Chapter 56 Charlotte
FIFTY-SIX
CHARLOTTE
“Ready?” Jude asks me, holding his hand out as he holds open the passenger door to his SUV. I place my hand in his and nod, carefully stepping out of the car, making sure I don’t step on the skirt of my dress.
“Why am I so nervous?” I whisper, giving him a hesitant smile as he shuts my passenger door.
We stand in the busy Pembroke parking lot.
People walk by us, all of them dressed up for the welcome party tonight.
All day, I was excited to finally experience a Pembroke party from the vantage point of a member—at least the guest of one—but now that we’re here, I’m so nervous I feel like I might actually throw up.
“Don’t be nervous, sweetheart. Tonight will be fun.
” Jude gives me an encouraging smile before leaning in and pressing a kiss to my forehead.
He’s careful not to kiss me on the lips, per my own request. He complained about not being able to kiss me for five minutes before he finally accepted that I wanted to at least make it to the party before he messed up my makeup.
I watch Jude as he opens the back door of the SUV and pulls Ava out of her car seat.
She wears a baby pink dress and a giant bow on top of her head.
My heart melts at the sight. It’s absolutely adorable.
I ordered the outfit the moment Jude agreed to come to the event, and I’m happy it made it here in time for Ava to wear it.
“Hi, sweet girl,” I get out, loving that she immediately smiles when her eyes meet mine.
“There you are!” Florence calls from a few cars down. She and Nathaniel close the distance to us, the two of them dressed up for the party tonight.
Florence gives me a warm smile, and it helps loosen the knot I felt in my stomach at seeing her for the first time since I ran out of Jude’s house on Monday.
“You look radiant this evening,” Florence tells me.
She surprises me by pulling me in for a hug and giving me a squeeze.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, keeping her voice low enough that only I hear it.
I hadn’t realized how badly I needed the hug and apology from her until now.
When Jude went to pick up Ava from his parents’ house this morning, he had a talk with his mom about everything.
Eventually, I think it’ll be a good idea for me and Florence to speak again and finish the conversation we started earlier in the week, but I’m not rushing it.
The apology, paired with the warm smile and Jude’s adamance that their talk went great, gives me the reassurance I need for now.
I give her a tight squeeze back before we both pull away. I make sure my smile matches hers. While I was nervous to see her again, I understand why she said the things she said to me. She cares about her son and granddaughter, and I appreciate the way she was looking out for all of us.
“You look absolutely beautiful,” I tell her, my eyes traveling over the gown she wears.
“She does, doesn’t she?” Nathaniel chimes in, putting his arm around his wife’s waist.
“Charlotte,” a familiar voice calls. I turn around and find Lucy and Cal making their way in our direction.
“Oh my God, you look hot,” I tell Lucy, taking in her outfit. She wears a long black dress and a pair of black gloves that help show off her diamond engagement ring.
She smiles and looks down at the ground for a moment before returning my stare. “Right back at you. I love the pink.”
I smile and do a quick spin for her. “Thank you. I somehow was able to find a dress last minute that matched Ava’s almost perfectly.”
Lucy’s eyes soften as she looks behind me, where Jude holds Ava. “Stop it,” she mutters, closing the distance so she can walk up to Ava. “Look how cute you are.”
Jude smiles before pressing a kiss to his daughter’s cheek. “I have a feeling she’s going to be stealing everyone’s heart tonight.”
I can’t help but smile and nod my head. “As she should.”
Mini conversations break out between the small group before Jude finally clears his throat and talks over everyone. “Should we get inside?” Jude asks, his eyes find mine, and he holds out his free hand for me to take.
I gladly close the distance between us and put my hand in his.
Butterflies take flight in my stomach at the thought of arriving hand in hand with him.
He’s asked me countless times today if I was sure that I was okay with us telling everyone about our relationship, but I’ve never been more sure about something in my life.
I want everyone to know that he’s mine, but it’s still a little nerve-racking.
“Let’s get in there,” I answer, both nerves and excitement making my voice shake ever so slightly.
There are echoes of agreement before we walk toward the club. There’s a long line of cars waiting in the valet line that we walk past to get inside.
The moment we step through the doors, I can’t help but gasp.
I worked this morning, but when my shift ended in the afternoon, Pembroke still looked the same as it always did.
