Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
SAVANNAH HOLLINGSWORTH
I pull my car up to the hair salon and cut the engine. Kiki, Kiera and I get out. It’s Friday afternoon, and it’s my job to get Kiki ready for her big night without her knowing that’s what I’m doing, but since Kiera showed up, I’ve made a quick change of plans and included her in. Kiki thinks we’re having a spontaneous girl’s night out, with Noah watching Skyler. I told Kiera everything, and she’s helping me get Kiki ready.
“Ladies let’s go get our hair done up,” I say.
Kiki laughs. “What for?”
I grin at her. “I thought it would be fun to get all gussied up and go to one of those special shows on a boat. Everyone dresses to the nines for them. It will be great, don’t you think?”
She smiles, although I can tell she thinks I’m a bit crazy. She loops her arm through Kiera’s. “That does sound kind of fun. Just us girls, though? Sounds more like a date night.”
“I think it will be fun,” Kiera says. “I’ve never seen a show on a boat.”
I grab Kiki’s arm and tug her and her sister into the salon where Shelly, my hairdresser, is waiting, in on the plan. We get our hair done in fancy updos, and then we go next door to the dress shop and pick out gowns. Kiki tries on a beautiful cream dress, and Kiera finds a deep green one that looks stunning on her. I pick out a blue one.
Kiki keeps giving me the side eye, and I get the feeling she suspects something, but she lets me buy the dresses and matching shoes anyway. I use Tobias’s credit card, but hide it pretty well, and I don’t think she sees it.
Kiki’s quiet as I drive us down to the marina. When we get out of the car and she spies Tobias in a tuxedo standing near the yacht, she gasps. “What is this?”
Kiera gives her a side-hug. “Just enjoy your night.”
We walk down the dock to where Tobias waits. He offers her his arm, and she takes it. “I thought you were out of town.”
“I had something more important to do tonight.” He guides her up the gangway and onto the yacht. Kiera and I follow after them.
Once I’m on the ship, I spy Noah leaning against a wall, waiting for me. He’s also wearing a tuxedo, and my breath catches. In high school, he was like a storm. Dangerous and wild and impossible to ignore. He’s matured and shifted that energy into protecting everyone he loves, which is both sexy and extremely endearing.
He turns and locks his gaze on me. I’ve always been attracted to Noah, but right now my insides feel like one of those plasma balls, electricity dancing wildly. Every part of me tingles as I walk up to him. He slides his arm around me and leans down to my ear. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you.” My heart beats so loudly I can’t imagine how he can’t hear it.
We take a staircase up two flights. Noah leads me into the dining area, Kiera, Kiki and Tobias right in front of us. Kiki gasps again as we enter the space, decorated with white flowers everywhere. The room itself is elegant, with columns and huge paintings of landscapes that could be from Willow Shade Island. But the flowers bring in that wedding feeling, and I’m so thrilled for Kiki. I’m sure she’s guessed by now what’s going on.
Skyler, who’s wearing one of her pink Sunday dresses, jumps down from her chair and runs to Kiki. “You look so pretty!”
Kiki smooths down Skyler’s hair. “Thank you, sweetie. So do you.”
Everyone is seated at a long, rectangular table. Levi and Micah, his best friend Cricket, along with Violet, who’s worked for the Barretts for years. I heard she’d been ill recently, and I’m happy to see her looking well and enjoying the night with the family.
Tobias leads Kiki to the table and pulls out a chair for her. She blushes. “What is all this for?”
He doesn’t say anything, just helps her into her seat. He takes the seat next to her while Noah pulls out a chair for me as well. I must admit, it makes me feel like a princess. Kiera takes a seat next to me.
Skyler climbs back into her chair. “This is your special night, Kiki. Daddy told me.”
Kiki smiles and shakes her head. “Well, this is certainly a surprise. It’s not my birthday or anything.”
The ship moves away from port and Kiki looks out the window. “Where are we going?”
“I thought it would be fun to take a short overnight family cruise,” Tobias says. “Don’t worry, we packed a bag for you. Savannah helped. We’ll spend tomorrow on Blue Harbor Island and come back by evening.”
Kiki turns to me. “Wow, I don’t know what all this is for but thank you. You certainly know how to pull off a surprise.”
“The night is young,” Noah whispers in my ear, and I have to bite my lips to keep from laughing. He’s right. We have many things in store for her.
A waiter comes and fills everyone’s water classes and takes drink orders. I turn to Kiera. “Thanks for helping me get her here,” I whisper
She nods at me. “Of course. I’m so happy for her.”
I can see the resemblance to Kiki in her dark hair and freckles. Noah told me how she looked when he found her, and my heart goes out to her. Poor thing. I’m so glad she’s with Kiki now. The Barrett brothers will take care of her.
“How old are you?” I ask, since I didn’t get much of a chance to get to know her today.
Kiera fiddles with the napkin on her lap. “Sixteen.”
“What grade are you in school?” Micah pipes up, leaning around Levi to talk.
Kiera turns to him. “I just finished my junior year.”
“Cool. I just graduated.”
“Are you going to college?”
Kiera and Micah get in a discussion about school, and Noah wraps his arm around my shoulders. “You did a fantastic job with the decorating. Everything looks amazing.”
“Thank you.” His compliment warms me to my toes.
The staff serves us a three-course meal. I’ve never taken a trip on a yacht before, so it all feels like a treat. Everyone seems excited for the cruise, except Levi, who’s unusually quiet. I wonder what’s up with him.
After dessert, which is crème br?lée with blueberries as a garnish, Tobias stands. “We have some entertainment planned on the deck above. Please, join me.”
