Lydia addresses me. “Promise me that we at least won’t find out about your wedding from the news.” My cheeks heat up at that, and everyone shares a collective laugh—everyone but Sebastian, who studies me intently, albeit still staying close to Felicia.
“I didn’t really expect a proposal either,” I confess, and Olivia smiles, looking into the distance.
“Anthony proposed out of the blue too. One moment, we were talking about different car models, and the next, he was kneeling in front of me, holding this ring.” She wiggles her left hand with a big sapphire. “I guess like father like son.” There is so much warmth in her words it leaves no doubt she truly loves her husband. “When a King wants a woman, he doesn’t wait.”
Charlie exclaims dramatically, “I’ll have to tell Nathan that I don’t love him, since I’m not proposing anytime soon.”
Lydia huffs. “That’s because you know he won’t say yes until he finishes school.” I blink at this and then study Charlie critically, wondering how old he is to date a student.
Wait.
He couldn’t possibly date his own student, right? That’s super forbidden!
“I’m thirty-two, and my boyfriend is twenty-five, so everything is legal. He doesn’t take my classes,” he tells me before firing back at Lydia. “And for your information, he’ll say yes. The dude is helplessly in love.”
Felicia laughs and slaps him on the shoulder. “Why are you not proposing then?” She leans closer to whisper loudly, “Is it because you aren’t so sure? Or because you know he’ll refuse, as an engineering career is his top priority right now?”
He gives his sisters an annoyed glance before spitting, “I hate you two.” They burst out laughing, with their mother shaking her head at them, though grinning as well, and for a second, I feel out of place.
For this family shares such affection with each other like I’ve never known before. How could Zach have willingly refused being part of this?
Is it possible that sometimes when we want to guard our hearts from more pain we lose vital connections in life that could have made it better by a thousand times, if only we were brave enough to hold on to it instead of running away in a different direction?
Zachary rejected his father’s family, because he already experienced the great loss of losing a parent. It was easier to push them away and blame his father, instead of opening himself up to new people who could have helped him if he’d let them.
Is this what I’m doing? Guarding my heart when it has the chance to heal?
“Enough, you two,” Olivia addresses her daughters and then points at Felicia’s legs, shifting everyone’s attention there. “What happened here, darling?” Her knees are scraped, as if something cut them, and her cheeks heat up when she leans on Sebastian, who innately wraps his arm around her.
“The cupboard in our kitchen broke and several plates shattered. So, when she tried to scoop them all up, she cut herself.” Collective gasps echo between us while Sebastian’s gaze darkens. He brushes his thumb over Felicia’s shoulder. “I told her not to do it, but when does she listen to me?”
“Oh, God, someone has to come fix those. It might be dangerous,” Olivia says, and everyone nods, although I’m still a bit confused how she could have gotten such a cut by simply stumbling on them.
Wouldn’t she have seen the pieces when she kneeled down?
Felicia waves off their worries. “You’re all making a way bigger deal out of it all. Besides, I’m okay and just have a scratch. It’s not even deep.” Even in heels, she is still shorter than Sebastian, so she rises on her toes to give him a light peck on the chin. “You don’t have to worry, love.”
Tenderness laces his voice when he says, “I always worry about you.”
I cast my gaze down, but not because of the love shining brightly from his eyes whenever he looks at her, but because it seems almost intrusive to watch them in this moment.
Sebastian has never looked at me this way, as if I consumed his every thought and desire. He loved me with everything he had, yes; however, that love was more… calm in its nature, I guess?
Like the ocean on a sunny day, but the minute a storm thundered in the sky, it crashed against the rocks.
The man in front of me though loves this woman passionately, surrounding her with the love she craves so much—if her burrowing her face in his chest is anything to go by.
And a grin tugs at the corner of my mouth, because I’m glad to know this. No woman deserves to be second best in this life, and it’s great that Sebastian has found an even greater love, learned to love so deeply despite our past that could have scarred him.
Zachary looks at you with the same intensity. I try to ignore the little voice in my head whispering this to me, hoping that common sense will shut it up.
Sebastian and Felicia have had what, years to come to terms with their feelings? While Zachary and I have had days, and in those days, so much has happened it feels like forever.
Yet, if Sebastian was brave enough to take a second chance at love… why am I not?
Even Zachary is unafraid, bulldozing into my life and demanding surrender despite losing his wife tragically. All the scars in his heart don’t stop him from wanting a relationship again.
Lydia groans when she finishes all the cherries and complains, “Mom, why didn’t you order strawberries for this party?”
“Because it’s not your engagement party.”
Charlie snaps his fingers, tapping on his empty glass at the waiter. “Yeah, you go through those so quickly it’s embarrassing.”
“Screw you, Charlie.” And then she huffs in annoyance when a flash goes off pointed at us. “They still haven’t gotten enough pictures it seems.”
“They want drama, and we are not giving it to them. Poor guests,” Charlie says, although his voice implies anything but. “I bet it’s because Sebastian and Phoenix are standing close. Maybe they are waiting for you both to pull each other’s hair.”
I gotta give it to Charlie.
He knows how to bring up the elephant in the room in style with everyone growing quiet in awkward silence.
Felicia sighs heavily. “I’m the artistic type. Why would I pull anyone’s hair? I think showcasing them in one of my pieces of art as hideous creatures would be a more unique approach to it.” She winks at me. “Don’t you think?”
“Yeah, I never engage in fights.”
“High-five, girls,” Lydia exclaims, raising both her hands in the air, and we slap them.
“Maybe we should all go to the terrace and mingle with the guests so they won’t watch us like monkeys about to perform,” Olivia offers, stepping toward the terrace, when Felicia stops her.
“No, Mom. I think Sebastian and Phoenix need to dance right now.” I blink in shock, because freaking what?
By how Sebastian has the same reaction, I understand he doesn’t much welcome this idea either.
“I don’t think—” I start, but Felicia interrupts me.
“If they want a show, we will give them one, but on our terms. Besides, this will lay to rest any rumors about this whole situation. I’m sure Zachary would agree with me.”