Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
SAVVY
“I can’t believe you put in a freaking pool, Grey.”
He shrugs in his rocking chair next to mine. “Your physical therapist said it was good for your recovery.”
I simply smile. If I’ve learned anything about this man, it’s that he will always harness the stars whenever possible.
“How long is everyone going to be here?” he grumbles, checking his watch again. “They’re just hanging around for the free food and booze.”
I laugh. “That’s not true, Patch. They’re here because they love us.”
“Who the hell is Quinn talking to?”
I follow his line of sight and laugh again. “That’s Eddie.”
“Eddie,” he grumbles.
“Remember? He won Cupid cowboy three years running.” I study his face as recognition dawns.
“Shit.”
“Hey, she deserves a little fun.” He nods, but I sense the guilt he’s carrying still. “Did you talk with her?”
“I did.” He leans his head back against the rocking chair that Moose carved his name into. “She said she accepted my apology and will stay on with Omni-Reyes if she can do it from California with more…boundaries, and a fuck ton in bonuses. Apparently, I’m a shitty boss.”
“It was extraordinary circumstances, Grey. If she accepted your apology, then I’m sure she understands that.”
“I suppose.” He leans forward in his chair and growls when his gaze lands on Bethany.
“Leave her alone, Grey.”
“Why the hell would you allow Bethany into our home?”
“Take a good look at her, handsome.” He squints his eyes, then sits back with defeat in his shoulders. “She has dark circles under her eyes like she hasn’t been sleeping.”
He grunts but doesn’t say anything.
“I’m not saying she’s innocent, but I don’t believe she deserves to be punished for the rest of her life either. She’s done everything she can to help correct her mistakes—including agreeing to testify against Riley. I won’t be part of tearing someone down the way I was.”
“Fine, I get that. But is it necessary to celebrate with her too?”
“It’s called forgiveness, Patch. Will she be invited to Christmas? No. But she put herself out there when she came and apologized in person, and now we can move through town without animosity.”
“Hey.” I look up to see Braxton grinning down at us. “Sun’s down.”
“Yup, and yet all these fuckers are still here.” Grey scowls across the back yard.
“Grey, you know I love you.” I grin when I hear Madi behind us. “But if you don’t get your ass out of that chair so I can put up my feet, I’m going to cry for the entire town to hear.”
He stands and helps her into the rocking chair, then smirks as she sighs.
“Think we can get Moose to build us a couple of these?” she asks Braxton.
“I’m sure he’d love to,” he replies. They talk about the maternal glow of pregnancy, but I’m inclined to think Braxton has it too. “Come on, Grey. Let’s refill their drinks.”
My husband presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Need anything else?”
“No, I’m good.” My smile grows as I watch him walk away, bickering with Braxton.
“It’s nice to see you happy,” Madi says. “But I agree with Grey. Bethany was a step too far for me.”
“Be nice,” I grin. “Funny how I’m the nice one in this scenario.”
“You’ve always been nice. Oh…”
The backyard lights cut off, and I sit forward on my chair. “That’s strange. I don’t even know where the light switches are back here.”
“Just sit tight,” Madi says. “I’m sure Grey’s on it.” A moment later, the telltale ring of FaceTime comes from her phone. “Oh, it’s Clover.” She presses a button, and Clover’s face comes into view. “Hey, Clove.”
“Did I miss it?” she asks.
“Miss what?” I look out over the pool and see a light flicker to life in the yard. Then one by one, tiny orbs begin to glow all across the property.
“Here,” Madi hands me a stick that has a wire attached to it. At the very end, a two-inch firefly blinks as if it’s telling me a secret.
“What the hell is happening?” I ask as more lights flicker to life.
All around me and the property, these little fireflies glow, but mine appears to be the only one blinking.
My throat closes up, and the weariness of the last two months is replaced with pure adrenaline.
“No,” I gasp as “Fireflies” by Owl City plays through hidden speakers.
Madi’s eyes sparkle next to me as she holds up her own firefly. Even Clover is holding one up through Madi’s phone screen.
