Chapter Forty-Six
LILY
Two weeks later. New Year’s Eve
It has been somewhat cathartic since returning to England and staying at the house in Torquay. It’s given us time to try and process everything over the past few months. Caleb, Noah and Jessica came up the day before we returned to ensure the fridge and freezer were well stocked in preparation for Christmas Day.
They put up a Christmas Tree, and Jessica even made sure there were gifts for everyone, including extra for Mia, for which I was beyond grateful. I rang her to say as much, and we agreed to meet next time I’m in London.
Due to Jackson and Mason’s connections, Richard’s body was returned to the UK, and after speaking to Mia, we opted for an unattended cremation and a short obituary in the local news. She’s grieving, and with everything she’s been through, she deserved a choice. No matter what my feelings are on the matter, her well-being will always come first. I hope the counselling we have lined up individually and together will help in the coming months.
George was involved in a hit and run outside his office and died at the scene. It was around the same time Richard’s body was found. The guys think it’s far from a coincidence. The thought of him still makes my skin crawl and if I’m being honest, I’m glad he’s not around to hurt anyone else.
I glance at Jackson as he talks to Mia about whatever they’re watching on the TV. Out of all the guys, he’s surprised me the most. He’s so good with her, even more so now that they’ve formed a connection. I don’t know if it has something to do with him being the one who found her on the Yacht, but he’s a good male role model for her. All the guys are.
As if he can sense me staring, he looks over his shoulder and smiles.
“Ugh, you’re doing it again,” Mia says, pretending to gag.
“Doing what?” he asks, not taking his eyes off of me.
“Making heart emoji eyes.”
He shrugs, not even in the least bit affronted by her observation.
“Can’t blame him?” River says as he walks towards me and kisses me on the cheek.
Mia just rolls her eyes. She began questioning our dynamics a few days after we arrived back in Torquay, and as we agreed not to lie, I gave her the PG13 explanation.
She just replied, “What can you do? Love is love, right?”
I didn’t really have a response to that, but there’s been an unspoken agreement between me and the guys to keep any public displays of affection appropriate. It would be so easy to get caught up in the mind-blowing kisses these guys deliver, so I’m grateful they’re the ones who pull it back and keep them chaste.
They demanded we all dress up tonight, even though, if I’m being completely honest, I don’t feel much like celebrating. However, after seeing Mia excited about it, how could I refuse?
“Mia, shall we go get ready? ”
She’s off the sofa like her arse is on fire. It’s the first time I’ve seen that youthful spark enter her gaze.
“This is going to be epic,” she says, clapping her hands together.
“Hmm, is there something I don’t know about?” I ask, casting my gaze on Elliot, his warm brown eyes giving nothing away.
Mia tugs on my wrist. “Come on, I’ll even do your makeup.”
Her eagerness and excitement at the prospect are infectious, and if it means seeing that look on her face, who am I to resist?
She pauses in front of the closed door when we get to my room.
“After you.”
Okay, something is definitely going on. I know I didn’t close my bedroom door.
Pushing it open, I come up short because sitting up against the headboard with a champagne flute in her hand is no other than Avery.
“Surprise,” she squeals, jumping up and rushing at me and pulling me in for a hug.
“What? How? When did you get here?”
She pulls back laughing and hands me the glass.
“About half an hour ago. They snuck me in while you were in the toilet. Who else would I want to be with to see in the New Year?”
She turns and reaches for two more glasses, and I raise my eyebrow when she passes one to Mia.
“Easy, mumma bear, that one is non-alcoholic, obviously,” she says, pointing to the two open bottles poking out of the ice bucket.
We clink our glasses, and Avery lounges on the bed, patting the space beside her.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say, glancing at Mia. “You knew? ”
She smiles and sits on the other side of the bed. “Of course, who do you think was the mastermind behind it?”
“Well, there’s no other people I’d rather spend it with, either.”
We spend the next few hours listening to music, laughing and joking about mundane things. I allow Mia to make me over and make me over she does.
“Wow,” I say, looking at my reflection. “This is amazing, Mia, truly.”
“Thank you,” she replies, adding the finishing touches to my hair. “I figure the more I practice, the better my chances of becoming an MUA when I finish school.”
