Page 169 of High Reward

“Obviously,” Lili says, softening, and leans in through the window for a hug that goes on a good while.

We hug one more time and I watch as the car drives away to take them to the airport.

Jeanie honks twice for good measure as she pulls out of the driveway, and then it’s just the three of us standing on the curb watching an empty street.

The house feels different with them gone, even standing in the same spot I’ve stood in a hundred times before. Victor’s hand finds mine, and Lili’s finds my other one.

“The saga winds down one goodbye at a time,” Lili says eventually.

“Don’t get poetic on me too,” I tell her. “One of you doing that a day is my limit.”

She laughs, and Victor tugs us both back toward the house, and the day picks back up where it left off, quieter than it was this morning.

I make tea I don’t really want, just to have something to do with my hands, and think about how strange it is that two people leaving can feel enormous and change absolutely nothing. The club opens tomorrow. The shop needs restocking. New York is aweek out, and I have a dress fitting Thursday that I’m dreading slightly less than I was this morning.

Victor finds me in the kitchen a few minutes later, tea untouched, and doesn’t ask what I’m thinking about. He just wraps his arms around me from behind and rests his chin on my shoulder until Lili wanders in too, stealing my mug without asking and wrinkling her nose at the first sip.

“This is cold.”

“It’s been cold for ten minutes. You’re welcome to it anyway.”

She drinks it regardless, because that’s Lili, and the three of us stand there in the kitchen a while longer, not talking about much of anything, just being in the same room together on a Tuesday that has no business feeling this good.

Chapter 46

Lili

Sittinginthesecondrow at Skylar and Matteo’s wedding, I can’t help the wide smile on my face as Grace and Victor walk down the aisle together and part ways at the front of the auditorium while soulful music plays.

They look so damn good together it makes my heart hurt sometimes.

“Please rise for the presentation of the bride,” the officiant says as she raises her hands to indicate standing.

Matteo looking nervous is a bit of a treat too. Who knew he was capable of nerves?

Everyone stands and turns to the back of the room where the double doors open to reveal a stunning Skylar.

Instead of walking straight into her vows, Skylar reaches down and lifts a guitar from where it’s been resting against the altar, and a hush rolls through the room.

“I wrote this one about him, before I even had the guts to admit it,” she says, tuning one string with a small, nervous laugh. “Bear with me.”

She strums the opening chords, and her voice, the same one that’s filled arenas for the better part of a decade, goes soft and unpolished. None of her records have ever caught her like this.

“I used to keep the good stuff locked up tight,” she sings, “six strings and a chip on my shoulder every night. Then you walked in without a single warning shot, and stole the only thing I thought I had.”

“You’re a guitar thief, baby, plain and simple. Walked off with my heart and left an empty case. I should be angry, should go chasing after. But I think I like the quiet you left in this place.”

By the time she lowers the guitar, Matteo isn’t even trying to hide that he’s crying, and half the room isn’t either. Including me.

Grace

IwinkatLilias Victor escorts back down the aisle afterthe bride and groom. It was a gorgeous ceremony, and after the obligatory wedding party photos, we’ll be heading to the reception.

At the back of the ceremony hall, Victor pulls me close and kisses me while the rest of the wedding party exits to the recessional song.

“You’re fucking stunning. But when we get married I don’t want a ceremony this big,” he growls against my ear.

I lean back and stare at him. “When we get married?” I squeak.