Page 81 of Sincerely, Mr. Braden

Noah sidles up to the group, phone in hand, grinning like he’s about to drop news no one asked for. “Have you guys seen the new it couple?”

He turns his phone toward us, and we all lean in to see a high-society social page with a picture of me and Seth kissing on our way into the gallery with the headline Braden Billionaire Steps Out with Brunette Beauty at Mother’s Gallery Opening. Are Wedding Bells Next?

“Wedding bells?” I exclaim. “That’s what they jump to?”

Seth chuckles.

“Headlines sell,” Aubrey says.

“Social media’s blowing up,” Noah says. “Half the city’s wondering who you are. The other half wants to be you. Listen to these headlines: Gallery Gala or Engagement Preview? Fans Need to Know and Billionaire Seth Braden is Off the Market—Fans Mourn, Family Cheers. And my favorite, Goodbye, Forbes List. Hello, Heartthrob Hubby.”

We all laugh.

“You’re killing the internet, man,” Noah says as a video call rings through on his phone. “Hey, it’s Zev.”

He answers the call right in the middle of all of us, and I say to Becca, “That’s their cousin, the treasure hunter.” When Zev and his now-wife Carly first discovered a sunken pirate ship off the coast of Silver Island, Seth had me order a commemorative plaque for them.

Noah turns his back to us, holding up the phone so we can all see his shaggy-haired, scruffily bearded cousin, and says, “Say hi to everyone.”

“Hey, guys. Sorry we couldn’t make it out for your mom’s big day,” Zev says, his voice almost as deep as Seth’s. “We’re on the island to wrap up a few things and got hammered with snow.”

As we all say hi, Noah interrupts with, “Whoa, dude. Who just walked behind you?”

Zev looks over his shoulder. “That’s Randi Remington. You met her. She’s on my dive team.”

“I thought that was her. Is she still dating Ford?” Noah asks.

“No, man. She never was. They’re just good friends,” Zev says.

“You couldn’t’ve made that clearer when I was there? Now I’m even more interested in this project you mentioned.” As Noah walks away, he says, “I’m sick of being landlocked. Talk to me…”

“Hey, Sutton,” Seth says. “Isn’t Randi the one who barely acknowledged him when we first went to the island to see you and Flynn?”

“Yup, that’s her,” Sutton says. “She’s a tough cookie, and probably the one who gave Noah the impression she was dating Ford. She turns down every guy who asks her out.”

“Sounds like someone else I know,” I say, looking at Becca.

“Did you all miss the most important thing Noah said?” Seth asks.

“What? That he’s sick of being landlocked? He’s been saying that for months,” Victory says.

“Not that,” Seth says, like it was a silly thing for her to say. “That Ellie and I are headline official. You know what that means?”

“That she’s going to be annoyed by strangers who think they have a right to know everything about her?” Aubrey asks.

“Probably. But more importantly, now she’s stuck with me.” He pulls me into a kiss, and everyone laughs.

We all chat for a bit, and then Aubrey says, “I want to suggest we all get together for dinner sometime, but before I do, Taylor, how are things working out with Knox? Is he behaving?”

I smile. “As much as Knox ever behaves. Between him and Seth, I’m surrounded by demanding men who are far too charming to deny.”

Seth draws his shoulders back and says, “You can admit that I’m more charming than Knox.”

“I’ll debate you on that,” Aubrey says.

“You can try, but he’s got nothing on me,” Seth says.

Aubrey arches a brow. “He’s over there schmoozing a member of the board from the Collective. What are you doing?”