Chapter Several Months Later Byron
Several Months Later
Byron
I held hands with Jess as we sat at one of the many round tables set up on the beach in front of Paolo and Jelly’s beach house.
It had been a memorable day. The weather was perfect and the breeze was just the right amount to keep guests comfortable but not so much that it blew away the décor.
Madeline had worked long and hard to make everything perfect.
The wedding was touching and had occurred right at sunset.
The couple said their vows with streaks of bright pinks, reds, and purples lighting up the sky.
Paolo had cried through his vows while Jelly had remained dry-eyed but smiling.
Paolo’s many brothers had teased him for it afterwards.
His parents had not been invited. I knew there was some sort of strain there, but I didn’t ask for the details.
And Jelly had no family at the wedding. She said something about Nadine and her mama being the closest thing to family she’d ever had.
But any of that had been a passing mention, just a blip on the radar of a beautiful wedding and fantastic reception.
After all, this was a happy day; not one to think about family strife.
Daisy, one of Nia, Nadine, and Jelly’s best friends, had flown in for the wedding with her husband Jack, a billionaire game designer.
The two of them lived full-time on an island somewhere that I couldn’t remember and only flew in for important events.
They were sitting at our table along with Nadine and Reynolds.
Nora and her date, who no one had ever met before, were also sitting with us.
Rounding out the table was Nico, who had not brought a date. Typical Nico.
Of course, he’d had a thing for Jelly. I’d been worried for a while that it would affect his relationship with Paolo, but they seemed fine. Every now and then, I did notice Nico staring at Jelly when he thought no one was looking.
I thought it was time for Nico to find someone to get serious with. He was showing some very small signs that he might be about ready to settle down.
I, for one, would love to meet the woman who could tame Nico Salazar.
Jack mainly looked uncomfortable and chatted with Reynolds off and on.
Nadine had told me he struggled with OCD and social anxiety, so I wasn’t surprised by this.
I knew he was happiest on his private island with Daisy.
Poor Daisy, who had survived a kidnapping and had multiple stalkers in West Bay, was trying to get caught up on the details of everything that had happened since she’d last been to town.
“So… you ended up at the hospital and had to have surgery on your poor shoulder…”
“That she still has to go to physical therapy for,” Nadine broke in.
“It’s really much better,” Jess said. “It’s come a long way from those first few weeks after surgery.”
“I’m so glad,” Daisy smiled at her. “And I know I’ve said it before, but it is just so nice to meet Nadine’s sister.”
“Everyone here is so great,” Jess said. “I’m so lucky to have been welcomed into Nadine’s friendship group and gotten to meet everyone.” She grinned up at me. “Especially Byron.”
I could feel everyone at the table wanting to ooh and ah over how ‘cute’ we were.
It kept happening, but I didn’t really care.
We were cute together. She meant everything to me, and our relationship seemed to get stronger with each passing day.
She was living with me in my condo in Salazar Heights, but we’d been house hunting lately.
Nadine was our real estate agent. After the way she’d attacked Skeeter in the cave, I thought she would definitely want to join the St. James Security team.
I was wrong. She’d confided that she was pregnant and had decided it would be much safer for her to be a real estate agent.
She was not wrong. While I thought Nadine could become a good security agent, I knew I would be constantly worried that she’d end up hurt badly or even killed.
I couldn’t stand the thought of that. We were still mourning the death of the agent Skeeter murdered, while our agent he wounded severely was still in physical therapy and rehab.
Doctors believed that Jelly’s quick actions saved his life.
“And so,” Daisy continued, “what about this Skeeter guy? What happened to him?”
“Nadine broke his nose, a few ribs, and knocked him out. He was out long enough that police were able to follow our instructions to get to him and take him to the hospital. He’s in jail awaiting trial on a massive number of charges. There’s no chance he’s going to see the light of day again.”
“It’s such a relief. I was in an out of consciousness, so I’m glad I didn’t know Skeeter was left behind at the cave. I would have been terrified he would escape,” Jess said with a slight shudder. I wrapped my arm around her.
“And what about school?” Daisy asked her with a warm smile. I could see why she’d been such a popular hostess at Sugar for so long before Jack had won her in the auction. She was so warm, kind, and really put people at ease.
