Page 92 of Simply Yours

His family poured into the room in a flurry of movement and noise, bringing with them the kind of unfiltered chaos only Bairds seemed to carry. Caitlin barely had time to process the sudden arrival before her gaze landed onhim—the man standing just slightly apart from the group, holding a Bible, watching her with one raised eyebrow and an unmistakable smirk.

And wearing a Flyboys T-shirt.

He was the pastor?

“Hmmm.” His voice was low, filled with dry amusement as he rocked back on his heels. “I did not havethison my bingo card this year.”

Jason gave her a wary look. Caitlin blinked, then turned sharply to Matthew, her expression screamingWhat-in-the-actual-heck, dude?

Matthew threw up his hands, grinning like a cat caught in a cream barrel. “I’m innocent!” he hissed, loud enough for everyone to hear, though his eyes twinkled with obvious mischief.

Derek cleared his throat, stepping forward. “Caitlin—I don’t think you’ve ever met Joshua Parr,” he said, nodding toward the pastor. “Goes by Paradox. Jason’s met him at one or two of the barbecue’s over at Flyboys. He’s one of the instructors next door… and a very good friend.”

Joshua—Paradox—gave them both a brief nod before lifting his Bible in one hand, flipping it open, and then promptly rolling his eyes as a small square of yellow paper fluttered out.

A sticky note.

“What?” The entire room echoed in unison.

Paradox sighed dramatically. “Alpo—eh, Hunter Petersen—left you a note.”

Jason groaned, already looking unimpressed. “Let me guess – land?”

Paradox merely shrugged and crumpled the sticky note in his fist. “Message delivered.”

Jason exhaled, rubbing his temple. “Message received. The answer is no. I’m not selling him any property—unless it’s a condition of you marrying us, and then I’d actually consider it.”

A chorus of exaggeratedawwwsrang through the room.

Caitlin, Toni, Luke, Matthew, and Becca all turned to Jason with identical expressions of disbelief and amusement.

Paradox, however, was unimpressed. He leveled Jason with a look, lifting his chin ever so slightly in a way that managed to be both superior and exasperated. “Keep that suggestion to yourself,” he said loftily. “Marriage is asacrament,not conditional on anything—especially not real estate transactions.” He gave a haughty sniff. “And a sticky note? Really? The man could have at leastcalled.”

“Paradox,” Derek interjected, clearly trying to reel things back in before they got too far off track. “If you don’t mind, brother?”

Paradox sighed but nodded, opening his Bible with exaggerated solemnity. “It’s my joy.”

And just like that, the room shifted.

The teasing, the banter, the sharp quips—they all faded into the background as Paradox began to speak. His voice was strong and steady, filling the small hospital room with words that carried weight. Jason’s hands found Caitlin’s, his grip warm and sure as he held her fingers between his own, his thumb tracing slow circles against her skin.

Her heart swelled.

She couldn’t stop looking at him—at the man who had barged into her life like a whirlwind and refused to leave, at the man who made her feel safe and wanted andlovedin a way she had never thought possible.

Paradox’s voice rose.

“Do you, Jason Edward Baird, take Caitlin for your wife—to have and to hold?—”

Jason cut him off.

“Don’t say it,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “Yes, I want her as mine, butno sickness, no death, and no parting.” His voice was firm, unwavering, filled with raw honesty. “She’s everything I could ever want in a partner, a wife, a soulmate—so yeah, we’re not evendiscussingthose things. Not here. Not now. Not ever.”

Silence.

Caitlin’s throat tightened, emotion burning in her chest. She turned her gaze to Paradox, pleading.

“Same,” she said softly, then with more conviction. “Can we take that part out of mine, too? No more sickness. No more goodbyes. Just happiness, love, and laughter until we find each other again in the next life.”

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