Rachel: I told him. You better answer now! Next is your dad!

Grady: Seriously, what’s going on? And what’s this shit about you being with that fucktard King?

Grady: Lacey Arielle Martin, I swear to God if you don’t answer my calls or my texts, I’m telling Dad. For real, you’re worrying us.

Rachel: seriously, we don’t want to get your dad involved, please answer us.

Grady: that’s it, I’m telling Dad.

Rachel: he’s calling your dad.

Then started the nasty voice mails from her father since Nate Martin didn’t text. He proceeded to tell her that he was going to call the cops, and then he did call the cops, but they couldn’t do anything until she was missing for twenty-four hours. He threatened to kill Karson, tear him limb from limb, and bury him in a hole with the help of Grady, of course.

She felt horrible for worrying everyone, but she was just caught in the moment. Wrapped up in everything that was Karson, and now her family was freaking out, calling cops and threatening Karson’s life. How was she supposed to just call and be like “Hey, we got married!”? It wasn’t going to go that easy; everything was bound to be a clusterfuck of hell once she made that call. She knew she needed to do it. It would be like ripping off a Band-Aid, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She was scared of what they would say, what they would do. She didn’t want to lose her family, but she refused to lose Karson.

For a second time in her life, she felt like she was flying. Karson made her feel like that. Like she was lost in the clouds and never wanted to let her feet hit the ground. She didn’t want to go back to her life of nothing, her boring existence, only getting excited when she helped someone. Yes, her job was fulfilling, but her life wasn’t complete. But now that she had Karson, it was. Sure, they didn’t have anything figured out, but they would.

Because they had each other.

Lifting her face from his neck, she met his worried gaze and handed him her phone. “They are freaking out.”

He held her in one arm while his other scrolled through the messages. “I can see that.”

“I know I need to call them, but I’m scared, Karson. They ruined us back then, and I know they are going to try again.”

He tightened his arm around her and said, “But we won’t allow them. Maybe now that we are older, they’ll see we are serious. You need to call and tell them you are okay. If you want to wait to tell them about us, that’s okay, but at least let them know you are all right.”

She shook her head quickly, her heart aching in her chest. She loved him so much and couldn’t believe that he cared enough about them to have her call to ease their worries. They didn’t deserve his kindness, and they sure as hell weren’t going to get it from her. She refused to lie about them too. She was proud of her marriage, the man she chose; she just wished her family would feel the same. She could be wrong and they could surprise her and support them, but if they’d tried so hard to keep them apart, why would they just sit back and let her be happy now? Her father and brother were set in their ways and decided a long time ago that Karson wasn’t good enough for her, which was by far a mistake.

He was made for her.

Meeting his gaze, she shook her head again. “I refuse to hide us.”

He kissed her temple and whispered, “Just call them, baby. I’m right here.”

She nodded slowly and took the phone from him, deciding to call Rachel instead of her father. As Karson held her close, his lips at her ear, whispering how much he loved her, she listened as Rachel picked up on the second ring.

“Lacey! What the hell! Where are you? Are you okay?” she cried in relief. “Yeah, it’s her.”

Shit, she wasn’t alone. Lacey should have known better.

“I’m fine,” she answered. “My phone has been dead. I just charged it and saw all my missed calls and texts.”

“Where are you?” she asked. “Hold on, let me put you on speakerphone. Your dad and Grady are here.”

Wonderful, she thought, but then Karson’s thumb caressed her jaw as he dusted his lips along her temple. Calmness washed over her as she leaned into him, needing the support he offered.

“Are you all right, honey?” her father asked.

“Where are you?” Grady asked.

“Yes, I’m fine,” she answered, taking in a deep breath as Karson leaned back to look at her. “I’m in Vegas,” she said slowly, meeting his gaze. “With Karson.”

“Why. The. Hell. Are. You. In. Vegas. With. Him?” Rachel said, enunciating each word.

“Please don’t tell me you’re doing what I think you are doing,” Grady begged.

“Did he drug you? Kidnap you? The cops are waiting,” Nate bellowed. “Speak, Lacey! Tell us what is going on!”

She felt Karson tense up beside her as the tears gathered in her eyes. “We got married this morning at the Chapel in the Clouds, and we are blissfully happy. I wish you guys could have been there, but we just couldn’t wait,” she said happily, trying to keep her voice light, not allowing them to know that she expected them to freak the hell out. She expected yelling, but she swore she could hear a pin drop. She even checked to make sure they hadn’t hung up, but then like she expected them to, the yelling started.

“What the hell do you mean?” Grady yelled.

“I told you not to do anything stupid or impulsive! This is stupid and impulsive!” Rachel screamed.