Jett
“Holy shit,” I breathe as we pull into Amanda and Beckett’s house. Calling it a house does it a disservice. It’s more like a castle. I know he’s a billionaire, but this level of wealth is overwhelming…and I’m a wealthy man.
Fallon giggles. “I know. I felt the same way the first time I came here. And they’re so down to earth.
That’s what I love about them. Amanda came from very humble beginnings.
Honestly, I think she lived in her car for a while.
Kind of a rags-to-riches story, but she never forgets where she came from. ”
Fallon looks beautiful in a short black outfit, which she told me is called a romper.
She’s wearing high heels, elongating her shapely legs.
She’s made-up a bit. We don’t go out much so I’m not used to seeing her like this with makeup and her hair blown out.
I prefer her au naturel, but dressing up from time to time is nice too.
I’m wearing a black suit and a crisp white shirt with no tie. She was all over me when I came to pick her up. We almost didn’t make it out the door. Finding time for intimacy is hard these days. We’ve barely seen each other lately. It’s frustrating.
I park the car, walk around to the passenger side, and take her hand as I help her out, pulling her to me by her hips. She touches her new jewelry, and I chuckle. “Stop fidgeting with it. It’s still there. It won’t fall off. I promise.”
She slowly runs her fingertips over the ridges of the diamond necklace I surprised her with tonight. “I’m still in shock. Napa was supposed to be my gift.”
I smile down at her. “Why not both? I like spoiling you.”
“It’s so beautiful.”
“Then it suits you well.”
She can’t stop touching it. “I’ve never had anything this nice.”
My head jerks back in surprise. “Tanner didn’t buy you jewelry?” What the hell? He has plenty of money.
She shakes her head. “He wasn’t big into lavish gifts when we were married.
I’m not complaining though. He’s been more than generous in the divorce.
He won’t let me pay for anything. He bought me the house, he pays me more alimony than he needs to, and he pays me child support, yet still insists on paying for all of Harper’s expenses. ”
I hate how dependent she is on him. That will change once we’re married. I don’t want her under his thumb. The first order of business will be a new house. And he can shove his alimony. I’ll take care of my wife’s needs, not him.
I lift her hand and kiss it. “Get used to being spoiled, angel face.” Briefly looking up toward the house, I turn my attention back to her and happily announce, “I’m ready to be your party mate tonight.”
She tilts her head to the side in question. “Party mate?”
I nod. “When we were talking on the dating app, you said you wanted a party mate. Someone who would be next to your side at parties and not parallel party.”
Her eyes immediately well with tears as she cups my face. “You may be the sweetest man to ever exist, Jett Jeffries. Do you comprehend how much I love you?”
I lean my forehead on hers. “Not half as much as I love you. Did I tell you how stunning you look tonight?”
She smiles. “Did I tell you how fuckable you look?” she responds without hesitation.
I moan. “Ugh, we shouldn’t have left the house.” I kiss her lips softly. “I miss being inside you. It’s been far too long.”
She leans her body onto mine. “I know.” She rubs her fingertips over my scruff. “A few more hours, my love.”
Her love. I get the chills every single time she calls me that.
I nod, unable to take my eyes or hands off her, mostly focusing on her mouth. “You don’t know how badly I want to ruin your lipstick.”
She moves my hands from her hips to her ass and whispers, “Want to know what I’m not wearing right now?”
I gulp as I begin to harden at the thought of her being bare. Her eyes move down my body as she takes immediate notice before pushing her body against mine.
“Get a room,” Reggie’s intruding voice shouts from across the expansive driveaway.
Fallon giggles as she turns to wave at her close friend. “Hey, babe,” she says as Reggie and her husband approach. “How are you?”
Reggie sighs. “You know it’s been a long week when a seventy-two-hour hold in the psych ward, where you’re encouraged to eat, rest, and be fed anti-anxiety medications, starts to sound pretty fucking nice.”
Fallon smiles as she kisses Reggie’s cheek. “You’re nuts, so maybe the psych ward works.”
I meet her husband, Sam, and the four of us walk into the house together, where I’m greeted by Beckett Windsor, as well as Trevor and Jackson Knight. With the possible exception of Sam, all the men appear very refined in their expensive suits.
I offer the bottle of wine I brought from the year Fallon was born. Beckett realizes immediately what it must have cost me. “Are you sure you want to open this?” he questions.
I nod. “We’re celebrating a special lady. It calls for a special bottle.”
He gives me a crooked smile. “I’m usually a scotch man, and the Knights are whiskey men, but I certainly won’t turn this treat down. Thank you for bringing it.”
“Of course. Thank you for hosting.”
I like to bring wines to parties because I often find myself with men drinking hard liquor. Offering wine gives me an excuse to drink it without explaining that I turn into a raging asshole when I drink the hard stuff.
He pulls out a decanter, understanding what this bottle requires. I appreciate that.
I quickly learn Beckett left his job running a billion-dollar company after his first wife died giving birth to their daughter, Andie, Harper’s best friend.
“Wow,” I marvel. “That’s quite a sacrifice. You must have had a good role model growing up. So much success in one family.” His father is also a well-known, wealthy businessman in the Philadelphia area.
