Chapter Eighteen
Saint
The courthouse is quieter than I expected.
I’m not sure why that surprises me. Maybe it’s because everything about the last few months has been loud—grief, lawyers, kids, so much paperwork, and the constant roar in my head that I can’t mess any of this up.
But standing inside the New York City courthouse with Presley beside me, Alie and Liam behind us … the world just feels still.
Presley is in a simple ivory dress. And her hair is down in loose waves. She’s holding a small bouquet that Alie had insisted on, even though Presley claimed she didn’t need flowers.
But she does. And not because the moment needs dressing up. But because she deserves something beautiful in her hands when she marries me.
I look at her face and feel my chest tighten.
“You doing okay?” I ask quietly.
She glances up, her lips curving. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“You’re sure?”
“Saint”—her smile softens—“I’m sure.”
Maybe I believe her because I want to. Or maybe because if I let myself question this, I’ll start thinking about all the reasons she deserves more than a courthouse wedding with a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders at the moment.
Alie steps up beside her and adjusts a piece of Presley’s hair. “You look gorgeous,” she says.
Presley rolls her eyes. “You’ve already said that, Al.”
“And I’ll say it six more times if I want to,” she huffs.
Liam stands beside me, hands in his pockets, expression soft and non-judgmental.
“How you doing, man?” he asks.
I look at Presley, then back to him. “I’m good.”
He claps a hand on my shoulder. “Well, I guess we’re about to be brothers-in-law. Now you really can’t get rid of me.”
“Right,” I laugh.
The justice of the peace steps in a few minutes later, warm-faced and efficient. She smiles at us like she’s seen every kind of couple come through here and has already figured out our story.
“Well,” she says, looking between us, “are we ready to begin?”
Presley’s hand finds mine.
I wrap my fingers around hers. “Yes, we are.”
The justice starts the ceremony, and it’s simple and pretty straight to the point. She speaks about partnership and trust and working through the hard days together.
The hard parts for us? We’re in it right now. And Presley has seen me at my worst.
She’s there to hold Rhyan when she wants her mom. She sits with Remy when he’s silent after school. She’s been beside me in attorney’s offices, the funeral home, and the silence of my sister’s house.
Presley knew what she was doing, especially when I didn’t. And just like she’s said, she’s still here.
The justice looks over at us over her glasses. “Before we exchange rings, would either of you like to say something?”
Presley nods, takes a deep breath, and turns toward me. “Saint,” she says softly.
My throat closes before she even continues.
“You’re the best man I know.”
I look down for a second because her saying that to me hits deep.
She waits until my eyes find hers again.
“You’re thoughtful, and so loving. You show up for the people who need you, even if you don’t know how to fix it.”
Her voice shakes slightly, but she holds my gaze.
“You’ve been my best friend for over a decade. You’re my safe space.” She smiles through the emotion in her eyes. “You’ve always been the person I trusted most. So today, I’m choosing you. I’m choosing to be your partner in marriage.”
My chest aches, and I can’t speak right away.
This wedding may be happening for other reasons, but what she just said means everything.
I take the flowers from her hands and give the bouquet to her sister. Then I take her hands in mine.
When I find my voice, it sounds rough.
“Presley.”
Her eyes soften.
“I’m not as good with words like you are.”
Her lips twitch.
I smile, and the knot in my chest eases just enough for me to keep going.
“But I can promise you,” I start. “I promise I’ll take care of you,” I say.
She goes still, and her breath catches.
“I promise I’ll show up, even if I’m tired. Even when I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
My thumb brushes over her knuckles.
“I promise you’ll never have to wonder how important you are to me.”
A single tear slides down her cheek, and I reach up to wipe it away.
“I promise to protect your dreams the way you’ve helped me protect my family. I promise to listen, even if I want to argue. And I promise never to go to bed angry.”
Her smile trembles.
“But most importantly, I’ll always protect your heart.”
I squeeze her hands, and we both smile.
Alie sniffs behind us.
Liam mutters, “Jesus,” under his breath, but it sounds suspiciously emotional.
The justice starts to speak, but I hold up my hand.
“I know we started this because life got complicated,” I say. “But you, Presley, are the most certain thing in my life.”
She presses her lips together, fighting tears.
“I’m yours,” I say. “For as long as you’ll have me.”
Her whispered answer can barely be heard. “Always.”
For a second, I let myself believe this is more than just a pact, more than for legal reasons, more than a timeline waiting to expire. That it’s about us simply choosing each other.
The justice clears her throat, like she’s trying to move this along.
