Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
Grace
The rooftop restaurant was nothing short of stunning, perched high above the city, where the skyline stretched endlessly in every direction.
The soft golden glow of the string lights above us bathed everything in warmth, and the gentle hum of distant traffic mixed with the low murmur of conversation from nearby tables.
The air was crisp but comfortable, the kind of night that made the world feel alive.
But despite the breathtaking view, the real spectacle was unfolding right across from me.
“My sister,” Olivia announced dramatically, way too loud for the private dining area we were in, “is dating Dominic freaking Beethoven.”
I groaned, sinking lower into my seat. “Oh my god, Olivia.”
“What?” She blinked at me innocently. “This is a huge deal.” She clutched her chest as if she had just witnessed a miracle, then turned to the band. “You guys realize I had to drag the truth out of her, right? She was literally living with you all and said nothing.”
Ezra smirked, swirling the drink in his hand. “I’m not even a little surprised.”
Riley grinned, elbows on the table, chin resting in his hands. “Yeah, she hated us at first.”
Theo sighed, shaking his head in mock disappointment. “It was almost impressive how much she resisted liking us.”
“I didn’t hate you,” I said flatly.
Ezra raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? ‘I don’t work for spoiled celebrities.’” He mimicked my exact tone from one of our first encounters.
Riley laughed, smacking the table. “Oh, oh, or what about— ‘I’m not impressed.’”
Theo snorted. “That one was a classic.”
I groaned again, pressing my palms against my face. “You guys are the worst.”
Olivia was loving this. “Wait, wait, wait, did she seriously say that?”
“Oh yeah,” Ezra said, smirking. “Multiple times. Thought she was too good for us.”
Riley mock gasped, gripping his chest. “I am personally offended.”
Dominic, who had been silent but clearly amused, finally spoke up, his lips twitching. “She also called me ‘overhyped.’”
Olivia screamed. “SHE DID NOT.”
I groaned, tilting my head back, wishing for the ground to swallow me whole. “Can we not?”
“Oh, no, no, no,” Riley said, grinning wider. “We need to deep dive into this.”
“I’d like to remind you all that I saved your lives,” I pointed out, crossing my arms. “You owe me.”
Ezra waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, whatever, let’s get back to the part where you called Dominic overhyped.”
Olivia wiped a fake tear, shaking her head. “My own flesh and blood. A DreamCrest hater. How did I not see the signs?”
“You’re so dramatic.”
“This is betrayal,” she continued, ignoring me completely. Then she turned to Dominic, placing a hand over his, her expression deeply serious. “I just want you to know that I, unlike my sister, have always loved and supported you.”
Dominic chuckled, eyes crinkling at the corners. “I appreciate it, Olivia.”
I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out of my head. “Oh my god.”
Theo, still smirking, leaned back in his chair. “Honestly, I respect it. Took a while, but she came around eventually.”
Jaden, who had been quietly observing the conversation with his usual calm expression, finally gave a small nod, the corner of his lips twitching slightly. “I knew it was inevitable.”
Ezra scoffed. “Yeah, okay, fortune teller.”
Jaden shrugged, taking a sip of his drink.
Olivia leaned in, eyes gleaming. “So, wait. When did you guys know she was actually warming up to you?”
“Oh, that’s easy,” Riley said. “The first time she actually laughed at one of my jokes.”
“I did not.”
“You did,” he said smugly. “And it was a good one, too.”
Theo tapped his chin, pretending to think. “I noticed when she stopped scowling every time she looked at Dominic.”
I shot him a glare. “I did not scowl.”
Ezra snickered. “Babe, you literally glared at him 24/7.”
Dominic, beside me, was clearly enjoying all of this way too much. He turned, his voice low, teasing. “It’s okay, Dauntless. I know how hard it was for you to resist me.”
I huffed, narrowing my eyes. “You are insufferable.”
He smirked. “And yet, here we are.”
Olivia clapped her hands together. “Okay, but real talk.” She leaned forward, pointing dramatically at me. “What was the exact moment you realized you were totally and completely in love with Dominic?”
The table went silent.
I froze.
My face heated instantly, and I refused to look at anyone, especially Dominic, who I knew was probably wearing the most smug expression ever.
Ezra grinned, resting his chin on his fist. “Yeah, Grace. When was it?”
I picked up my glass, taking a long, slow sip, refusing to dignify them with an answer.
“Oh, come on,” Riley whined. “We shared so much with you tonight.”
Theo nodded solemnly. “It’s only fair.”
Dominic, to his credit, didn’t push. But when I finally glanced at him, his gaze was intense, like he was actually waiting for my answer.
I exhaled, finally setting my drink down. “I don’t know.” I shrugged, pretending I didn’t feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on me. “It just… happened.”
The teasing stopped.
For the first time, they didn’t joke. Didn’t push.
They just understood.
Dominic, beside me, leaned in, his voice low, meant only for me. “I meant what I said on stage.”
I swallowed, my heart hammering.
I turned slightly, my lips just inches from his. “I know.”
His fingers brushed against mine under the table.
Warm. Steady.
Ezra, clearly picking up on the shift in energy, sighed loudly, breaking the moment. “Alright, alright, enough. Let’s toast.”
Riley grinned. “To Grace.”
I blinked. “Me?”
Jaden nodded. “To the one who kept us all alive.”
Ezra smirked. “And somehow fell for our idiot leader.”
Theo, shaking his head, raised his glass. “And actually became one of us.”
Riley grinned wider. “The best damn bodyguard in history.”
Olivia, beaming, lifted her glass high. “To my sister, who somehow managed to go from hater to girlfriend of the century.”
I rolled my eyes, but even I couldn’t help but smile as we all clinked glasses.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like I belonged.
Dominic leaned in again, his breath warm against my ear. “You do, you know.”
I turned, confused. “Do what?”
He smiled.
“Belong.”
And just like that, I knew.
I had never planned for this.
But maybe…
This was exactly where I was meant to be.