He pours the wine into glasses and holds his up with a bit of a crooked smirk on his face. “Not quite, and I’ve never once viewed it as a sacrifice. It was a privilege. Not every successful man is a good father, but every good father is a successful man.”
The insinuation is more than clear. I’m guessing there’s no love lost between him and his father.
I consider his words as Fallon slides her arm under my jacket and around my waist. “Good thing you’re both,” she assures me, knowing I don’t believe that to be the case.
We stand around chatting in their solarium, which affords us incredible views of the massive estate.
There’s another smaller house sitting on it.
I’m told it’s where Beckett’s mother lives with her boyfriend.
The kids are all staying there tonight. I think Fallon once mentioned how close Amanda is to her mother-in-law.
I keep my girl close by at all times, not only because I’m mindful that she wants a party mate, but I can’t bear to be away from her any longer than I already have to be. The need to have my hands on her at all times is overwhelming.
The women are all giggling about an overzealous mother in the girls’ class who tries to rope them into volunteering all the time. Cassandra rolls her eyes. “I pretended my car window didn’t work last week when she approached me. Then the crazy bitch stood in front of my car. I nearly ran her over.”
Fallon snorts in laughter. “Gentle reminder that they don’t serve alcohol in prison.”
Cassandra nods. “That’s the only reason I didn’t floor it.”
Beckett and Jackson momentarily disappear, then return holding something very large covered in a cloth. There’s an easel too. It looks like a giant piece of art.
Beckett nods toward a server who hands out glasses of champagne before he taps it with a knife to indicate a toast is forthcoming. Amanda, Reggie, Cassandra, and Darian all stand by the covered item.
Amanda clears her throat. “We’re here tonight to celebrate a special woman finally joining the rest of us in middle age.”
Fallon scrunches her face. “Ugh. I told Harper I’m older than Google and she thought I was joking.”
Amanda smiles. “We’re older than the internet, sweetheart.
You don’t look it, but it’s happening. It sneaks up on you.
” Her face turns more serious. “There are times in your life when someone special enters it. You know it right away because they not only have this glow to them, but they strive to make those around them shine bright too. Someone who doesn’t judge you.
Someone who supports you. Someone who celebrates your joys as though they’re your own.
Given that Reggie and I have been friends for forty years, and Cassandra and Darian have been friends just as long, Fallon has made a few comments about being a fifth wheel in this group.
Let me tell you something. Certain things aren’t complete until the fifth member appears.
A hand, a foot, a starfish, Olympic rings, a poker hand, a basketball team,” she offers with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
“Our girl gang wasn’t complete until you moved here and made it complete.
Now we can’t imagine our lives without you, my sweet, dear friend. ”
Fallon wipes a few errant tears as Reggie steps forward.
“Life looked at us, laughed, and said, yep, this bitch needs to be friends with us. My former work sister. I miss you so much at the hospital. You filled my days with laughter. The void since you left is very real. You have both inner and outer beauty. When I post a selfie, people tell me to get well soon. When I post a picture with you, people ask me how I became friends with a model.”
Fallon rolls her eyes and giggles.
Reggie continues, “But it’s not just that outer beauty.
You’re genuinely you. You’re giving. You’re kind.
I hope to be like you when I grow up. The rest of us age while you manage not to.
You’re the friend I didn’t know I needed, but now I can’t live without.
No jealousy. Just love and support. Female friendships like yours refresh the soul, Fallon. ”
Cassandra nods. “Truth. I used to think there were only three things that told you the truth. Little children, drunk people, and yoga pants.”
Everyone laughs as she continues, “Here’s the funny thing about getting older.
Your eyesight might get weaker, but your ability to see through people’s bullshit gets stronger.
I place a high value on having only genuine women in my life.
I’ve been friends with Darian for so many years because of that.
Lucky are those who find true friends in this fake-ass world we live in.
You, my friend, are a diamond in the rough. ”
Fallon is bawling in my arms now. I’m finding myself getting a little choked up at all these wonderful things being said about my girl.
Darian sniffles as she gets teary-eyed before stepping forward.
“As someone with three adult daughters and six grandchildren, I know what it takes to help them navigate this crazy world we live in. You raise that one thing you can’t live without to be able to live without you.
Take it from someone with a lot of experience, no one does it better than you, my friend.
When the four of us brainstormed on what a special birthday gift might be, it was clear as day. ”
Amanda removes the cloth to reveal a giant, professionally framed LeRoy Neiman-style painting of Harper fielding a softball at second base. It’s nothing short of spectacular.
Fallon sucks in a breath as tears fall from her eyes like a waterfall. She breathes, “Oh, Amanda, this is amazing.”
Amanda smiles. “Do you like it?”
Fallon shakes her head. “No. I don’t like it, I love it. Thank you.” She moves away from me to hug Amanda.
I can’t take my eyes off it. Every little detail is perfect. What a talent. I wonder if I could commission her to paint one like it of Kennedy in action.
I consider all the kind words from her friends, especially those on motherhood. Fallon was born to be a mother. She wants more kids. What kind of man would I be if I took that away from her?