Page 24

Chapter 23

Dina

F orty-eight hours have passed since I last saw Doug.

Oh, I wanted to text. But I was sure he would first.

Then I guess I just let too much time pass, and now, now I’m stuck.

I feel like a complete ass.

How could I be so wrong about him?

I thought he was the one.

My one.

My heart squeezes and I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror and give myself the pep talk of champions.

“Okay, Dina,” I say to my tired, slightly puffy-eyed face.

It’s not my fault, I’ve spent most of every waking moment repainting the mural at the pizzeria during closing hours.

That means late nights and early mornings.

Even my professor mentioned my exhaustion when I fell asleep with my face smashed into the palette of paint I was supposed to be working with.

Lucky for me, they were acrylics and washed off easily.

B ack to my pep talk.

“You’re going to survive this shift. You’re going to make a few pizzas, smile at some customers, pretend you’re totally fine , and not cry into the mozzarella.”

Easier said than done.

But hey, I have sisters who believe in me and a job that keeps my hands busy.

I take a deep breath, smooth my hands over my hips, and push out into the restaurant.

Except something’s off .

The lights are lower.

Soft music plays from the speakers. Not the usual pop playlist.

This is something sweeter.

Romantic, even.

And the smell isn’t pizza.

It’s, I don’t know. Flowers?

I blink, scanning the room, and nearly stumble as my brain tries to process what I’m seeing.

Flowers. And not just flowers.

But carnations.

Like from our first dinner together.

My heart squeezes as I take them in.

Carnations.

In every color.

Dozens.

And they are everywhere.

I am talking vases on every table. Garlands of them hanging from the ceiling.

My sisters are standing next to one another, and Horace is behind Carina, his big hands on her shoulders. They’re smiling, their eyes glistening with unshed tears as I try to comprehend.

Something catches my gaze and there, just above the mural, I see it.

A giant banner stretched across the back wall that reads in bold, playful script:

FATE MAY HAVE STARTED THIS, BUT I CHOOSE YOU.

My heart stops.

No.

No way.

Can it be?

I step further in, completely disoriented now, and that’s when I see the rest of the people gathered.

Uncle Uzzi. Mrs. Giancarlo. That woman, the ex-client , and her husband who were with Doug the first time I really saw him inside this place.

A few regulars, too. And some people I vaguely recognize from previous encounters.

They’re all gathered in a semi-circle, looking far too pleased with themselves.

They part. And standing dead center?

Doug.

My Doug.

Dressed in jeans and a fitted black t-shirt that clings to his muscles. His dark hair is a little wild. His scruffy jaw is a little tight. And his golden eyes are trained on me.

He looks serious. Intense. Like he’s about to face a firing squad.

And in his hands? He’s holding more carnations.

Pink ones.

Of course he is.

It’s my favorite color.

“Dina,” he says, voice hoarse but strong as he steps toward me.

His amber-gold eyes are glowing faintly, and when he drops to one knee , my knees almost give out too.

“Oh my god,” I whisper, hands flying to my mouth.

He laughs softly, a little shaky, a lot nervous. “Yeah. This is happening.”

My sisters are behind him, MJ fist-pumping and Carina wiping away tears like the traitorous softy she is.

Doug shifts on his knee, suddenly all serious, and my heart lurches painfully in my chest.

“I screwed up,” he says, no preamble, no dodging.

“I never had anything of my own, and just the prospect, well, it scared me,” he admits, and I’m just stunned.

“I panicked because, well, because I’m a dumbass who’s been afraid to put myself out there. Scared shitless of trying to imagine my forever for way too long.”

“Damn right he was,” someone interrupts and I see his ex-client, Mrs. Goyle approach us.

“I apologize for the, uh, run of bad luck,” Mrs. Goyle says, touching her finger to her nose in a way that I assume means magic.

But this is a public place, so I guess she is keeping it hush-hush .

“You see, my husband strayed, and I blamed Douglas for not understanding how I felt at the time and adding to my hurt with the uh, collected evidence. But he was only doing what I hired him to do. And the thing is, sometimes people do wrong in relationships,” she says and her eyes flash to the very contrite looking man on her arm.

“But sometimes the fault isn’t with just one person. Relationships are a partnership. Now, I release you from my hex Douglas McGregor,” she whispers loud enough for me and Doug only.

I see my Wolf’s shoulders slump slightly, as if in relief.

“My wife is right. Relationships require two people in order to work. Thank you, Mr. McGregor, for helping me see the error of my ways. Good luck to you both.”

Doug nods his head and we both watch as the odd couple leave.

I am happy for them giving it a second chance, but too focused on Doug to give them much thought.

“Sorry for the interruption,” he says, and my attention is back on him. “But, uh, she has a point. See, jobs like that, they added to all my fear. I mean, relationships? I never thought they could be real. And I convinced myself I wasn’t meant for this. For you. That I didn’t have a right to any of it.”

I blink hard, trying not to cry again, but it’s a losing battle.

“But when you asked me to leave?” He swallows thickly.

“When I saw your face and knew I’d broken something I didn’t even deserve in the first place, I realized something.”

He holds the flowers tighter.

“I don’t want to be without you, Dina. Not for a day, not for a second. Fate might have put us together, but I’m choosing this. Choosing you. ”

My breath hitches. His voice cracks a little as he says the next part.

“I’m in. All in. For the messy parts and the good parts and the parts where I screw up and you have to remind me that I’m being a stubborn ass. I want us , Sunshine. Every single version of us. I love you, Sunshine. With every inch of my soul, I love you. And I’ll do better. I swear it.”

Someone sniffles loudly behind him.

Probably MJ.

I can’t speak.

Can’t move.

Can only stare as Doug rises slowly, still watching me with that raw, open expression.

“So, if you’ll have me,” he says, stepping closer now, close enough that I can feel the heat rolling off him, “I’d really, really like to spend the rest of forever figuring this out with you.”

I don’t even realize I’m crying until the first tear falls.

And then I’m moving.

I launch at him, crushing the flowers between us as I wrap my arms tight around his neck and kiss him so hard I swear time stops.

Doug groans, then he moves. His arms slide around my waist as he kisses me back, hungry and desperate and completely mine .

When we finally break apart, breathless and laughing, I lean my forehead against his.

“You’re such a dumb Wolf,” I whisper, voice thick with tears and joy.

He chuckles, squeezing my hips.

“Yeah. But I’m your dumb Wolf.”

“You are,” I say softly, kissing him again. “All mine.”

The crowd behind us cheers and claps, and somewhere in the chaos, Horace grunts. “Finally. Took you long enough, Dog Breath.”

Doug just smiles and kisses me again, slower this time, softer.

Forever doesn’t feel far away or even scary anymore.

It feels right .

He feels right.

“Let’s get outta here,” I whisper.

“But there’s cake?”

“Would you rather have cake, or some of my sweet pie?” I tease and lick my lips.

Doug just groans and I laugh out loud. Then he bends and picks me up, tossing me over his shoulder.

“Wait! Where are you going? There’s cake!” Carina shouts after us.

But her voice disappears beneath our laughter as my man jogs to his truck and puts me inside, kissing me hard before he runs to the driver’s side and takes off like a bat, er , make that Wolf out of Hell.