Penelope is wearing a Snow Pirates blue, A-line, V-neck floor length gown, with long sleeves. The ruched chiffon wouldn’t work for me, but man, she looks like a runway model. Tate hasn’t taken his eyes off her since we walked into the room.
With Edith out of town, Apollo’s plus one is his sister Athena. She has a lacy dark purple one-shoulder number. It’san opulent evening dress with a thigh split so high I’d be terrified to sit down in it, but she looks incredible.
I have no idea who Artemis is bringing, but we’ll find out at the gala. His date is meeting him there, I guess she didn’t want the fuss of, well, all of us showing up at her door. Don’t blame her, we’re a lot.
Eloise rushes across the room to me. “You look amazing.” She air kisses my cheek.
I hate having attention on me, so I brush her off. “You saw pictures.”
She shakes her head. “Didn’t do you justice. You look fantastic.”
“She’s right.” Apollo chimes in. “I know you’re not supposed to comment on a woman’s weight, but your trips to the gym are showing. You look great.”
My face is on fire. Mom’s quietly milling around the room taking pictures with my SLR camera and Wyatt, who was supposed to be in bed by now, is chatting to Ares, probably telling him about his new lightsaber that one Ms. Mayrik Grandma bought him two weeks before fucking Christmas. Raffi’s parents are here too, and so’s Phil. We have a full house.
Something’s got the hairs on my neck standing at attention, but it’s probably nerves about the fundraiser. I’m desperate for it to go well for Raffi.
“How’s school going, Tori? We haven’t seen much of you since you started law school.” Artemis, not letting the attention fall from me, speaks loudly enough for everyone to hear.
When it came time to submit my applications and decide on what I wanted to do—really wanted to do—a paralegal wasn’t it. So I decided to give law school a shot. Turns out, it’s hard as fuck, but it’s lighting up my soul in a way nothing else has. Not even the birth of my son. Which is saying a lot.
“It’s hard. Exhausting. I’m running on caffeine and living in the library, but I’m loving every second of it.”
He nods,like that’s the answer he expected. “I’m serious about having a job for you when you graduate. My company is always looking for smart lawyers. Nothing seedy.” He winks at me.
“We’ll see where I end up specializing. If I want to practice criminal law then I won’t fit in with your company, Artemis.”
He relents with a shrug. “Keep your options open.”
It’s nice knowing Raffi’s hockey family doesn’t stop at the guys. With every woman these men fall in love with, another woman joins the circle. They have our backs every bit as much as they have each other’s.
“We should be leaving.” I turn around, but Raffi is nowhere to be seen.
When I look back, Mom has the camera pointed at me, and it takes a beat to figure out why. Raffi’s on his knee, with Wyatt standing right in front of him, holding out a small black velvet box.
“Mama, Daddy bought you a ring.”
Mom’s crying so hard, Eloise has to take the camera from her, and a couple of our friends giggle. Now it makes sense that they insisted on meeting here early before going to the party.
“Victoria Barnett, I forgot you once, but I loved you twice. Share my peanut butter jelly sandwiches with me, work out with me at the gym, and let me kick your ass at Ms. Pacman. Forever. There’s no one else in the whole universe I want to do even the most mundane things with. Be my wife, Firecracker, there’s no one else but you.”
I’ve never been more grateful for waterproof mascara. Tears stream down my face. Wyatt grabs my leg, squeezing hard. “Mama,” he whispers. “You’re supposed to say yes now, right, Daddy?” His head turns back to Raffi, who’s now holding the box with the sparkling ring in it.
“If she wants to, kiddo. Can’t rush forever.” The hope inhis eyes, the hesitance in his smile, even though his heart knows my answer, he’s nervous.
“Of course I’ll marry you,” I choke out between sniffles.
“Good, cause my back up option is out of town today.” Raffi winks at me before launching from his knee to kissing me like it was the first time all over again.
Our friends erupt into applause, and Apollo cracks open a bottle of champagne with a loud pop, and the cork pings off the ceiling. He winces. “Sorry, Mrs. B.”
Phil catches the cork and tucks it into his pocket. “All good.” He curls his arm around Mom’s shoulder, she’s still sobbing.
When Raffi slides the ring onto my finger, he wipes away a tear of his own. “I love you so much, Firecracker. I can’t wait to spend forever with you.” He offers me his hand. “Wanna go and make a bunch of rich people give us a shit ton of money?”
“Damn straight.”
“Damn straight!” Parrots the three year old from between our legs.
