Page 166 of Broken Vows

I look at him standing there, broad and tense and terrified on my porch, trying so hard to do this properly that my chest aches.

“But I love you too,” I say softly.

His face changes. First, it’s disbelief. Then relief. Then something so happy I almost have to look away. Instead, I reach up and brush my fingers over his cheek.

“You have a lot of making up to do,” I say. “Starting right now.”

I take his hand and pull him over the threshold, into my house.

EPILOGUE

Six months later

Carmen

When my name is called, I walk toward the stage in my graduation gown. I still can’t quite believe I did it. After years of believing I would never be more than Maverick’s wife, I’m here—crossing this stage to accept something I earned for myself.

I glance at the front row before taking the final steps. Levi sits with his wide shoulders folded awkwardly into a chair too small for him. Drew has one arm around Grace, who glows with her visible pregnancy. Theo bounces in his seat, waving both hands so I won’t miss him, while Fifi sleeps tucked in her carrier at Levi’s feet.

Finn sits a few seats away. He’s still not thrilled about Levi, but that’s too bad. He’ll come around. I paid him back every cent, even though he told me I didn’t have to. I needed to do it.

By the time I reach the lectern, my chest feels tight. Paul stands there holding my certificate, smiling like the last six months were a heartwarming success story. For me, they were mostly tears and humiliation. Still, when he shakes my hand, I smile back.

“Congratulations, Carmen Whitmore,” he says.

I lean in slightly, voice pleasant. “It’s Carmen James now.”

Paul goes white. “Of course. Yes. Sorry. We can change that right away.”

“I submitted the paperwork last month,” I say, still smiling.

“Of course,” he repeats, nodding quickly. “I’ll get that fixed for you.”

The divorce was final six weeks ago. The next morning, Levi dragged Theo and me down to the courthouse. I’ve never seen a man so eager to get married. He stood in front of the officiant, looked me dead in the eye, and promised he would love me better than anyone else ever could. And if anyone tried to hurt me, he would put them in the ground.

The officiant went pale. Theo giggled like it was normal. I just smiled like an idiot, because it was so completely him.

I take my certificate and turn back toward the audience. Levi’s already on his feet, clapping louder than anyone else.

My heart feels so full it almost hurts. Years ago I had everything—money, status, a beautiful home, invitations to every important event. From the outside, my life looked perfect. On the inside, it was lonely in a way I had learned not to notice.

Now we’ve bought ten acres outside the city. Soon it will become the dog shelter. The kennels will sit within view of the house—close enough that I can watch everything from the kitchen window, but far enough that the barking won’t fill our bedroom at night.

Levi doesn’t seem bothered that his future includes living at a dog shelter. In fact, he acts like it was his plan all along. His arm has come a long way too. It still isn’t perfect, no matter how much he pretends otherwise, but he’s stronger now and can almost close his fingers completely.

I can’t help smiling as I look at the life we’ve built. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Levi

Lunch after Carmen’s graduation is at a restaurant Finn probably considers beneath him. He doesn’t stay long. After five minutes he mutters something about a meeting, kisses Carmen on the cheek, and leaves. He still can’t quite hide how uncomfortable he is sitting at a table with Drew and me.

Can’t blame him.

Carmen sits beside me, glowing with the proudest smile I’ve ever seen. She should be proud. After all the tears and me explaining basic algebra to her for the seven-hundredth time, she got herself over the line.

She doesn’t need to know that if she hadn’t quite made it, I told Paul I’d kill him.

She’s my wife now. I never planned on having a wife. Hell, I didn’t plan on having much of anything. Then Carmen laid out all her monogamous expectations, and I realized she was the kind of woman who would want this someday.