she asked quietly.
“Alfie exposed all. Like, I’m talking, told everything,” he continued. “Apparently, Alfie works for Partners as a computer analyst. When he got a job at the school, Carmichael mentioned needing a computer. And they got to talking. Apparently, the next day, she came in with Croft’s computer. At some point, Partners discussed needing an advantage, and Alfie suggested using the computer that used to be Croft’s. They’d already planted Karen into their law firm to get intel that way, but they thought that this would be perfect, too.”
“Meaning that they’re being complete douchebags, breaking the law, all to get a leg up and let criminals go free,” I found myself saying.
“Essentially,” Flint agreed. “Karen wasn’t accomplishing much on her end, either. So they were pulling her out. That’s why she put in her notice.” He paused. “As for Alfie’s something extra, i.e. shooting you, that was all him. He didn’t like that you were taking his girl.”
“I’m not Alfie’s anything,” Carmichael snarled.
“Well, he thought you were.” Raleigh plated up some lasagna and handed it to her.
Carmichael started cutting into it almost the second it was placed in front of her.
I went and got my own food, coming back with four pieces of garlic bread before saying, “What else?”
“Partners will now be answering some really uncomfortable questions. Alfie will go to trial for attempted murder, and Karen will likely be disbarred.” Flint shrugged. “Along with being charged with assault, destruction of property, and whatever else that we can find to pin on her.”
“Aces,” Carmichael said between bites.
Camryn snorted. “Well, on that note, I guess this would be a great time to tell you that tomorrow I’m being induced to have this baby.”
Everyone squealed.
Flint looked downright flabbergasted.
“Well, since we’re sharing good news, I should probably announce that Ezra and I are going to have another baby.” Raleigh clapped.
Everyone cheered all over again.
Then all eyes turned to Carmichael and me. “Don’t look at us. We’re not having any babies just yet. We only got engaged today.”
Flint turned a dirty look toward me. “You were supposed to ask me for her hand in marriage.”
“I did,” I said. “Today, actually.”
“Well.” Flint shrugged. “You never got your answer.”
“I took the silence as a yes.” I snorted.
“That silence was supposed to appear as if I didn’t want to give you permission,” he countered.
“Oh?” I laughed. “Imagine that.”
“I’m so glad that we’re all going to somehow, in a convoluted way, all be sisters.” Raleigh clapped again. “I hope that we all have babies together.”
When Carmichael’s eyes met mine in silent question, I couldn’t help the smile that lit my face.
“I’m down if you are.”
CHAPTER 20
Treat me like a princess and choke me.
-Text from Carmichael to Croft
CROFT
Two months later
The wedding march started to play, and I snapped my head up to look in the direction of the double doors at the back of the gym.
Raleigh, who was my best man, stood at my side, sniffling.
The doors opened, and my breath caught in my throat.
Tears threatened my eyes, and it took everything I had to hold them back.
Why didn’t I cry? Because I didn’t want the tears to interrupt my view.
Because, goddamn, was Carmichael in her wedding dress the best thing that I’d ever seen.
The dress she was wearing was white, skin-tight at the top, and flowy at the bottom. There were what had to be a hundred thousand crystals all over her top half, and each time she moved or breathed, the light from above her would catch one and cause it to sparkle.
But though her dress was beautiful, it was her eyes that had me staring in awe.
They were directed solely on me, and they were filled with so much love that I was finding it hard to breathe.
“Damn,” Raleigh gasped. “I don’t know what she sees in you.”
I snorted, my grin widening.
“Me neither,” I admitted.
I’d always felt like that, though.
Each time she looked at me, it felt like I would grow an inch taller.
Flint, who was walking her down the aisle, said something in her ear to make her laugh, and I felt my heart literally stop in my chest.
When it resumed, it was at a much faster beat.
“Congrats, brother,” Raleigh whispered.
Then Flint was there, stopping in front of me, unaware of just what he was giving me.
“Who gives this woman?” the preacher asked behind me.
“I do.” Flint’s voice cracked halfway through.
I licked my suddenly dry lips and reached for her hand.
We’d bucked the traditional wedding vows, and instead decided to write our own.
“You okay?”