40. GRIFFIN
Griffin
W ith a few hours of sleep, I’m squished beside Nova on a plane to Shephard’s Press, Luna across the aisle beside Rome. She’s passed out, worn out after we were up all night giggling through the little video we tried and failed to make correctly. It’ll all be over in less than 24 hours, which is a fucking relief because then I can have Luna back at my side, as well as my men.
I lean forward and glance across the aisle, Rome throwing me a small smile. Just before we boarded this morning, I caught him coming out of the bathroom. It was awkward but the sweet kiss he gave me and the ‘I want to try’ is all I need to know that we’re going to be okay. My phone dings and I frown, not expecting any messages. I don’t have my socials linked to my phone, Maximillian knows that we’re on our way, and Yana has never reached out to me personally.
Pretty sure she caught on this morning when no one answered the door.
I turn on the screen and see Rome has sent me a message. When I open it, Instagram pops up and lo and behold is the video we made yesterday. Luna and I giggling, falling over each other as we try to make a video about our awful past, Luna’s father, and Yana’s connection to it all. Through tears, playful punches, and sweet kisses, the world now knows our story. Nova wraps an arm around my shoulder and kisses my head.
“Thought you’d enjoy that. I knew you weren’t going to post it because you thought you needed to be serious but the world needs to see that you’re in love. And that? That’s a man who lost the love of his life and is determined to keep her now that she’s returned.”
I cling to that as I press replay on the video and snuggle into Nova’s side.
Eight hours later, with the help of private transportation and a little bit of coaxing on Nova’s part, we’re on our way to a hotel. The absence of cameras gives me some relief as we park around the back and head up to the third floor. Luna’s been silent the entire time and while she seems okay, I know that she’s observing everything around her, cataloging it, and storing it for later.
I can’t imagine knowing that her father and her stepmother, in some roundabout way, have engineered her life to be one of failure. Granted, Luna has survived masterfully if I have anything to say about it. It isn’t until we are inside and our bags are on the floor that Luna finally lets out a sigh.
Ah, outside makes her just as uncomfortable as it does me—for wildly different reasons.
“Does Yana know where we are?” I ask timidly. I don’t want to rehash the last two days but I’m anxious to finish this.
Luna sits on the edge of the bed and chucks off her shoes, Rome sliding onto the mattress and pulling her into his lap. I love the way she curls into him and rests her head on his chest. Nova moves me closer and pulls a similar move, sitting us perpendicular to the foot of the bed and pulling me onto his lap while he leans against the wall.
Nova sets his chin on my head as he wraps his arms tight around me. “She knows. Maximillian sent a text an hour ago to say that she already showed up at the office, throwing a fit about changing plans. She’s also not happy about the video that Rome uploaded to your socials but it seems everyone else is now just confused.”
I glance over at Luna, her attention on her hand. It takes me a few moments to realize she’s staring at the ring. “You want a real ceremony, Luna?”
She twists around and I see the smile I fell in love with all those years ago on her face. “Only if it includes all three of you.” It’s meant to be a joke but I can’t see a future that includes any less than the four of us. Marriage is a ways off for sure but building a future together isn’t. At least it’s a start.
I won’t push the idea, mostly because we’re not ready. Marriage never came up between me and Nova, although I knew from the moment that I met him he was mine. After all of these shenanigans, figuring out where we want to live is the next step. Wherever these men are, I’ll go but I have a feeling that Luna wants a bit of normalcy.
Something only Spring Haven can bring.
With hours to spare before the party, we maneuver the beds together and curl up in one big puppy pile. Luna is in front of me, Nova behind her, and Rome behind me. He kisses the back of my head and mumbles ‘just enjoy it’. I do, especially when he somehow molds his entire body to mine, his arm folding across my hip and landing on Luna’s. Nova does the same, his hand on my side. Unable to help myself, I kiss Luna’s nose and grin.
“This is the very best sandwich.”
“You’re a dork,” she whispers before closing her eyes.