We exchange rings. They’re simple bands that we picked out the day we got our marriage license. She said she didn’t want a diamond because she couldn’t wear it when she was working.
I still plan to get her one anyway.
Presley slides mine on first, her hand steady.
I slide hers onto her finger, and for just a second, I stare at it.
That’s my ring on her finger.
My wife.
Presley Grant is my wife.
Or Presley St. Clair, if she wants.
I hope that’s what she wants.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the justice says. She waves a hand between us. “You may kiss.”
My lips are on Presley’s before she even finishes the sentence.
I cup her face and kiss her like the whole world has gone quiet, just to give us this moment.
It’s not wild or desperate. It’s soft and deep.
It’s a kiss that says we just crossed a line and burned the map behind us.
When I pull back, Presley looks at me like she’s trying to memorize the moment.
She smiles, and I swear something in my chest cracks wide open.
“Hi, wife.”
“Hi, husband,” she whispers.
Alie bursts into tears, and Liam sighs and hands her a tissue like he expected this to happen.
“Congratulations, you two!” Alie throws her arms around both of us, and Liam closes in behind her.
We break apart, and Alie wraps Presley in a hug and whispers something in her ear that I can’t hear.
“Okay, newlyweds, we have a reservation to get to.” Liam ushers us out the door.
He wraps an arm around my shoulders as the girls walk ahead of us.
“You know what you’re doing?”
I nod. “I think this is the only thing in my life I haven’t second-guessed.”
“Does she know this is real for you?” he asks.
“I think she does, but I think it’s a truth she doesn’t want to face yet. But I’m a patient man. And she’s my wife.” I smile.
Our walk to the restaurant is short, since it’s near the courthouse. It’s the kind with white tablecloths and old brick walls, and waiters that don’t blink an eye when Alie orders champagne for us.
When the cork is popped and our glasses filled, Alie lifts up her flute. “To the new Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair!”
Presley gives her a look, but is smiling. “Don’t make it weird.”
“Why is that weird? You are married now, Pres.”
Liam interrupts, raising his glass. “To Saint and Presley.”
“See?” Presley says. “That was normal.”
Liam looks at her. “If this had been a traditional wedding, I would have given a weird toast at the reception.” He winks, and Alie laughs.
Presley groans.
I laugh too, which earns me a look.
“You think that’s funny, huh?”
“Hey, I’m just here for the ride. I got married today,” I say, tipping my flute to her. “I’m in a good mood.”
Her expression softens.
We continue conversation and drink champagne.
“Question,” Alie says, holding up a finger. “Do you plan to tell the team or let them find out dramatically, like they found out about me and Liam?”
“I vote dramatically,” Liam says.
“Of course you do,” Presley replies. “Not sure yet about the team, but we’ll figure it out.”
Alie leans toward me. “How are you telling the kids?”
I look at Presley. “I think we’re going with a simple approach so they don’t get confused.”
Presley nods. “They’ve had enough big changes.”
“True, and they already think you live there,” Alie says.
“Exactly. Rhyan cares more about her kingdom than us anyway.” Presley teases.
“She does have priorities,” I say.
The mention of the kids makes my heart squeeze. Not in a sad way though.
A good ache, like a reminder of the responsibility I want.
Presley’s hand finds mine under the table.
It’s like she always knows what I need.
As we finish lunch, Alie claps her hands.
“Okay, we’d better get going so we can get to Jersey in time to get Remy from school.”
Presley frowns. “What?”
I look at Liam, and he smirks back at me.
Alie smiles brightly. “Liam and I have everything covered. We’ll get Remy, then the girls, dinner, bedtime, and of course dragon diplomacy.”
“Dragon diplomacy is advanced,” Presley says.
“Eh, I’ve negotiated with worse enemies,” Liam says.
“That’s true,” Alie adds, smiling.
Presley looks between them. Then at me.
“Did you do this?”
I lean back in my chair. “I did nothing.”
“Saint.”
I smile, and her eyes narrow.
“You did something.”
I shrug.
“He got you a room at The Plaza for the night!” Alie says, practically bouncing in her chair.
Presley’s mouth drops open.
“The Plaza?” she repeats.
Why do I feel nervous all of a sudden?
“You deserve more than a courthouse wedding and going home to laundry,” I say.
Her expression softens.
“Saint …”
“It’s just for tonight,” I say. “Alie and Liam have the kids, and we’ll be back first thing tomorrow morning if you want.”
“He means late morning,” Alie adds. “We’ll get them to school.”
Presley’s eyes stay on me.
“So you planned this?”
“I did.”
“By yourself?”