine for a brief second.
Shit. That’s all it takes for that stupid organ inside my body to start thumping hard.
I hadn’t even had a moment to register all this yet.
Andy’s pregnant with my babies, and she’s my wife now.
My. Fucking. Wife.
Holy shit.
Her mother hugs her, full body, sobbing into her shoulder like she’s a teenager again, not a grown woman sitting on a couch in a stranger’s house, married to a man she barely knows.
Then, like a cosmic twist of fate, Callie stirs from the guest room.
Her soft footsteps pad down the hallway. She appears in the living room doorway, rubbing her eyes, dragging her stuffed purple dinosaur behind her.
“Daddy?” she mumbles sleepily.
Andrea turns.
And that’s when things really stop.
Andres blinks. Ellie’s mouth falls open. No one says a word for a full beat.
“Hi there, sweetheart,” Andrea says softly, getting up from the couch. She walks to Callie, kneels, and offers her hand. “Wanna sit with me?”
Callie looks up at me, I nod, and she smiles before taking Andrea’s hand.
“‘Kay, this is my dinosaur,” she says with absolute gravity, lifting the plush toy for display.
“Mom, this is Callie,” Andrea says, not explaining the situation as she just accepts my little girl climbing up on her lap like she’s done it a million times.
They look right like that. This whole thing looks right.
Having both my girls together. Here. Now.
Fuck.
My chest squeezes, and my damn heart starts pounding again.
Andy grins, and Ellie laughs, happy tears still streaking her cheeks. She sits beside them on the couch and smiles at Callie.
“What’s your dinosaur’s name?”
“Mr. Chomp.”
And just like that, the three of them move to the rug, playing with plastic teacups and dinosaurs like nothing ever happened.
Callie’s laughing. Ellie’s smiling. Andy’s glowing.
And I’m still standing there, a little dazed, hand throbbing from the punch I didn’t throw, heart pounding from the life I just claimed.
Andres stands right in front of me.
“I had a twin sister who died,” I tell him in a low voice. “Twins. They run in my family. My sister had Callie a year before she OD’d. I’m her legal guardian.”
He nods, but he doesn’t look away from where his wife and daughter are playing with Callie.
“You better do right by them. All of them,” he says, his voice low.
No threats. Just truth.
“I will, sir,” I reply.
And I mean to.