Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Decker
Foster, a water in hand, is standing at the bar with Hayes.
I weave through the clusters of people, nodding polite hellos and putting up my finger, telling them I’ll be right back, for those who want to talk to me.
“Hey, I haven’t seen you all night,” Hayes says when I approach.
“I need to grab Foster for a second.”
Hayes’s eyebrows lift. “I won’t be a whiny Easton.” He pats me on the shoulder and walks away.
“You feeling okay? You have beads of sweat along your forehead.” Foster sips his water and looks over my shoulder, probably looking for Callie.
“I’m fine. Can we go to the hallway quick?”
His eyes narrow. “What is going on with you?” But he leads me out of the venue into the hallway.
We stand there for a moment, the sound of the event muffled behind the doors, and I look at my brother in his suit and can’t help but think about those elevator doors closing between us and the two of us not talking for years.
But he opened a door during our therapy session, and I intend to walk through it.
I don’t want to ruin what we’ve built, but I can’t live without Penelope anymore.
“I need to ask you something,” I say.
He sips his water and doesn’t say a word.
“Penelope.” Her name alone should tell him what I’m asking.
He’s not an idiot, he sees it, as does everyone in our friend group, and he has much more history to go on.
Foster glances over my shoulder again, then back at me, and I wait for his response. His smile shines first and relief seeps in a little, but I keep my armor handy, afraid to hope.
“I wondered how long this was going to take,” he says.
“Foster—”
“The only thing I care about with regard to you getting together with Penelope is that I just lost a bet to my soon-to-be wife.” He shakes his head. “In all seriousness, Deck, I can’t believe it took you this long. Talk about waiting a damn lifetime.”
“But do I have your permission?” I glance at my watch to see how close I am to the ten minutes.
“And if I don’t give it to you?” He leans his back against the wall, and his shit-eating grin annoys the fuck out of me.
“I’m not gonna lie, I can’t do it anymore. I love her. I’ve always loved her, and I love you too and everything we’re building, but Foster, to live without her—”
He puts his hand on my chest. “Go get your girl.” He waves, and Callie saunters over, sliding up to his side. He wraps his arms around her waist and kisses her temple.
“What am I missing?” Callie looks between us.
“Deck got his head out of his ass and is finally going to go after Penelope,” Foster says while looking at me. His smile still wide, the casual stance still not rigid.
“Really?” She pushes away from my brother and wraps her arms around my neck. “Congratulations. Where is she?”
Foster tugs her back. “I’ll fight to the death for this one,” he says, wrapping both arms around his fiancée. “What are you waiting for? Go.”
He nods toward the doors.
Something loosens in my chest that has been tight for a near decade.
“We’re good?” I ask one more final time.
“Go!” Callie says, her eyes wide.
She swivels in Foster’s arms, and he looks down at her. The love in his eyes is so transparent that I’m envious of his happiness.
I break away and go back to the ballroom, weaving back through the guests.
Pushing the balcony doors open, my heart sinks when I find it empty.