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Marcus leans in, concern in his voice. "Hey man, if you need to talk?—"
I cut him off. "It's all good. Let's enjoy the night." I push Marcus' concern away, forcing a smirk. "Tonight's for celebrating the Storm's win, not my drama."
Throwing myself into the banter, I start dishing it back, laughter bubbling up as I parry Ryan's next jab with a wit I didn't know I had in reserve. The ride smooths into an easy camaraderie, pulling me from the edge of my brooding thoughts.
But just when I've managed to ensnare myself in the illusion of a carefree night, the car begins to slow, not amidst the neon glow of The Deck's entrance, but against the backdrop of Seattle's moonlit waterfront, at a quiet pier stretching out into the dark waters.
"Hey, are we lost? This isn't The Deck," I say, cutting through the laughter.
Marcus and Ryan exchange looks.
“Bro, you misheard. We said 'dock,' not 'The Deck,'" Ryan laughs.
Stepping out of the limo, my confusion turns to curiosity as I look out over the quiet pier.
"Guess the afterparty's on a boat," I call back, expecting them to follow.
Instead, the limo door slams shut.
As the limo drives off, Marcus and Ryan's faces obscured but their intentions clear, their muffled voices just reach me, "This is for your own good, bro!"
Stunned, I watch the tail lights fade, leaving me stranded on a moonlit dock that now feels more like a stage set for a dramatic reveal than a pier.
The confusion doesn't last long, though.
Across the silent stretch of night, a spark ignites, and soon, the ambient glow of soft lights unveils a sailing boat.
Like a scene from a movie that I've honestly watched more than I care to admit, I see Lacey.
She's awash in golden light, wearing a dress that seems woven from the very rays of sunlight Grace and I have been been missing. Her golden curls flutter in the soft breeze, and her smile – that killer expression on her face that has knocked me over more than once – beckons me forward.
My heart leaps.
The game has changed entirely, and suddenly, the thought of losing doesn't seem possible at all.
There's a beat of silence as I process Marcus and Ryan's shouted words, the realization dawning that tonight, the plan was never about flashing lights and crowded dance floors.
No. Tonight was something altogether different. Orchestrated by friends who knew too well the need for a change in script.
A small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth, the warmth of their intentions seeping through the surprise.
I make my way to her without a second thought, leaving behind the confusion, the limo, and my earlier self.
As I step onto the deck of the boat, she takes my hand in hers and pulls me closer, her olive-green eyes heating from within.
"Don't worry about them," she says, nodding her head towards the retreating limo. "They just wanted to give us some time alone."
I chuckle, feeling my earlier frustration melting away under Lacey's hot gaze.
"Well, they certainly know how to make an entrance," I reply, leaning in closer to her.
Lacey grins, her lips parting slightly as she looks up at me through her lashes. "They just wanted to help." She blinks. "Your dad, too."
My jaw threatens to unscrew itself. "My dad?"
"Yeah, he's the reason I'm here," Lacey explains, her eyes never leaving mine. "We talked. And he honored me with a favor."
I blink. I hadn't thought about until now. The boat we're standing on is named "The Favor." My dad's boat. I guess this is his way of giving me a nudge in the right direction.