“Speaking of school,” I say, glancing back at her reflection. “Did you want to return to Willowmount Abbey in the new term?”
She pauses, her eyes finding mine. “What do you mean?”
I turn to face her fully. “I mean, if you’d rather be home more, we can look at transferring you to a private school instead.”
Mia glances over to Avery, who is just finishing curling her hair, before looking back at me.
“I don’t know,” she replies. “I love my friends, and the teachers aren’t so bad,” she admits.
I nod in understanding. “You don’t have to leave. I’m happy for you to stay. But I also want you to know there are other options, too.”
“I’ll think about it, thank you.”
I reach for her hand and squeeze it.
“I have something for you,” I say, turning to the small jewellery box that Avery packed along with my clothes when she went to the house before I was discharged from the hospital. And now I’m grateful that she did.
I lift the top compartment, pull out the small box, and hand it to her .
“Here.”
Her eyes go wide. “Is that?”
I nod. “Mum’s eternity ring.”
She opens the lid to reveal the diamond band. Our grandfather gifted it to our grandmother on our mum’s birth, and after she died, it was passed down to our mum.
“But don’t you want it?” she asks.
“No, Mia, it was always meant to be yours.”
I pull it free from the velvet cushion and slip it onto her middle finger. She holds her hand up as the light reflects off the diamonds.
“But you can’t wear it during your classes, Mia.”
She throws her arms around me and almost knocks me off the chair.
“I’ll put it on a chain and only wear it on weekends,” she says before pulling back, a huge smile on her face.
Avery’s phone pings with a message. She quickly replies and then grabs the dress bags hanging in the wardrobe.
“Time to get dressed, ladies.”
Yet another surprise I wasn’t privy to.
“You’re going to love it.” She unzips the bag.
“It can’t be,” I say, covering my mouth as she reveals a floor-length cocktail dress. “It’s stunning.”
“Of course it is. You designed it when we were fifteen.”
Mia reaches out to touch the material. “It’s so beautiful. Did you really design this, Lils?”
“Yeah, I did.”
Avery shoves the garment bag towards me.
“Hurry up. I want to see it on you.”
This doesn’t feel real. Walking down the stairs in a dress I designed back in school is everything I could have envisioned. I can’t believe Avery would do this for me. Actually, I can. Next to my mum, she was always my biggest supporter and said I should go into fashion. Richard was against it, of course, so I did a degree in business and hospitality, but now, the dream no longer seems so far-fetched.
As I round the banister, my breath catches.
Jackson, Elliot, River and Tommy are all dressed in black tie, lined up and waiting for me. Beyond them, the room has been transformed, adorned with black and gold balloons, a disco ball, nibbles, bottles of champagne and what appear to be party favours.
“Wow,” I say, bringing my palm to my chest. Out of my peripheral, I catch sight of my scar, and for a fleeting moment, I want to hide myself. That is until Jackson steps forward, holds out his hand, and bows his head, bringing the back of my hand to his lips for a tender kiss.
“Absolutely stunning, Duchess.”
He twirls me, causing me to laugh, before his lips graze my ear. “I can’t wait to see what’s under it.”
Elliot pulls me into his arms next. “You look gorgeous, Sweetheart,” he says, kissing the corner of my mouth and releasing me to River.
“You look utterly edible, Vixen.” The way he says it has a double meaning, and I flush at the thought.
He dips me backwards. “Ahh!” I say in surprise before his lips caress mine in a chaste kiss before pulling me upright.
I barely gain my balance before Tommy pulls me towards him softly. “Sunshine, you look beautiful,” he says, and then his lips find mine in a brief but tender kiss. I blink back at the emotion each of these men evoke in me.
“Thank you,” I say. “You all look very handsome, too.”
The sound of footsteps tells us that Avery and Mia are about to join us.
And I realise the last time my heart felt this full was before my mum died. The grief of losing her is one I know I’ll never get over, but being surrounded by the people who mean the most to me in the world gives me a new sense of hope—and purpose. Regardless of what’s to come, I’ll spend every day counting my blessings and cherishing the ones I love. Thinking of love, my gaze moves to Jackson, his piercing blue eyes staring back at me. I’ve still not returned the sentiment, but I intend to rectify that before the year is out.