I turned to find her making exaggerated gagging noises, her stuffed elephant clutched to her chest, her face scrunched in theatrical disgust.
"We're not being mushy," I said. "We're having an adult conversation."
"You were looking at each other all gooey." Zoe crossed her arms. "That's mushy."
"Gooey?" Xavier laughed. "I have never been gooey in my life. I'm far too sophisticated for gooey."
"You're gooey right now," Zoe informed him. "Your face is doing the thing."
"What thing?"
"The thing where you look at Mommy like she's made of chocolate cake."
Xavier caught my eye in the rearview mirror, his expression mock-serious. "She's not wrong. You do look delicious."
"Xavier!"
"What? She started it."
Zoe giggled, and I couldn't help but laugh too. This was my life now. Banter and laughter, and a man who looked at me like I was made of chocolate cake.
It still didn't feel quite real. Like I was borrowing someone else's happiness and would have to return it eventually, with interest.
But Zoe was giggling. And Xavier was holding my hand. And maybe, just maybe, I was allowed to keep this.
Xavier's hand found mine, his fingers lacing through mine on the center console. He lifted our joined hands and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, quick and casual, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Maybe it was.
Sebastian's estate appeared around the bend—a sprawling mansion set back from the road, all stone and glass and manicured gardens. Cars lined the circular drive, valets in crisp uniforms directing traffic. This was a celebration, after all. The successful launch of their Hawaii hotel, the one that had almost been overshadowed by Cole's scheming.
Xavier pulled up to the entrance and handed his keys to the waiting valet. I helped Zoe out of her car seat, smoothing down the skirt of her purple dress, the one she'd insisted on wearing because it "twirled the best."
"Ready?" Xavier asked, offering me his arm.
I took it. "Ready."
The ballroom was magnificent.
Crystal chandeliers hung from vaulted ceilings, casting prismatic light across the crowd. Enormous flower arrangements in tropical colors—hibiscus, bird of paradise, plumeria—transformed the space into something that felt almost like being back in Hawaii. A string quartet played softly in one corner, and waiters circulated with champagne and elegant hors d'oeuvres.
"Kim! Xavier!"
Aria swept toward us, radiant in a flowing blue dress that matched her warm smile. She crouched down to Zoe's level first, pulling her into a hug.
"There's my favorite girl! I saved you a seat right next to Evie. She's been asking about you all day."
Zoe's face lit up. "Really?"
"Really. She's right over there, see?"
Zoe spotted Evie across the room and took off running, her purple dress twirling behind her. Aria straightened, turning her smile on us.
"I'm so glad you came. Both of you." She squeezed my hands. "It means so much to have you here."
"We wouldn't miss it," I said. And I meant it. Somewhere along the way, this family had stopped feeling like Xavier's family and started feeling like mine.
The thought should have terrified me. I'd never had a family. Not really. Foster homes didn't count. Cole certainly didn't count.
