THIRTY-EIGHT
THE DINNER ERASED all her fears. Most of the night was spent with Roxie and the gang of women she called her girls. It didn’t seem there was an entrance requirement or initiation. Roxie accepted everyone, helped everyone, and never hesitated to talk to, and accept, anyone.
Jane was maid of honor. Roxie was a bridesmaid. Apparently, given Roxie would be godmother to the baby Lilya carried, Jane got the top spot in the bridal party. Weddings meant more to her too, so it wasn’t a big deal.
Hilarity came in the line of groomsmen, because there were more than a few, including her guy and Roux’s. The latter woman sat next to her, holding her hand, swooning in time as the little flower girl and ring bearer came down the aisle. Jane was quick to gesture them over and help the little ones find their spots in the front row, next to their mother, Rylee, who she’d met the previous night.
She wasn’t supposed to, no one probably was, but she caught the wink Jane got from her guy, standing opposite. Love radiated from everywhere up there. No doubt some people were uncomfortable, maybe some questioned their own life choices.
Her gaze drifted down the line of groomsmen as the Wedding March began. Everyone was supposed to be watching the bride. Apparently, etiquette passed Zane by. His smile provoked hers; as his faded, something else took over his expression. She tried to figure it out, but they were distracted by Lilya progressing to Zachary Kintyre at the altar.
This was a hotel ballroom, not a church. Lilya’s first marriage. Kintyre’s second. The baby was a first for both of them. Witnessing them exchange vows and their deep sincerity, really showed how when life came together, there was a peace that came with it, a certainty. She’d known these people less than a day and already felt invested in their future. Would she be there to see it?
With all the couples she’d met, and stories she’d heard, there was a good chance of other weddings taking place or babies being born. And there was Zane, gorgeous in profile, watching his friend dive into this life choice, this decision to share his life with the mother of his soon-to-be child.
There would be parties, birthdays, anniversaries, receptions, and these people would come together again. Not “these,” but “they.” They would come together again. She’d stick through the hard times, not just the easy ones. It wasn’t all island living and high-class hotels. They were people, all of them, and regardless of economic status, their hardships and choices were as valid as anyone else’s.
And that was it.
Right there.
Choice.
Lilya and Zach decided to be together. To have a baby. To get married. To have a future. Together. Like Roxie and Zairn, Roux and Rourke. It wasn’t happenstance, they didn’t fall into these relationships. Each of them made a decision to stick with it, to fight for it, to make their love a priority.
And that was it. All she had to do was choose what she wanted her life to be. Did she want it to continue unchanged without Zane? No. She didn’t. He was what she wanted.
After the amorous kiss, the music started again. The newlyweds departed down the aisle together, others crowded from their seats to follow.
Before Roux could move, she tightened her grip on her hand. “Did you mean it?”
“Mean what?” Roux asked.
“Last night, everything you said about—”
“Welcoming you to Huddle Hope? Absolutely! You can’t get a recommendation better than Roxie’s in my eyes.”
“And if Zane doesn’t—”
“Fuck him,” Roux said, jutting up her own chin, prompting her to reciprocate with similar pride. “We’re the power.” A whistle brought Roux around and there was Rourke at the end of the row. “Did you just whistle at me?”
“To any bitches listening, I guess your ears are good.”
“Tell you what else I’m good at?” Roux said, shuffling to the aisle, hand still locked in hers. “Signing divorce papers.”
“Oh, ho,” he said, tossing his head back as he laughed. “Christmas has come early this year.”
“Not that it matters to you. Naughty boys get nothing.”
Zane approached. Roux let go when Rourke yanked her against him and backed up, separating them to nuzzle at his wife.
“They’re full on,” Zane said.
“It’s love, right?”
The couple disappeared behind a curtain. She wasn’t all that sure anyone wanted to know what happened back there.
“Are you okay?” her guy asked.
“Am I…?”
“There will be some pictures and then—”
“I don’t want to go back.”
“What?”
The words came from her mouth, yet she hadn’t processed their full power. The confusion on his face matched the sound echoing in her ears. No, her mind was one hundred percent certain.
“I don’t want to go back,” she said, taking his hand. “I want to work with Roux, with Roxie, I want to build something with them, something that matters.”
“The—”
“I am not rushing our relationship or expecting anything from us.” Though she wanted to do just that. “Roux said I can stay in the employee apartments.”
“Babe, my house is your house, everything that’s mine is yours. This is what I want. I want you to live with me, for us to be together. I’ve been trying to bring it up… No, I haven’t tried. It’s been on my mind.” Like it had been on hers. “This is a big decision; I want you to be sure. It’s moving away from Alessia and your mom, away from your work—”
“My work is meaningless. When I look at what Roux and Roxie have built, everything you’ve built, you matter to this, and your group, you matter to each other. Think of the time I spent working on the island.” Might have been frequent but wasn’t half as hard as it should’ve been. “I took time away from us, and stressed that what I’d done wasn’t good enough, and then what? Anika didn’t even look at it, the project was pointless, it went nowhere. That might be no big deal any other day of the week, but that was time I took from you, from us. If I’d known how it would work out, I’d have locked myself away with you and never thought of work.”
“If you work here, it will matter. This is a sensitive field and Roux is steadfast. She screws around with Rourke, but Huddle Hope is deeply personal to her.”
“I know. She explained it to me. We’ve talked a little and…” The adrenaline felt right, she felt right, like nothing she’d done before in her life was even close to right compared to this. “She offered me a job and I’m going to take it.”
That was it. Decision made. She’d have to call Alessia, pack up her apartment… Starting a new venture might be a daunting prospect, but she had support in Zane and wanted to be a support to Roux. In New York, Roxie had plenty of people around her. Roux was on her own with only her antagonistic husband. Lilya zipped back and forth; a lot of parts were in perpetual motion.
On the Dyce-Mosaic compound, Roux could hire help, but she could be more than just another employee. Huddle Hope was something real, Zane was right about that. Why wouldn’t she want to be a part of something that could come to mean so much to so many?
“Are you certain?” He needed reassurance. Vehement, her eyes stayed on his when she nodded. “Forever wasn’t out on the ocean, it didn’t hide behind the horizon.”
“It’s right here. I see it now.”
Another second passed then a grin burst his expression. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Pulling her hard against him, he hugged her tight, releasing just a second later to grab her head and land his mouth on hers.
Of all the reactions he might have had… She didn’t think he’d be angry or upset, but this elation… Oh, God, fate was blessing her for something amazing she must’ve done in a past life.
One kiss and… forever.
She’d looked out on the ocean and wondered at all the possibilities. In response, it delivered her this incredible man, her incredible man. This was forever, everything about it was right. She needed to scrunch her toes in some sand and scream out her gratitude as soon as possible. But with him, Zane Dyce, her driftwood, anything was possible.
TO BE CONTINUED…