“Ohmigod,” Ivy said, gaping at me. “I really am the worst sister.”

I blinked out of my daze, the world coming back into screaming focus.

Excited chatter echoed off the walls from the hundreds of bodies crowding the massive building we were packed into.

“No, you’re not,” I said, though I couldn’t deny how deflated my voice sounded. “You’re the best. I don’t know how to thank you for scoring these VIP passes.” I tugged at the lanyard around my neck, hating that the black and yellow lettering didn’t thrill me as much as it should.

“Please don’t lie to me,” she said, hooking her arm through mine to yank me out of the way of three of the Avengers who walked by. “This is your world,” she continued. “You should be in heaven. Look,” she said, pointing across the room. “There are two Captain America’s, a Hulk, some other green dude I don’t remember the name of, and at least three Iron—” She clamped her mouth shut, pain cracking her eyes as they fell to the floor.

She wasn’t wrong—this comic-con was in full swing and I should be wiping drool off my chin and fangirling all over the place. Hell, she’d even used her press pass to score us VIP tickets to watch RDJ on the Iron Man panel.

But even thinking that name stung each cell in my body.

A week.

One week since I played the villain and ruined Eric’s and my future so he could actually have a future.

The most miserable days of my life—having to watch him at the games, having to track his movements, his blocks, his…everything.

Torture had been redefined when he would barely even look at me.

Because I’d played my part so well, and he’d believed me so easily.

The ache in my chest was raw and sliced and gaping.

But, Ivy had gone above and beyond in her attempt to make amends, and I needed to give her the credit she deserved.

“Hey,” I said, nudging her so she’d look at me. “I’m sorry I’m being a total Debbie Downer.” She smiled a bit at that. “I’m here. I’m grateful. I’m—”

“Heartbroken,” she cut me off, her eyes filled with apology as she shook her head. “I didn’t know. I didn’t understand. I had break-up-blinders on and was terrified you’d get burned too.”

“Ivy,” I said. “You don’t have to apologize again. Twenty-seven times is plenty,” I teased her. “Besides.” I sighed. “Like I said, it’s better this way.” I’d told her that over and over, so many times, trying to make myself believe it. “Did I love him?” I nodded. “Absolutely. More than I’ve ever loved anyone.” My throat cracked and I cleared it. “But,” I continued. “He deserved more. Deserved his contract and his life without the strain of a secret relationship, or a public one that would get him fired.”

Simmering heat rushed through my blood—I understood Dad’s position, but I would never like it.

“And,” I said. “I would do anything to make sure that bright future happens.”

“Even destroy yourself.” Ivy didn’t pose it as a question but simply matter of fact.

“Yes.”

“God,” Ivy said. “He was the one.”

Pain lanced through my broken heart.

This past week without him, it was wicked easy to see just how much the one he was. I missed him like I missed breathing. Like, in ending us, I’d chopped off a vital piece of myself I’d never get back, yet I kept wandering around aimlessly hoping to find it.

I pressed my lips together. “Timing is a bitch,” I said, like that could encompass the hurt scraping my insides raw.

I’d kept myself up nights, wondering what it would’ve been like if I’d met Eric in the off-season. If we’d had the time and space to figure out just how much we meant to each other. Figure out if we wanted to take the leap into the limelight. Wanted to stay together…forever.

Maybe if we’d been anyone but who we were—me, a coach’s daughter, and him, an all-star hockey player destined for greatness.

In another life, we may have been happy.

Like, Deadpool and Vanessa happy.

“We better head that way,” Ivy said, motioning toward where a line had already formed outside the RDJ panel room.

My feet planted against the slick tile floor.

Three weeks ago, I would’ve shoved my way through that gaggle of tweens in order to get in line first.

Okay, maybe not shoved, but I would’ve shown up eons earlier to beat them there.

Now?

The thought of Iron Man simply reminded me of what I’d lost. What I’d pushed away and threw in the garbage.

I’m such an idiot.

A near-perfect purple Thanos cosplayer walked in front of us as we moved toward the line. I was no better than him—the most merciless bastard in the MCU. Someone who did awful things in the name of a better world.

I rolled my eyes at myself.

Pity party much?

I rubbed my neck, forcing myself to be rid of the nasty, negative karma, and move on. At least for the next couple hours.

Ivy had pulled so many strings to get us in here, and I still didn’t understand how her internship had managed to pull this kind of power, but I needed to get a grip and appreciate the day for what it was.

A brilliant, painful distraction.

I wish Eric was here.

I couldn’t stop the thought. The image of him by my side, poking fun at my cosplay—which, had I been myself, would’ve been a female Deadpool.

He would’ve teased me about it before whispering promises of how he’d relish shedding me of the tight outfit later. Chills would’ve burst on my skin and an ache would’ve wrenched between my thighs. I would’ve kissed him, hard and hungry, not caring for a second who saw it.

“They’re opening the doors!” Ivy clapped her hands together as she squealed, and I arched a brow at her as we followed the line inside. “What?” She asked, dropping her hands.

“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” I asked as we were ushered to our VIP seats, in the front freaking row.

“Yes, of course. Why?”

