Lili
A few weeks later
“Now carefully bend the wire. There you go.” I smiled at Ava-Jane.
She smiled back.
Sure, it was a weak version of her old smile, but it was a smile. I’d take it.
We were sitting side-by-side in my sunny little jewelry studio room.
The corner table Cole had ordered me looked fabulous and I now had small little drawers stacked on it that held all my beads and metals.
There was a framed photo of Cole and I on the corner of the desk.
Lark had taken it one night when we’d all been eating at Elysium, the Avernus’ best restaurant.
I was sitting on Cole’s lap, laughing and he was smiling while looking at me.
Ava-Jane was still staying at the Avernus. She was seeing a therapist that Landon had organized, and talking with her mom.
And today, she was finally going home.
“I’m kinda getting the hang of this jewelry making thing,” Ava-Jane said.
I bumped my shoulder against hers. “You are.” I was working on a new bracelet for Cole. It had heavy bronze links, and I couldn’t wait to give it to him.
He was out at Darkwolf Tactical today, doing a training session.
I loved the life we were making together.
We’d settled into living together in the blink of an eye. We cooked, watched movies, he read while I made jewelry. We’d had several loud dinners with the gang, and I’d also had a couple of girls’ nights out with Georgie and Lark.
And sex.
Cole and I had lots of amazing sex.
I felt heat in my cheeks and hid my face from Ava-Jane. My friend was happy that I was falling in love with Cole, but a small part of me still felt guilty that I was so happy when she was so hurt.
But, each day, I saw some glimmers of her relaxing. An easing of some of that terrible tension she carried.
There was the rap of knuckles on the door. Ava-Jane instantly stiffened, but my gaze moved to Cole filling the doorway, and I smiled.
“Ladies.”
He was in black cargo pants and a gray Henley. So hot. I skipped over to him, and he caught me for a kiss. He smelled of gunpowder and the faint hint of perspiration.
He gave Ava-Jane a careful nod. He never touched her and always kept a respectful distance from her when she was visiting. She was still wary of being around men.
There was the sound of a car outside.
“That’ll be my mom,” Ava-Jane said.
“Ava-Jane’s going home today,” I told him.
He nodded. “Bet your mom will be happy.”
We walked Ava-Jane outside. Her mom was at the car, waving. Helen Jones was blonde like her daughter. Her concerned gaze was locked on her.
Ava-Jane spun to face me. “You’ll come to see me?”
“Yes. Tomorrow. And you’re welcome here whenever you want.” I hugged her and then whispered in her ear, “you’re stronger than anyone I know.”
“I don’t feel strong,” she whispered back.
“It’s not about being tough and unbreakable. It’s about showing up each day, even when you don’t want to. It’s about asking for and accepting help when you need it.”
She hugged me hard, then turned and walked toward the car.
Cole wrapped an arm around me. Together, we watched them drive away.
“How was your training?” I asked.
“Good. How was your jewelry making?”
“Good. I’ve got lots of stock now, and I have some exciting news.
” I clapped my hands together. “Bastian dropped by today. He wants me to open a small pop-up store near the casino food court! He said they get a younger crowd through there, who he thinks will love my jewelry. And he bought a silver bangle for Lark. I’m going to call my store Designs by Lili. ”
He grinned down at me. “Proud of you, sunshine.”
Cole had given me so much. Safety, security, happiness, love. Making a life with him felt so right.
“I did promise to help Landon with the books at the clinic today.”
Cole made a sound. “His office is even messier than mine was. Bastian helps him out sometimes and bitches about it.”
“I don’t mind. I want to help. I like being able to give back in some small way. Will you give me a ride?”
“Always.”
I leaned into him. My man. The one I’d love when I was old and gray. The man I knew would hold and protect my heart until my dying breath.
“Let me get my laptop bag.”