62. Her Last Secret
Her Last Secret
SARA
“Speech! Speech! Speech!” The crowd egged Carter on as he cut across the roof and rounded the pool searching for me, and when his eyes locked on mine, it was as if his hands were already on me. Like the best kind of muscle memory.
Carter’s hands slipped around my waist as if he didn’t care who saw, and I couldn’t help but giggle, like a silly girl, because that’s how he made me feel, lighter than air.
He leaned down into my ear. “Mrs. Kensington?” he murmured, low, and intimate, just for me.
“Yes, husband.” I whispered back, quietly enough that only he could hear.
“I have to ask you something.” He planted me in place, motioning for me to stay put, and before I could ask what he was doing—people made space all around him as he backed up, several long paces, and slipped his hand into his pocket.
My hand flew to my mouth as he produced a ring box—plucked a massive diamond ring out of it and then swung his arm, chucking the empty box across the rooftop with a grin.
Everyone was screaming and cheering as he slowly slid that ring right between his teeth and then dropped to his hands and knees in front of everyone we knew .
I was already crying, heart thundering as the love of my life crawled to me, grinning wickedly with a massive diamond ring between his teeth.
He was the only thing that existed as he finally reached me, looked up at me through his long lashes and took my hand while he presented the ring. “Hi, pretty girl.”
“Hi.” I whispered, eyes going blurry.
“You’re the best thing to ever happen to me, and I want you to know, we were never just friends.
I’ve loved you since the day I set eyes on you, and I’ll love you until the day I die.
Wherever my soul goes after that, I’ll love you there too.
I promise, there’s nothing you can say or do that will ever change that.
You’re the air I breathe, the gravity that grounds me, the sun in my darkness.
You’re my everything, forever and always.
Will you marry me, pretty girl?” He smirked, adding under his breath just for me.
“Again?” I might have been crying as he crooned, “You said you wanted a ring so big you could see it from space, so I hope this fits the bill.”
“Holy fuckballs.” Sloane murmured from somewhere nearby.
“That’s got to be at least twenty carats.” Jules ogled.
Ariana chimed in, “Oh no, that’s at least thirty, probably more, depending on the depth of the setting.”
“Thirty-two, and I would have gone for double, but I knew she’d hate something that big,” Carter murmured, never taking his eyes off mine. “So what do you say, sweetheart?”
I shrugged with a laugh, feeling several tears slip down my cheeks. “I’m not really the marrying type, but I guess I could make an exception.”
“Is that a yes?” Jules asked excitedly.
“Yes,” I whispered to Carter, both our eyes gleaming.
Carter grinned and slid the massive ring onto my finger.
“She said yes!” Carter shouted gleefully, springing up to spin me around, and everyone cheered as he dipped me back and sealed his proposal with a long, sensuous kiss that garnered all kinds of comments from the peanut gallery, kiss her real good, get a room, that’s my sister you asshole!
“I’m going to keep every promise I made.” He murmured with a devastating smile. “No more secrets, just you, me, and our very bright future.”
“No more secrets.” I said, feeling a tear slip down the corner of my eye. “I love you.”
“I love you more.” He grinned, “Always will.”
“I still can’t believe you had to pee in a bucket.” Ariana turned her nose up, and Theo rolled his eyes from nearby, always staying between Ariana and the pool, but she ignored him altogether. “That is seriously so deranged. I could never.” She admitted.
“You guys are going to have the most beautiful wedding.” Jules practically drooled. “And you’ll be the most beautiful bride.” She was basically crying as Sloane added with shining eyes, “I can’t believe you’re getting married to Carter! Finally!”
I only grinned, relishing the private little ceremony we’d had with just the two of us already—the rest would just be for show, but I didn’t mind showing my husband off one bit. “It’s going to be the party of the decade.”
“You happy?” A shoulder bumped against mine—Liam.
“Yeah, I really am.” I murmured, looking down at my massive ring for a long second. I’d asked for a sparkle parade, and that’s exactly what I’d gotten—and then some. “I’m sorry this had to be so chaotic, and I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner.”
Liam scoffed as we wandered over to a quiet corner of the roof. “Well, I didn’t exactly make it very easy for you, did I?”
“Can I ask why you were so opposed to it?” I studied him, noting the weariness in his eyes.
“Oh, it wasn’t just Carter,” Liam said. “Half the guys on this rooftop have tried to get closer to me in order to have a shot with you. ”
“Please.” I rolled my eyes.
“It’s true. It was never personal.” He shrugged.
“Okay, fine, I admit, maybe it was a little personal. I selfishly didn’t want my best friend and my sister to have a falling out.
That would have seriously sucked.” Liam ticked his head and added, “I saw the way you looked at him, even back then, and I thought Carter wasn’t capable of committing because of his history.
I thought he wanted to fuck around just for the hell of it.
In hindsight, I guess, it all makes a little more sense now. ”
I narrowed my eyes. “So what I’m hearing is, it’s your fault my husband has a well-rounded sexual history?”
Liam grimaced. “Well, when you put it like that.”