Now, it’s been completely transformed. There are green and cream elements everywhere, making the club feel even more elegant and classy than it already is.
“This is stunning,” I marvel. I’m so swept up in looking around the club that I don’t even notice the curious stares from both Pembroke members and employees.
“You’re stunning,” Jude whispers, leading us down the hallway to the ballroom of the club. The lights are dimmed, but I can’t help but wonder if the flush that blooms on my cheeks is noticeable.
We pass by many people, some who wave and try to stop us, but Jude keeps walking. I got a text from Margo as soon as we pulled into the parking lot that they were already here, so my guess is that Jude is on a mission to find our friends before engaging in small talk with anyone.
I clutch Jude’s hand as we continue to make our way to the main event space.
At first, I try to focus on the decorations and soak in how beautiful the transformation of the club is, but eventually, I can’t help but notice the people watching us as we walk by.
“I think people are staring at us,” I declare before letting out a nervous laugh.
“Let them stare,” Florence notes from closely behind us. I love how casually she offers the advice. It’s a gentle reminder that it doesn’t matter if people look or not.
I look over my shoulder and give her an appreciative smile. “You’re right. We all look too good. Of course they’re staring.”
She winks at me at the same moment Jude squeezes my hand.
“They could also be staring at the absolutely adorable baby on Jude’s hip,” Lucy pipes up from my other side.
Her words earn a chuckle from both Jude and Cal.
“That’s definitely it,” Jude responds.
We step into the room, and the sight in front of me steals my breath.
It’s like a picture out of a magazine, and I can’t help but wish I had thought to bring my camera.
We walk next to a champagne tower, and I gape at it.
I’ve worked around the wealthy for the last year, but there’s something about seeing a champagne tower with two waitstaff dressed in black tie to serve you that makes you realize just how rich the party is.
“I can’t believe this,” I marvel as I look around wide-eyed.
“There’s Camille!” Lucy says excitedly, pulling me from the trance of looking around at the party setup.
I follow Lucy’s gaze to find Camille waving us down from across the room.
“We’re going to go find our friends,” Florence announces to Jude.
We stop as Jude turns to his mom for a moment. “Tell Grandma you’ll see her later,” Jude says in the adorably sweet voice he saves for talking to his daughter.
Florence smiles before she and Nathaniel both lean in to press a kiss to Ava’s round little cheeks. “We’ll see her later. Let us know when you want us to take her home.”
I know Jude kept telling his mom it wasn’t necessary, but his parents offered to take Ava back home once she got tired so Jude and I could still enjoy the event.
She tried convincing him to let Ava stay the night at their house for a second night in a row, but he wasn’t having it.
Them taking Ava home early and waiting at the house for us to return was the compromise.
“Love you,” Jude tells his mom before they walk away.
“Oh, this is going to be good.” Lucy laughs as she looks across the room. “By the look on her face, Camille’s definitely going to have some questions for you.”
I blush as I follow Lucy’s line of sight to find Camille, Jude’s publicist and Ryker’s fiancée and someone I’ve grown closer to over the last year, gawking. It looks like she mouths something like What the fuck, but I can’t be exactly sure.
“Oh boy,” I mutter. My words make both Lucy and Jude laugh at the same time.
“Wait until I introduce you as my girlfriend,” Jude snickers.
Lucy gasps. Her hand finds my stomach as she forces me to come to a stop.
“Excuse me? Girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend?” Cal echoes as he wraps his arm around Lucy’s and pulls her into his body.
Jude and I look at each other. His lips twitch with a growing smirk. “I finally got Charlotte to say yes to being my girlfriend.”
I roll my eyes at his comment. “I said yes the first time you asked.”
Jude leans in and presses a kiss to my lips, making my cheeks heat because he does it without a care in the world about how many people are watching.
Ava lets out an excited squeal before her little hand finds my cheek. Jude laughs against my lips before pulling away.
“What is happening?” Camille asks, breathing heavily as if she just ran across the room to us.
“What do you mean?” Jude coyly asks. He begins to walk in the direction Camille just came from.
Camille’s eyes bounce between me and Jude as we walk toward the table filled with our friends. “Oh, I don’t know…the fact that you and Charlotte just kissed and you’re holding an adorable baby that looks identical to you.”
