Page 109 of Pucking Daddy

We get into the car, and a few minutes later it stops in front of a small café I picked out earlier.

It’s nothing flashy, but it’s the first place that came to mind when I thought about where to take Zara. Cozy, warm—and they have the best croissants in New York.

I step out first, then offer her my hand. I’ll show her, with time, that I know how to treat my wife.

She takes it, and we walk inside together.

The place smells like coffee and fresh pastries.

She looks around, taking it in. “This is… actually really lovely.”

I huff out a quiet breath. “I figured after this morning, we could use somewhere to just… breathe.”

“That’s thoughtful,” she says, her voice soft. “Thank you.”

We sit, and a server approaches. We order coffee, something simple to eat.

When they leave, Zara leans back slightly, studying me. “So,” she says, “husband.”

“Wife,” I return in the same tone.

Her mouth curves faintly. “That’s going to take some getting used to.”

“Yeah,” I agree.

Then she asks, “Do you always plan things like this?”

“No.”

“Just for your fake wives?”

My mouth quirks. “Just for you.”

She clears her throat. “So… how are you feeling about everything? The media, the custody battle… and now the wedding?”

I take a moment before answering. “Honestly? I think I feel… good.”

The words surprise me, but they’re true. The future suddenly feels a little less heavy with Zara beside me. With her, I have someone who’ll show up for Lily the way I do. I’m not alone in this anymore.

I meet her gaze. “How do you feel? This is a big step, and I want you to know I’m not taking it lightly.”

She looks down at her hands, her thumb brushing absently over the ring. “It is a lot,” she admits quietly. “I think… I’m still catching up. Yesterday I was your nanny. Today I’m your wife.”

A small, almost disbelieving smile tugs at her mouth. “That’s a pretty big jump.”

“Yeah,” I say, watching her. “It is.”

Her gaze lifts to mine, searching. “I don’t regret it,” she adds quickly. “I want you to know that. I wouldn’t have said yes if I didn’t mean it.”

Something in my chest eases at that.

“But,” she continues, softer now, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little… overwhelmed.”

I nod slowly. “That’s fair.”

“I know what I asked of you,” I say, my voice quieter now. “And I want you to know you’re not just a means to an end. You’re not just here to fix things for me. Or to make this look good on paper. That’s not how this works.”

Her eyes flicker, something uncertain there.