I stuck my tongue in my cheek with a devious grin, because I just couldn’t help but tease him. “I suppose I can forgive you—since I’m reaping the benefits of all that experience.” He nearly spit out his beer. “So I actually should be thanking you, because?—”
“Nope. Nope. Nope.” Liam clapped a hand over my mouth. “Both of you need to shut the fuck up. I do not want to hear a damn thing about any of it.”
I chuckled and pried his hand away. “What about you? You’ve been awfully busy lately. You’re not trying to avoid processing your breakup, are you?” I asked more gently.
“Are you kidding? I love processing hard feelings.” He scoffed, adjusting the rolled-up sleeves of his button-down, avoiding looking at me.
“Liar.” I laughed, and then placed a hand on his arm. “Do you think you guys will ever give it a second shot?”
“Naw.” He admitted, “I held on for too long. Things were over, long before we called it, long distance was just the cherry on top.”
“Liam, I just know you’re going to find someone really, really great.
Don’t forget you’re a catch. Seriously, do you even realize how powerful you are?
” I asked innocently. “You’ve been out of the dating pool for a long while, so I don’t know if you even know this or not, but girls love a guy who can cook, and you cook real good . ” I grinned.
He chuckled, “Says the girl who wouldn’t touch anything I made for months.”
“Hey, that’s not fair.” I narrowed my eyes and punched him in the shoulder, prompting his eyes to turn devious as he went in for the kill. “No! Don’t mess up my gown.” I gritted twisting his finger until he let go.
I gave him a warning look as he explained with a chuckle, “I think I’m just going to focus on work for a while.”
“I just want you to be happy, you deserve that so damn much.” He didn’t say anything, and I lowered my voice. “You know, I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me, and I just wanted to let you know I’m always here for you.”
“Thanks, Sar-Bear.” My brother slung his arm around my neck before tipping his beer bottle back.
I admired my ring again, my thoughts wandering. “You know, the one thing I can’t stop thinking about is that damn note—I’m worried someone knows something.”
“Taggart’s long gone.” Liam murmured. “ They both are. ”
“But what if someone else knows something?” I said, staring out over the city, letting my quiet words slip away into the night air.
“ Then I’ll take care of them, too. ”
I rolled my eyes. “I just wish I knew who wrote it at the very least, had that closure. You know?”
“We may never know.” Liam muttered. “But at least we’re protected and Dads off the hook. For now.” He paused. “You talk to him lately?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I think I just need some time.”
“You don’t owe him anything.” Liam said solemnly. “Just make me one promise.”
“Anything.”
“Don’t trust Dad. Ever again. ”
“I know what he did was terrible, but he’s our dad.” I countered. “He’s the only parent we have left. Maybe if he gets the help he needs, I don’t know. Maybe?—”
“Sara, what he did was unforgivable.” Liam’s body went tight.
“I’m glad you’re okay, all things considered, but I’ll never forgive him—you literally could have died.
Both of you.” He added, and my gaze found Carter across the rooftop, knowing Liam was right—Carter was already looking at me and he motioned me over with pleading eyes and a tilt of his head.
“I’m not asking you to hold a grudge, but please don’t let him back into your life, he doesn’t deserve it. ”
I sighed and patted my brother’s chest. “Maybe time will fix things, huh?”
“When did you become such an optimist?” The corner of his mouth pulled.
“Hey, I’ve always been an optimist.” I argued, “And so have you . When did you become such a pessimist?” I challenged, seeing so much worry swirling in the depths of my brother’s eyes as he shrugged.
“At least we’ll always have each other. You’re the one person I know I can always trust.” And thank God for that.
“Yeah, and that ass-hat.” Liam nodded to the very dreamy man, who was putting on a little show for me, dancing, trying to lure me over to him with a suggestive curl of his fingers as he beckoned me over.
I shivered, this morning’s shower escapades flashing through my mind, leaving me in a lusty haze. “You love him.” I scolded with a breathy laugh.
Liam eyed me, lowering his voice. “Does he know?”
The pull of gravity itself was luring me away as I dropped my gaze. “No, of course not.” I murmured, ignoring the guilt that punched through me at the admission.
“Honestly, that’s probably for the best.” Liam nudged me with a chuckle. “Go on, your fiancée is getting desperate, but just know, I’ll always love ya, kid.”
“I love you, too.” I smiled and squeezed Liam in a big hug before slipping through the crowd and into the waiting arms of my lover.
“You wanna?” Carter asked, tipping his head towards the pool. I looked down at my evening gown and grinned. “Oh sure, why the hell not?”
“God, I love you.” Carter rasped, hauling me up into a bridal carry before he shouted for the whole rooftop to hear. “I have an announcement to make.” I chuckled as everyone’s heads turned and the music lowered.
Carter grinned wide and proud, looking mischievous as ever.
“I just wanted to let you all know that I’m well aware of what a catch my darling wife is.
” I shook my head, just waiting for whatever was coming next.
“And for all of you cocksuckers who thought you had a chance— I win motherfuckers! She’s mine! ” and then he jumped.
I screamed, howling with laughter, as we plunged into the sparkling water. Carter’s mouth was on mine as we surged up, resurfacing, and everything else disappeared as my best friend, the love of my life, kissed me, real good.
Finally, no more hiding.