“I put that off until next fall. I’m still trying to decide what I want to major in.
I know I want to be a therapist and try to help women who’ve been through trafficking situations come to terms with what happened to them.
But I’m not sure if I want to go to medical school and become a psychiatrist or go the psychology route to become a licensed therapist. I go back and forth. ”
“You’re so smart,” Nadine said proudly. “I hope our baby gets whatever smart genes you have.” She frowned slightly. “But I’m scared they all came from your mom.”
Reynolds held her hand. “You’re smart, too, Nadine. There are all sorts of different ways to be smart. And you’re one of the best damn real estate agents this town has ever had.”
She grinned. “I am good at that, huh?”
“You are. Also, should I be offended that you don’t think the baby will get any smart genes from me?”
Nadine flushed and laughed. “God. I didn’t think how that would all sound. I know you’re smart, baby.” She patted his cheek. “I just don’t know if you’re as smart as Jess.”
“Stop,” Jess laughed, embarrassed. “I just read a lot and am a hard worker.”
“And you’re smart as hell,” I whispered in her ear, causing her to turn and kiss me.
“I for one know that none of the smart genes will be coming from Reynolds,” Nico joked, winking at Nadine. “Hey, quick change of subject. Do y’all remember how I was interested in adding shared and monthly memberships to the gentleman’s clubs?”
Everyone nodded, and I couldn’t help but notice Nora grip her wine glass harder.
“Well, it’s a done deal. The first two memberships have already been signed. Well, it’s one membership shared between two people. It’s Jax Neeley and Pedro Vasquez.”
“I think we all know Jax is about the most famous NFL quarterback in the nation, but Pedro Vasquez—is he…”
Reynolds cut me off. “Plays baseball in Memphis. He’s an ace relief pitcher.”
Reynolds knew his baseball.
“That’s great,” Nadine said. “Having Jax Neeley, even for part of the year, will add a lot of good publicity for the clubs.” She got a gleam in her eyes. “I wonder if he needs a real estate agent.”
Nora abruptly stood up, causing everyone to stare at her. “I… I have to find Carmen.” With that, she turned and practically jogged down the beach to Carmen’s table.
We stared after her for a moment, but our thoughts were interrupted.
“Alright, everyone, direct your attention to the dance floor where Paolo and Jelly will share their first dance as a married couple,” Madeline said into the microphone.
She was, of course, the wedding planner.
I didn’t know much about weddings, but I knew everything at this one seemed perfect. I had the sense she was quite talented.
We watched as Paolo and Jelly danced to “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young. It was their song, apparently, and it suited them. They laughed and talked through it, and everyone was quiet as we watched them. They were oblivious to everyone but each other, as if they were in a world of their own.
It was really nice to see. It was also picturesque; the moon was coming up on the horizon over the ocean.
It was one of those moments that didn’t need to be recorded or photographed—just enjoyed because it would be a memory forever.
I felt like whenever anyone said anything about the two of them as a couple over the years, that would be the image I had of them.
Soon, their song was over, and everyone was invited to the dance floor. I stood and held out my hand for Jess. She was gorgeous tonight. She was every night, but tonight the moonlight seemed to glow off her skin in a special way.
“You’re so beautiful,” I said as I held her in my arms and we danced to various songs the band played. I couldn’t have said what any of the songs were; I was just focused on her. “I’m so damn lucky to have you, Jess, and I couldn’t imagine myself with anyone else.”
She put her hand on my cheek, and I leaned into it. “I love you, Byron. I always will.” She said it with such sincerity and such truth in her eyes that I fully believed her.
“I love you, too, baby,” I could barely get the words out as emotions welled up inside me.
I’d come close to losing her. Skeeter could’ve killed her.
If she hadn’t had the presence of mind to call us and let us hear where he was taking her, or if Nadine hadn’t knocked into him making the bullet move just enough to avoid vital organs—she would’ve been lost to me forever. I pulled her closer in my arms.
I had something I was planning on giving her.
I’d been carrying the jewelry I’d bought her that awful day around in my pocket for a while, waiting for the right time to give it to her.
I’d long since added another box to go with it.
I’d already asked her mother’s permission.
Tonight felt right to me, like the stars had aligned.