I took a seat beside her, marveling at the large stage, at the long, black-cloth covered table with printed name-cards dictating each seat.

Holy shit.

We would be literally feet away from RDJ.

“I don’t know,” I said, finally answering her. “You’ve never been excited about any of this stuff before.”

“I’m excited for you,” she said. “Isn’t that enough?”

There was a twinkle in her eye that didn’t add up, and my twin-Spidey-sense was tingling. She focused on the empty stage, going out of her way to not look at me.

“Ivy,” I said, drawing out her name. “What did you do?”

She gaped at me before shaking her head. “You mean besides score these amazing seats?” she pointed to the insane proximity we’d be to the celebs.

Air rushed out of my lungs.

She was right. I was reading into everything. Misjudging everyone, simply because I was angry with myself.

“These are amazing,” I said, my eyes continuously flashing up to that RDJ card. With each pass, a little bit of awe and excitement built around the coldness in my heart. “Thank you, again,” I said.

“That’s better,” she said, teasing me as her knee bounced uncontrollably.

Maybe she really was excited and too prideful to admit it.

After a few minutes, the room had finally filled each of its seats, and the bouncers closed the doors. A few minutes more, the room darkened, and the stage lit up.

“They’re starting early,” I said, tilting my head. “It’s not supposed to start for another half-hour.”

That was the half the fun of these panels. The waiting, the anticipation, the slow burn until they finally allowed the actors and directors to come out on stage.

“Maybe they wanted to surprise you…the audience…us,” Ivy rattled off in time to her knee bouncing.

I furrowed my brow at her, my mouth open and ready to sniff out what I sensed, but the crowd went wild.

Cheers and claps and whoops and hollers erupted as a man in a full Iron Man costume came out on stage.

I doubted it was RDJ because, while the costume was worth a pretty penny, it wasn’t a production piece.

A mic in one hand, the man was likely there to get the crowd even more riled up before the actors came out.

Like that was necessary—well, for the normal fans minus broken hearts it definitely wasn’t.

Ivy reached over and squeezed my wrist, a giant smile on her face, her eyes glittering.

“Okay, what the hell—”

Iron Man raised his hand, waving at the crowd to calm.

They obeyed, a hush so quiet falling over it that we could hear someone’s stomach growling a few seats over.

He paced the stage a couple times, his heavy boots clunking against the floor with each pass. Then, he stopped only a few feet from the long table that sat before us and brought the mic to his mask covered face.

“Apologies for not being the real Iron Man, folks,” the man said, his voice muffled from the mask. “But there is an urgent matter that only a hero can attend to.”

The crowd went wild again, and even I couldn’t stop the small grin that shaped my lips. This was intriguing and fun and…my heart sank. I wished Eric was here.

“But,” he continued when it fell quiet again. “I spoke with the real Iron Man, and he was completely on board for this. So, not only is RDJ a legend. He’s a real hero.”

Another round of applause.

“There is someone in this audience,” he continued. “Someone here that is unbelievably special to me.”

An aww ran through the crowd and even though it stung I glanced over my shoulder, scanning the audience for the lucky girl that was about to be beautifully mortified.

“She’s funny and smart and strong and…” his voice trailed for a moment as if he needed the seconds to breathe. “She’s my world. The Pepper to my Iron Man.”

That got him another round of awws and squeals from nearly every girl.

All except for me.

Because while that was super cute and awesome for whoever this girl was…it cut through me with memories I was having a hard time surviving.

“And we were recently met with a challenge,” he said, something in that voice nagging the back of my mind. Like I’d heard it. Maybe it was a different actor? Someone from another movie?

“A villain even we couldn’t withstand.” He dropped his head for a moment before looking back at the crowd. His masked gaze swept in our direction. “Timing. On occasion, timing can be the biggest villain of all.”

I glanced at Ivy, who had tears…actual tears rolling down her cheeks. I leaned to her ear. “Are you okay?”

She rolled her eyes and waved me off.

I mean, I know this guy was going above and beyond swoon-worthy, but holy hell, she was crying.

“But that is the thing about challenges and villains,” he continued, dropping to one knee on the edge of the stage, earning a sweet gasp from nearly half the room. “Heroes don’t run from them. Or cower from them. They face them. And they always get the girl.” He turned his other hand over, revealing a small black box.

Great, now a fairytale proposal is happening right in front of my shredded soul.

I tried so damn hard not to be jealous.

Jealous of the woman whose life was about to change.

Jealous of the woman who clearly snagged the perfect man because only perfection could pull this off.

Jealous of their happily ever after.

“And I’m really hoping I get the girl,” he said. “Because I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

He set the mic down.

And took off his mask.

And the world shifted beneath my feet like the sudden swell of the sea.

“Eric?” I whispered in the stunning quiet, suddenly gripping Ivy’s arm so hard she yelped.

His green eyes focused on mine like he’d known exactly where I was this entire time. Love and hope and a little bit of fear coated those eyes.

I couldn’t breathe.

The whole time…he was talking about…me?

That was my Iron Man on stage.