No one answers as we close the distance to the table filled with people I’ve been fortunate to grow close with ever since working at Pembroke Hills.
Directly in front of me is Tyson, whose face lights up the moment he sees Ava.
I don’t know if I’ve seen him smile much, but he melts at the sight of Ava.
Next to him is his sister, Winnie, and her husband, Archer.
Next to Archer is Preston Rhodes—someone my dad often asks about—and Emma stands next to him, her face entirely lit up when she spots Ava.
On Emma’s hip is Celeste, Beck and Margo’s daughter.
Both Margo and Beck stand next to Emma, their attention focused on us, watching closely as we stop in front of everyone.
“Good evening,” Jude croons. He squeezes my hand and pulls me closer to him until I’m flush against his side. I reach out and playfully tap Ava’s nose, unable to resist making her laugh in this moment.
“Some of you already met or heard about her, but if you haven’t, this is my daughter, Ava.” He props her up on his hip slightly to show her off. The movement makes her let out an adorable little giggle that can be heard even over the live band playing in the far corner of the ballroom.
“Daughter?” Camille asks, her voice calm and composed but her face showing shock.
Jude grins as if he couldn’t be more proud to be introducing his daughter to everyone. It makes my heart completely melt. “Yes. My daughter.”
“It’s my job to know everything about everyone. How did I not know you had a daughter?” Camille asks, her voice full of disbelief.
She looks to her fiancé, Ryker, but he’s too busy looking at Jude to give her a response. “That’s amazing,” he marvels, giving Jude a smile. “Jude…a dad.” He shakes his head as if he can’t believe it.
“Yep. I’m a dad. Don’t seem too shocked.” His attention focuses on Camille as he gives her an apologetic smile. “And don’t feel bad about not knowing. I’ve only begun to tell people recently.”
“But I’m your publicist,” she tosses out. “You’re supposed to tell me everything.”
Jude laughs. “I know. We’ll talk more about things regarding Ava later. I’m still gaining my footing with it.”
Camille gives a nod before her eyes slice to me. “And can we talk about the fact that you guys are clearly together? About damn time.”
Ryker echoes her sentiment by whistling and clapping his hands. The noise catches the attention of the people around us, but I don’t pay them any mind.
I can’t.
The way Jude turns to look at me takes my breath away. It’s one of those moments where everyone else fades away and all I see is him. He looks at me with so much love that I wonder if he’s always looked at me like this and I just somehow missed it, or if this is something new.
“I’m obsessively in love with Charlotte, and she’s made me the luckiest guy in the world by saying yes to being my girlfriend.
” His words come out a little raspy as he stares at me adoringly.
He blinks a few times before his dimples make an appearance with the deep curve of his lips.
“And yeah. There’s my life update. Should we have some champagne? ”
Our friends stare at us with wide smiles. It’s a moment I’ll never forget, a time I want to remember forever.
One by one, they come up to us and give us hugs and congratulations. We get settled at our table, and the entire night, I find myself wondering how I got to be so lucky.
Tears sting my eyes as I look around at the small group of people who have become my family here in the Hamptons.
When I first moved out here, I didn’t know a single soul.
All I knew was that it felt like I belonged in the Hamptons.
I couldn’t have known that a job offer at an elite country club would lead me to finding so many incredible people… and falling in love.
Jude watches as Margo holds Ava and Beck holds Celeste and the two girls interact with each other. He wears a wide grin. It’s almost as if he can sense me watching him because he looks over at me and immediately pulls my body against his.
“I love you,” he tells me, his lips moving against my forehead before he presses a soft kiss there.
“I love you too.” I snuggle into him, soaking in the moment. It’s just the start of the summer season here in the Hamptons, but I’m so excited to spend it surrounded by the people here tonight.
Most of all, I’m excited to see what the summer—and the future—has in store for the two people I love most—Jude and Ava.
I can’t help but smile as I imagine all the memories we’re going to create.
If someone had told me I’d be starting the summer with Jude Kensington as my boyfriend, I would’ve never believed them. I would’ve told them that Jude and I were just friends.
But the universe has a funny way of working things out, and I can’t help but wonder if, all along, Jude and I were always meant to be more than friends.