I sit in the Nashville airport with a boarding pass in one hand. The flight boards in twenty minutes. A woman dressed in tailored business clothes sits next to me. She’s in her early twenties and obviously traveling for work.

“Where are you headed?” she asks. Cracking open her satchel, she removes an iPad.

“Sicily,” I answer and give her a pleasant smile. I crane my neck to look behind me in the direction of the restrooms.

“Me, too. Where’s your seat?”

Since I hold my boarding pass, I can’t really ignore her question. I examine it. “Row 10.”

She waits and I don’t say anything else. I get the feeling she thinks I should ask about her seat assignment. “You travel to Sicily often?” she says.

“Nope. First time.” I shift in my seat.

There’s definite interest in her gaze. “Oh. I know some great places you should visit.”

“Really?” says the voice behind me. “Perfect. We can make a list. That’s really nice of you.”

Fingers rub my shoulders possessively and I grin. There she is. “You ready?” I ask and stand.

“Yes,” Makenna answers. She looks at the stranger seated beside me. “We’re going to Sicily for our honeymoon. I hear it’s a pretty romantic place.”

“Ah.” The woman smiles at my new bride. “Yeah. Congrats then. You guys will love it.”

Romance. Some female international language.

Makenna straightens her shoulder bag and turns to me. “Let’s grab some candy before they call for boarding.”

We walk to the nearest shop and browse the offerings. Makenna pokes me in the ribs and I pretend to flinch. She narrows her eyes playfully. “I can’t leave you alone for one minute before some woman is trying to pick you up. You are wearing a wedding band. Maybe she didn’t see it. You should wave that thing around if you have to.”

“It’s a good thing you came to save me,” I tease and chuckle at her misplaced jealousy. “Did you talk to your mom? Our big man OK?”

“Yeah. Fine. He’s excited because I told him I’d bring him a present from across the world. Also, Mom is going to spoil him. She’s taking him to a trampoline park today.”

I smile at the way her eyes sparkle. “I love you.” I’ve said it ten times since the ceremony yesterday.

This is happiness—being with the person who fills you with so many emotions. “I have a confession to make.”

She selects a bag of mixed nuts for us instead of candy. Girl does love me. Definitely. “What’s your confession?”

“I never thought I could love anyone the way I love you.”

“Aw…” she says and makes a funny shape with her mouth. “Quit saying stuff like that. You made me cry with those vows, and I can’t take any more of this emo talk.”

“It’s fact. Not emo talk. I hate that I’m the sentimental one in this relationship.”

She snorts. “OK. Quit fishing. Love you, too.”

The last six months have been crazy, but in a lucky way. The criminal charges were dropped. The gas station produced video from their security cameras, the entire incident clearly recorded with the girl slipping drugs from her jeans pocket into mine.

Jared went back on another concert tour schedule within a week of our altercation. Once he heard that Makenna would be my wife someday, come hell or high water, he wasn’t as interested in sticking around Nashville.

And the craziest thing? I convinced Makenna to make our promises permanent.

Leaning over like I want to whisper in her ear, I kiss her neck instead. “I wish we’d had more time this morning. I need you.”

“Aiden, stop. We’re getting on a plane in half an hour.” Her mouth forms a tiny pleased smile.

I pull her hand to my lips and kiss the knuckle above Nonna’s ring and the custom band I had made. “Ever hear of the mile-high club?”

She gives a happy sigh. “You’ll have to induct me.”

“We’ll induct each other.” I pay for our snacks with the cashier eyeing us as if she heard our conversation. Maybe she did and I couldn’t care less. The airline rep announces boarding, so we hurry to the line. Makenna’s excitement matches mine.

She threads her hand through the crook of my elbow. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“Everything and nothing. It boils down to the simple fact that we both want to make each other happy. Baby, you and I together…we’re exactly what we deserve.”