“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.