We all follow Tobias and Kiki as they exit the dining room and go up a flight of stairs. I grab my camera that I hid before we brought Kiki on board. We walk out on the pool deck, the lights dim enough for us to see the blanket of stars in the night sky.
A large screen hangs from the deck above, and a video starts playing. It’s a video I made from photos that Tobias sent me. Photos of Kiki and Skyler playing pop up on the screen, and everyone makes a collective “Aw,” noise. The love Kiki has for Skyler beams in her expression. Then some photos of Kiki and Tobias pop up. Some selfies in front of the ocean, some of Kiki and Tobias making silly faces at the camera. Then, one of them in their Sunday clothes, with Skyler. It’s the perfect family portrait.
The screen goes dark and Micah steps forward, his guitar in his hand. He slings the strap over his head and starts to strum a chord. “This is for you, Kiki,” he says. He plays a song I’ve never heard before and sings a sweet song about finding love in unlikely places. When he finishes, Kiki hugs him.
“That was amazing, Micah,” Kiki says, tears already in her eyes. It’s completely obvious now what’s going on, but Kiki’s being very sweet and not acting like she knows what’s coming.
Tobias swallows, his nerves showing. I make my way to a good spot to take the photos. He turns to Kiki, swallows again, and gets down on one knee. Kiki’s tears flow freely now. I focus my camera and get some good shots.
Tobias takes her hand. His fingers graze her tattoo before he clears his throat. “Kiki. Most proposals don’t start with the guy admitting he was a jerk to the woman of his dreams when they first met, but here we are.”
Everyone chuckles. Kiki laughs through her tears. Tobias takes in a deep breath and lets it out. “When you walked into my life looking like you lost a battle with a thrift store, I never expected you to turn my entire world upside down.”
More light laughter erupts, and I get a few good shots of Tobias’s brothers standing off to the side. I can’t help but zoom in and take a few of Noah. I’ll keep those to myself. He just looks so dang good in his suit.
“You showed me that love isn’t about perfection or having all the answers—it’s about messy moments, second chances, and seeing the best in someone even when they’re being a stubborn idiot.”
Kiki wipes at her face, but more tears come, and my own emotions make me tear up. This is so beautiful. I’m so happy for Kiki and Tobias. He continues. “You made my house feel like a home again. You loved Skyler with your whole heart, and you made me laugh again when I was convinced I didn’t remember how.”
Tobias pulls out a ring box and opens it. I focus my camera on Kiki’s expression. “Kiki, will you continue to turn my life upside down for the rest of eternity? Will you marry me?”
Kiki throws her arms around Tobias’s neck. “Yes! Of course, yes!”
He stands and pulls her to him, giving her a kiss while everyone hoots and hollers. My breath hitches at how happy Kiki is. They will make a great couple. A wonderful family. My throat grows tight. I take a few more photos as Tobias puts the ring on Kiki’s finger. I also get some cute pictures of them kissing, Skyler hugging their legs.
My emotions choke me as I try not to cry. I’m happy for them, but at the same time, I know I’ll never have this for myself, and that seems so unfair. While everyone shouts their congratulations, I silently slip down the steps to the deck below.
I gulp in air, trying to calm my raging emotions. I pull the strap over my head and set my camera down on a deck chair. I grip the railing and look down at the water. This is Kiki’s big night. It has nothing to do with me. It’s so selfish of me to be sad at what I can’t have. Not tonight, when I should be happy for Kiki, who has grown to be a good friend of mine. But even as I know this is a happy occasion, I can’t help the tears that come.
“Hey,” Noah says behind me, and I jerk around.
“You okay?”
I swipe my hand over my cheeks, embarrassed I got caught crying like a baby. “I’m okay.”
He takes a step toward me. “Why are you crying?”
I can’t explain it to him, so I give him a lame smile. “Happy tears, and all that.”
He slowly nods. “I see.” I can tell he doesn’t believe me, but he lets me lie anyway.
I turn back around to look out at the ocean and the night sky. It’s a full moon, lighting the sky and reflecting off the water. “It was a beautiful proposal,” I say after I’m sure my voice is steady.
Noah comes close and I feel the warmth and strength of him behind me. “It was.”
He puts his hands on the railing, one on either side of me. My fingers itch to touch him. These past few weeks we’ve grown emotionally closer than we’ve ever been, and I long to show him what he means to me.
I slide my fingers over his. I think I startle him, because at first he stiffens, but he relaxes, and I interlock our fingers. “Tobias and Kiki are perfect for each other.”
Noah nods, leaning closer to me. His cheek almost brushes against mine. “And this makes you sad?”
I shake my head. “No.”
We stand in silence as we look at the stars. One shoots across the sky, and I smile. “A shooting star. Make a wish.”
“Okay.” Noah slides his hands up my bare arms and he presses closer to my back. “I’ve made it.”
I think about what my wish would be, but I don’t have to think too hard. I want what Kiki has. I want a love so pure that it transcends. I want what I can’t have. “Me, too,” I whisper.
“Savannah,” Noah says quietly. There’s something in his voice that I can’t quite decipher. I want it so badly to be longing and desire, that I imagine it in his voice.
I turn and look at him, and my heart drops to my toes. His smoldering gaze makes me remember every warning about Noah I ever ignored, and every reason I didn’t regret it. I could so easily fall in love with him again.
He leans toward me, and I hear someone on the steps behind him. I look past him at Levi, who’s descending the steps and hasn’t noticed us yet.
I make an impulsive decision. I press my lips to Noah’s.