Page 101 of Peyton's Price

Matthias didn’t argue with him. He, too, wanted to make sure Peyton didn’t have any permanent damage. “Don’t worry,” he added. “I’m sure we’ll see Agent Ward again.”

“Yeah, you can invite him to the wedding,” Liam said as he signaled the EMT to come back.

“What wedding?” Matthias asked, feigning ignorance as his heart sank. It had only been a matter of time before Liam decided he wanted to make his union with Peyton official.

The other man’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.

“Liam?” Peyton was trembling.

Liam straightened his shoulders, whipping something out of his coat. He held up a ring box, opening it to reveal three platinum rings. One had a large emerald, Peyton’s favorite stone. All were engraved.

His hand shook as he reached out for the one with the most letters.MFLR.Those werehisinitials.

“I didn’t think—”

“What?” Liam frowned. “You didn’t think I was going to leave you out in the cold while I married Peyton, did you?”

Matthias wanted to respond, but he found that his throat was a little too tight. Peyton was watching him with her hands clasped in front of her.

“It won’t be legal,” he said when the lump in his throat finally let him. Neither Norway nor the United States recognized polyamorous unions.

“So?” Liam scoffed.

“I don’t care. It doesn’t have to be legal to be real,” Peyton said. “Now give me that damn ring!”

They laughed as she wobbled to her feet, throwing her arms around both of them and squeezing tight.

Clapping broke up their embrace. Matthias shifted to see the EMT holding her hands in front of her, her eyes shining.

“Pardon,” she said, flushing in embarrassment. “I’ll drive you to the hospital now. But congratulations!”

“Thanks,” Matthias said as she shut the door. A minute later, the ambulance pulled away.

Squealing, Peyton lay back on the gurney, holding up her hand to admire her ring. Liam put on his. Both eyed him expectantly.

“Oh.” He held up the ring, then slipped it onto his finger. “This feels weird,” he said with a laugh.

“You’ll get used to it,” Peyton promised.

Epilogue

Peyton pried her best friend’s hands from around her neck. “I can’t believe we’re legally sisters now.” Maggie sniffed, crying all over her neck.

“Well, strictly speaking, the union isn’t legal in America. Or Europe,” Peyton pointed out with a laugh. Sipping champagne, she leaned on the balustrade next to the stairs that led to the beach, admiring her two gorgeous husbands as they talked and laughed with all their friends.

She hadn’t seen most of them since her ill-fated graduation party. But today, the only tears she was going to shed were tears of joy.

Peyton had married the two loves of her life in the gorgeous courtyard of a brand-new Spanish-style villa. Matthias had built it especially for their new family. It was on the private island he had purchased during his partying days over a decade ago—a decision he’d regretted immediately until recently. He’d never done anything with the place, but the formerly uninhabited isle was being repurposed now.

“Screw that,” Maggie said, swiping a fruit-laden cocktail from a passing waiter. “You’re my sister now. No damn court will ever convince me otherwise. But I can’t believe Matthias bought this whole island just so he could declare it a country.”

Neither could she, but her Norse god lover had declared that if they were going to marry, it would be legalsomewhere.

“Well, it’s not actually the reason he bought it, but I’m pretty damn happy he never sold it. The island was the impulse purchase to end all impulse purchases… Can you believe it was easier and faster for Matthias to set up an entire country with its own judicial system than it was for you to pick the flowers?” she asked, her face deadpan.

Maggie pretended to punch her. Peyton grabbed her hand instead, twining their arms. “Everything is perfect. I don’t know which is better—the flowers or the food.”

Trick and Maggie had outdone themselves. The entire villa had been transformed. Every room had been filled with fresh flowers and candles with the most interesting antiques nestled in between. The courtyard had been built around tall proud palms that had been there for hundreds of years. New flowerbeds filled with native blooms provided the finishing touches.

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