“Guys, what’s going on?”
Clover mimes locking her lips while Madi points to the yard that’s now full of hundreds of little plastic light-up bugs.
Through teary eyes, one in particular catches my attention. It’s the only one moving, weaving through all our guests and fireflies that appear to stand on their own or are hanging from trees.
And it’s blinking the same pattern as my own.
Oh, Greyson. What did you do?
Blink, blink, double blink. It’s the pattern of our love and my heart syncs to the cadence as Greyson slowly makes his way toward me.
“This is where we leave you,” Madi whispers. Braxton appears and helps her to stand, and then I’m left all alone on the deck, peering out over the darkness pierced by fireflies.
And then Grey is standing at the edge of the patio, his firefly light speeding up the closer it gets to mine.
“In a field of static light, I was always meant to beat to the rhythm of your heart.” He smiles, and my pulse takes flight.
“What are you doing?”
“Someone told me once that fireflies flash in a pattern to attract their mate, but I’ve been following your light since the moment you crashed into my life, and now I want to bask in your glow for the rest of our days.”
He drops to one knee, and Braxton slides out of the darkness to take his firefly from him.
“Grey, what are you doing?” I whisper. “We’re already married. Get up.”
He chuckles, and so do the people who are closest to us, but it’s too dark to make out their faces.
“We are, but as is our custom, we did things all out of order. I never got down on one knee, and you never got this moment. I’m correcting my mistakes.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring box. My thumb covers the ring I’m currently wearing, and then I twist the diamond on my finger.
“I already have a ring, Grey.”
He takes my hand in his. “You do. And when I gave it to you, I also told you that it was the one I could get on short notice.”
Did he? I honestly don’t remember much about that conversation.
“Even then, I knew you were it for me, Sav,” he whispers so quietly that only I can hear him.
“I didn’t want to admit it, maybe, but I knew.
That’s why I had a trusted jeweler in London working on this.
” He opens the box, and candles begin blazing to life around us as Madi, Elle, and Braxton hurry to light them.
But then I see the ring. The one he’s holding in his hands, and my world completely stops.
It isn’t flashy, though it catches every glimmer of light. An emerald sits at the center, strong and unyielding, encircled by a halo of diamonds. He turns it slightly, and I catch sight of the band.
Leaning in, I study the intricate weaving of vines that create the band with interwoven tiny diamonds. It’s like my life and his coming together in a beautifully crafted forever.
Then he turns it again, and I see the inscription: Mea lux.
“Oh, Grey.”
“After my sister died, I was cleaning out her room and found a diary of sorts. It’s where she designed and dreamed.
In it were jewelry designs for every important time in our lives—including this engagement ring.
She created it without ever having met you, but it’s as though she knew who you would be one day. ”
He glances up, his face overcome with emotion.
“She designed this ring for my future wife, and Ace pulled mea lux straight from her dreams for my future. She would have loved you, Savannah.”
Tears clog my throat. I’m not sure how much I can take before I explode in a blubbering mess of emotion.
“And I love you more than I ever dreamed possible.” His tone is like an ocean breeze—calm and steady. “You are my light, my love, my life. You’re everything I never dared to hope for and everything I need to keep me grounded. You’re the fire to my ice, the bark to my bite, the love of my life.”
“I love you too,” I choke out.
“Our start hasn’t been conventional, but I’ll spend every moment for the rest of our lives being the man you deserve and giving you a life better than any fairy tale. Savannah Monroe, will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife, again?”
If I could jump out of this chair, I’d already be straddling him. Instead, I nod, tears streaming down my face. “Yes. From now until forever, I am yours and you are mine.”
His kiss is the seal of all our promises, and finally, I understand the appeal of a Prince Charming and a happily ever after.
It just took this stubborn, beautifully broken man to lend me his pieces to create something whole.
Vaguely I hear our found family cheering in the background, but I’m fully consumed by Greyson Reyes—my one-time enemy turned eternal firefly.
Happily ever after to me.