Karson always hoped that he would never have to look into the eyes of Nate Martin again. Lucky for him, he hadn’t had to in the last nine years. His luck had run out though, because now he was walking in behind Lacey to the lobby of her apartment, and there waiting for them were her father and brother. It seemed as soon as he walked through the door, they both glared at him. Karson’s gaze met his new father-in-law’s. The same eyes that Lacey had. His heart sped up in his chest, his hands sweating as he held his wife’s hand. He wanted to be confident that this would go okay, but something deep inside him told him that it wouldn’t. He didn’t deserve Lacey. He had hurt her before, and even though her family was responsible for that, they were her family. He was just the guy who loved her, and he wasn’t sure if that was enough. At any moment, she could realize that, and then where would that leave Karson?

Empty. He would be utterly empty.

Swallowing deeply, he held his former coach’s eyes and couldn’t help the way his eyes slitted. He hated this man more than words could express, and by the way Nate was looking at him, he was pretty sure the feeling was mutual. His old coach had aged, looking every bit in his fifties, and for some reason, he looked bigger as he stood slowly, Grady flanking him. Grady didn’t faze Karson at all. He had slammed that asshole into the boards plenty of times. He wasn’t worried, but he would keep his promise. Sucking in a deep breath, he tore his gaze away from Nate’s and looked over at Lacey.

She looked sick with worry.

She was working her lip, her eyes wide and her face red. He didn’t like that. They weren’t supposed to be nervous or worried; they were supposed to be happy. They had each other. Nothing would touch that. Well, he hoped it wouldn’t.

“It’s fine,” he said, hoping to sound more confident than he felt.

Squeezing his hand, she glanced over at him and nodded before glancing back at her dad. “Daddy, you didn’t have to come across town to see us. I told you I would come to Grady’s to see the kids,” she said, dropping Karson’s hand and heading for her father.

For some reason that bothered him. Weren’t they supposed to do this together? A united front? Was he being a fucking pussy? Crossing his arms, he watched as Lacey hugged her father and then Grady as she tried to smile. It didn’t reach her eyes, though. He was sure they knew she was putting up a front, and that pissed him off. She shouldn’t have to put on an act for anyone; she should be her fucking self. But these jerks had put her in the position to do just that, and he didn’t like that one bit.

“Had to come talk some sense into you,” Nate said, completely ignoring Karson. Which was fine. He didn’t want anything to do with the asshole anyway.

“There isn’t any sense to be talked into me, Dad. I came to pack. We have a full day,” she said after letting out a long breath.

“There is a lot to talk about, Lacey. Now, let’s go upstairs and talk.”

“Yeah, stay here, King,” Grady barked and Karson laughed.

“Cold day in hell, buddy. I’m here to help my wife pack,” he said, a grin forming on his face in an assholish way. “Then I’m going to take her home.”

Both men glared as Nate said, “That’s not happening.”

“Yes, it is,” she said, taking their attention from Karson. “I’m moving to Nashville with my husband,” she said sternly, and Karson could see it in their eyes. Both men were shocked, their mouths hanging open as their eyes widened with every word she said. They never expected her to stand up for herself, and within seconds, he had a feeling they were going to blow up with anger. Karson, on the other hand, was pretty fucking proud of her.

“This is insane, Lacey! You don’t even know this douche,” Grady yelled and Karson rolled his eyes.

“I do know him and I love him. Why don’t you guys try being happy for me instead of being jerks about it?” she yelled back, her eyes glazing with tears. She looked away and then met his gaze. “He is my husband. Accept it or don’t, I really don’t care.”

Reaching out, she took Karson’s hand and started for the door, pulling him along with her.

“Good seeing you two,” he said, knowing he was being a dick, but they had basically called him every name in the book.

“Is that mom’s wedding dress?” Grady asked suddenly, stopping her.

Nate and Lacey looked back at where Karson stood, and he looked down at the huge white dress bag that he had been hauling all over the damn United States.

“Yeah,” Lacey said with a shrug. “Why?”

“You wore your mother’s dress to marry this piece of shit?” Nate asked and Karson rolled his eyes.

“Man, they don’t like me,” he muttered but Lacey ignored him.

“Yeah, it’s my dress, and I wanted to wear it during my wedding. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to pack. You two are obviously not here to congratulate me, so I’ll call you later.”

They started for the elevator, and Karson thought maybe they would take the hint and go away, but he wasn’t a lucky man that morning. Standing in the elevator, one arm wrapped around his wife and the other holding her dress and their bags, he watched as his new in-laws stepped into the car. Both looked at him as if he smelled like year-old unwashed hockey equipment.

“What are you doing?” she asked and her father’s brows came up.

“I’m not done talking to you, Lacey Arielle.”