Kyle nodded to Sawyer and walked over to hug Phoebe. “You’re more than welcome. I texted that people could include The Plus Ones. You’re part of our Paris Roommates family now.”
She kissed both his cheeks. “That’s the sweetest.”
“It really is, man,” Dean commented as he came in with a half case of bubbly, his fiancée Jacqueline walking with him. “We came prepared. An emergency meeting on New Year’s seemed to call for some libations.”
Libations were certainly the way to go, Kyle thought.
Moments later, Thea and Jean Luc arrived, and the kitchen was buzzing with his found family as they helped themselves to drinks. Kyle chose a mimosa because he needed to keep his head.
When the greetings faded, he said, “Thanks for coming. It’s why I love you guys. To the best friends in the world. Especially Thea and Jean Luc, since this is technically still their honeymoon. Happy New Year.”
Everyone lifted their glasses. After sipping his Aquavit, Dean gave a couple of coughs and pounded his chest. “Damn, Axel, that’s like holiday moonshine.”
Axel gave him a blank stare, which Kyle rather appreciated. When Dean decided to start clowning, there was nostopping him even if he appeared calmer than usual this morning, wearing aNEW YEAR, NEW DREAMSblack T-shirt instead of one of his laugh-out-loud ones.
“Kyle,” Thea said after a sip, “Jean Luc and I didn’t mind changing our train, but I’m a little uncomfortable with Madison not being here.”
“What she said,” Dean added, taking another sip and grimacing. “I think I know where this is going, so I’m stating up front, she’s my friend too. I love you both. I’m not choosing.”
Here we go.
“I’m not asking anyone to choose. I’m asking for your help, if you’re willing. Can we all sit down? I’d like to explain what I’m thinking.”
After everyone had gathered in the family room—which seemed perfect for what he had in mind—he stared into Axel’s flickering fireplace for a moment before turning to face the room. “Shit. This is hard. I’d planned to present my idea like I was pitching a new restaurant, but I can’t do it like that.”
Thea already had tears in her eyes. “Just speak from your heart, Kyle.”
He swallowed thickly and tried to smile. “I was going to start with something like, ‘Everyone knows that Madison and I have been fighting some additional feelings for each other,’ but that seems too weak for what’s been happening. So here’s the flat-out truth. I love her. With all my heart. And I want to convince her we can make it, because I think we’re it for each other.”
He kept focused on Thea, because out of everyone, she was the sweetest, and since she had tears running down her face already, he figured he was getting through to her. Then he caught Brooke reaching for Axel’s hand, and he blew out a breath.
“You all know what this feels like.” He tapped his pounding chest. “I want to be with her every second of the day. Not even needing to talk. Simply for the sheer joy of being with her. I want to make her smile. I live for the moments when I make her laugh. And when I surprise her with something unexpected and she stares at me as if I’ve given her everything, it’s my whole world.”
“Oh, Kyle, we’re so happy for you,” Thea blurted out.
He could feel a knot forming in his throat. “You all know the score. Madison and I are best friends. Business partners. And part of this family. No one wants to mess that up. I refuse to think anything could. But Madison needs some convincing. Which is where you come in.”
Dean cringed. “That’s what I thought. Kyle, while I want you two to ride off into the sunset, I’m equally afraid Madison will finally use her cleaver on me if I interfere.”
A couple of people nodded, and he fought the urge to rub his brow. “Look, I know the situation is tricky. She’s your friend too. I’m asking for your help doing what we’ve all done for each other. Because last night I told her that I planned to show her how good of a partner I could be to her. I’m asking for your help with Operation Madison.”
Thea raised her hand. “Can we tell her about Operation Madison? Because I told Sawyer that we’d had a meeting and planned to help him. It only seems fair that we do the same for her.”
“What if she doesn’t want help?” Brooke asked, worrying her lip. “Kyle, I want to support you, but I’m not sure I would have liked Operation Brooke.”
Kyle snorted. “Really, Brooke? Who do you think hired Axel?”
Axel’s booming laugh filled the room. “I did not know I was being set up when I agreed to decorate your home, Kyle.”
He wanted to kick himself. “You weren’t. I was trying tohelp Brooke have what she wanted. A new career beyond fashion. The rest was?—”
“Kismet,” Dean filled in with a sweeping gesture of his arms. “Destiny. Fate.”
“We’re getting off topic here.” Kyle wondered if he should have gone for the Norwegian moonshine, after all. “Let me give an example. Brooke, if you’re willing, I’d like you to help in redecorating the house to better suit Madison’s tastes.”
“More redecorating!” Dean gasped playfully. “You could be on one of those famous housewives shows given your recent frequency.”
Ignoring him, Kyle continued, “With everyone moving out, it’s only her and me. I’d like her to feel like it’s her home.Ourhome. And I have some ideas for changes. Of course Sawyer’s studio stays untouched.”
