Page 161 of Wildest Dreams

“I got you a little wedding gift.” He kissed her forehead. “Close your eyes.”

“Okay!”

“No peeking,” he warned.

She squeezed her eyes hard, and Rhyland moved his hand from his back, unveiling an identical replica of Mr. Mushroom.

He’d brought back the dick. I couldn’t help it. I fell over myself laughing.

“Oh no, not again,” my mother moaned.

“Again,” Rhyland confirmed. “Open your eyes, sweetie.”

When Gravity saw her new stuffie, she completely lost it. Grabbed it and pressed it to her chest, running in circles in her cowboy boots. Like Mama, I wasn’t exactly thrilled that my daughter would resume her attachment to a fluffy pink penis, but I wasn’t exactly in a position to judge. Rhyland’s penis had saved my life.

Mama, Cal, and Grav filed out of the room afterward, giving us a chance to talk—not before my mother cautioned she’d be outside listening in case there were any shenanigans.

Rhyland grinned, capturing my hands and bringing them to his lips.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hello.”

“I hope I didn’t interrupt.”

I shook my head, still smiling like a fool. “No, but I have to leave in about twenty minutes. I’m getting married.”

“Lucky guy.”

“What did you want?”

“To ensure I still have a bride, mostly.” He gave me a sheepish smirk.

I loved how careful he was with me, how considerate. He hadn’t let my bravado fool him into thinking I was braver than I was. We’d both sworn we’d never love, never marry. This was huge for both of us.

“You still have a bride,” I confirmed, reaching up on my toes to kiss his lips. “Do I still have a groom?”

“That was never in question.” He shook his head, his expression turning serious. “I have a confession to make.”

“If you cheated on me, I am going to murder you,” I said in a frighteningly even tone.

“I said I have a confession, not a death wish.”

“Carry on.” I nodded.

“I call you Cosmos, but not because of the sky.” Rhy brushed his knuckles along my cheekbones, tucking a stray lock back in place. “I call you that because of the flower. It is beautiful and resilient, a fighter for its species. It braves all weather and often reseeds itself without help. I call you Cosmos because you’re everything this seemingly gentle flower is—adaptable and tough while being graceful and mesmerizing at the same time. You are living proof anyone can blossom if they choose to, shitty circumstances be damned.”

“This is what you came here to say?” I bit down a smile. “That you named me after a flower?”

“After the best flower,” he corrected.

“Is it my turn to confess?” I asked.

There was a knock on the door. Apparently, we only had a few minutes left, not twenty like I’d thought.

“Yes.” Rhy gave me a confused look. “Unless it’s about fucking Kieran at some point in your life—in which case, I truly don’t want to know. I’d hate to finish his soccer career. He only has a few more years left.”

I snorted. If only he knew that Kieran wasn’t interested in me romantically.

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