The wind whips down the beach, sending Katherine’s hair flying. She reaches up with both hands to contain the wild tresses.
“Hit us,” I say, ready for whatever my girl wants to know.
“Of course,” Gabe and Alex agree in unison.
Does she want us to find a secluded spot on the beach to make love? It’d knock off an item on my bucket list.
Or maybe a foursome among the waves? Alex can hold his breath for an insanely long time.
In the dim light, I see her bite her lip. Oh, so not a fun and frisky question. Okay.
“Figuratively,” I add, going for gentle humor. That makes her smile a bit and straighten her shoulders.
“We, we’re in this, right? The four of us?”
My jaw drops, and I quickly snap it shut as I glance at Gabe and then Alex. From what I can tell, they’re wearing matching expressions of surprise.
“Totally,” I say. “You’re ours. And we’re yours.”
“Where’s this coming from, Katie Bird?” Alex asks, stepping behind her, hands closing over her shoulders. The man always has her back, figuratively and literally.
She looks to Gabe, instinctively understanding that he’s the one whose demons will be shouting the loudest.
“Ever worry you have it too good?” she asks, her voice soft but steady.
He nods.
“It’s just been a really great weekend. Perfect, actually. But there’s a voice in the back of my head saying that the universe is going to snatch it all away. Snatch the three of you away.”
“Does that voice sound like Lucinda Winthrop?” I ask because I’d bet my sailboat that most of the doubts in Wildfire’s head are from that evil bitch.
Sure, second-guessing is normal. Self-critique can be productive if used wisely. But this sounds like the weird black and white shit Lucinda held over Katherine’s head to keep her in line.
“Now that you mention it.” There’s a smile in her voice, and the ache in my chest eases.
“We’re in this, Princess. The four of us. Remember when I said you’re the center of our world?”
He glances at me, then Alex and then back to her. It’s no coincidence we’re circling her. Surrounding her. She’s literally in the center.
“You’re the nucleus, sweetheart,” Gabe adds. “You breathe, we breathe.”
“Oh—” She presses three fingertips to her lips, overcome with emotion. Then she fans herself as if that’s going to stop the tears.
“What’s this really about, Princess?”
She takes a deep, steadying breath, and her hand drops away. “I need one of you to marry me, and I refuse to pick.”
There’s a beat of silence, and once again we’re left staring at each other in the sliver of moonlight. A giggle carries down the beach, and I glance over my shoulder.
“I know this is all still pretty new, and I don’t even know how you guys feel about, you know, marriage,” she says to Gabe and Alex. Her breath’s coming faster now as she winds herself up for a rejection. “I don’t even know how I?—”
She looks at me then. My brows lift, waiting.Because it’s been her for so long, I hadn’t ever considered anyone else. Sighing, she gives a quick back-and-forth jerk of her head.
“That’s not true. I want what your parents have. What my aunt and uncle have. Deep down, I think I’ve always wanted that sort of relationship, but I knew it was never in the cards for me, so I told myself it didn’t matter. No one was marriage material, and I wasn’t looking. And then, for a while, I let the what-ifs win and entertained the idea again.”
My stomach sours. I know exactly what she’s alluding to. I’d shut her down. I reach for her, and she grabs my hand. I give her a reassuring squeeze.
Gabe clears his throat. Somehow, he seems closer, but I didn’t notice him move. “That morning, King told me I’d be lucky to marry you.”