Eric scooped up the mic again. “Pepper,” he said, his voice clear and filling my soul so much it ached. “I know it’s only been six months, but I knew from the first moment I saw you…you were it. I knew it before I knew your name. I knew it when you sat next to me during my first Marvel movie—” the crowd went nuts. “—and I knew it after our first kiss.” He took a deep breath, the massive suit moving with his chest. “And I know we’ve hit a roadblock, but…” he shrugged. “I’m ready to gamble my forever if you are. Because I can’t live without you.” He held up the ring, a nervous smile on his lips. “Marry me?”

I gaped at him and then at Ivy, who was knowingly smiling and crying.

Well, that explained a lot.

The hole in my chest burned and ached with the possibility in front of me. With the stark realization that he was with me.

My hero, on the same page, on the same wavelength.

And despite all the odds stacked against us…he’d shown up…and defied them.

I bolted off my chair, leaping onto the stage, the bouncer allowing me through like he’d known who I was the whole time too.

Eric was on his feet in seconds, staring down at me, his eyes wide and hopeful.

“Yes,” I said, breathless. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Tears coated my eyes as he reached for me, capturing my mouth with his. The kiss healing the pain inside, mending what I’d broken.

I laughed against his mouth as the rubber and plastic from the suit pinched my soft curves when he’d pressed me against it.

“Sorry,” he said and slipped the ring on my finger. It was a solid gold band and instead of a diamond, a ruby sat in its center. “Too much?” he asked.

“It’s perfect,” I said, truly meaning it. He knew me better than anyone had ever known me. I kissed him again, wild and hungry, damning the suit and the crowd.

The crowd.

I waited for the mortification at being on display in front of so many people, but it didn’t come. Nothing could touch the bliss running through my veins.

Well, almost nothing.

“What about Dad,” I said, my shoulders falling.

A smirk shaped his lips. “I asked him first,” he said.

I gasped.

“Ivy helped.” He motioned to where she sat, her hands clamped on top of her chest, that same tear-stained grin on her face.

“Ohmygod,” I said, more tears coating my eyes. “This is really happening, then? You’re mine?”

A shudder ran through him and he tucked me into his side. “Yes,” he said. “And you’re mine.” He lifted the mic, our conversation private before. “She said yes!”

The audience cheered and clapped, and I smiled shyly out at them, half hiding my face behind Eric’s suit.

Then the crowd went really nuts.

Like, fangirls takeover the world nuts.

I turned my gaze to see who they were screaming for…

And about fainted.

“Actually,” the man said, eyeing Eric then the crowd. “Doesn’t Pepper technically belong to me?”

Every single person laughed at that, including Eric and me, even as we nodded and slowly descended from the stage. Bowing and smiling at his congratulations.

Eric tugged us through a set of doors near the front of the room, just off the stage, and then through another, until we were in a closet-sized room.

He didn’t waste time, this time claiming my mouth with all the love and hunger and none of the restraint.

“I love you,” he said between my lips.

“I love you,” I gasped back. Every nerve in my body stood at attention, burning for him, his touch, the taste of him in my mouth. “I’m sorry,” I said between kisses. “I’m so freaking sorry.”

“Don’t,” he said, stopping me. “Wait, let me get out of this suit,” he said, practically growling when he had to break contact.

“What…how did you pull this off?” I asked as he took off so many pieces to the elaborate costume.

“I may have promised a few autographs,” he said, smirking as he shed the last pieces, leaving him in Under Armour tights and top. “And a few season passes.”

My mouth went dry at the sight of him. The tight fabric hugged every inch of his body—his toned legs, his carved abs, the broad chest, and…every considerable inch of him.

Slowly, he stepped toward me, until my back was against the door and his tall frame towered over me. He caged me in with his arms, his forehead against mine.

“I couldn’t stand another second away from you,” he whispered.

“I’m so sorry—”

He covered my mouth with his, shaking his head.

“Don’t,” he said again. “I know everything. Why you did it.” He kissed me again, too fast, before pulling away. “I’ve never had anyone love me that much, Pepper. And I’m prepared to show you every day for the rest of your life just how damn much I love you.”

I flung my arms around his neck, locking my ankles around his hips as he hefted me to his eye level.

“My hero,” I said with all the muster and cheese I could possess.

He laughed against my mouth. “At your service.”

I rocked my hips against what I could easily feel through his tights.

A low growl rumbled in his chest. “Pepper,” he said, sighing as he clutched my hips. “Don’t you want to go see the panel?” He asked the question through clenched teeth as I continued my slow rock. “Iron Man,” he continued. “He’s your favorite.”

True.

I was a fangirl.

And on any other day, I would’ve sat in that front-row-seat and watched RDJ do his thing with my mouth gaping open.

But not today.

Not after what I’d done to us.

“You’re my favorite,” I said, rolling my hips against his.

He kissed up my neck until he claimed my mouth again. His tongue sweeping in, flicking and teasing all the right spots. Stealing my breath.

“Besides,” I said, arching my head back so he could kiss my chest. “There is always next year.”

He jerked his head up, his eyes locking with mine as realization clicked into place.

“Because we have forever,” he said, grinning.

I smiled.

“Forever,” I said before kissing him again.

And then I wrapped my arms around my world and held on tight.