Page 103 of Have To Be Mine

Adrian nodded slowly. “That’s very mature of you.”

I narrowed my gaze at him. “Don’t sound so surprised.”

“I’m not. I’m proud of you.” He stood up and clapped me on the shoulder. “You did good work in Santorini, Dash. Really good work. Dad would have been proud.”

I felt my throat tighten. “Thanks.”

“I mean it. You’ve proven yourself. No more babysitters, no more people looking over your shoulder. You’re ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“Ready to take on more responsibility. Ready to be a full partner in this business, not just the kid brother we have to manage.” He smiled. “Ready to lead.”

I wanted to feel good about that. But all I could think about was how none of it mattered without her.

I was still processing what Adrian had said when Sebastian walked into the conference room. He looked exactly like a man who’d just spent weeks on a beach with his new wife. With a deep tan and way too relaxed, he sported a grin that could probably be seen from space.

“Gentlemen,” he announced, spreading his arms wide. “I have returned from paradise.”

“We can tell,” I said, feeling some of the gloom lift from me. “You’re glowing.”

“That’s called happiness, little brother. You should try it sometime.” He dropped into a chair and kicked his feet up on the conference table. “Also, Bernadette and I have been discussing the possibility that Buckaroo might have a cousin in the not-too-distant future. Trust me, if that woman isn’t carrying my child after all that alone time, I’m going to the doctor and having my swimmers checked.”

Briggs rolled his eyes. “Don’t be gross.”

Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Could you have some class? We’re in a professional setting.”

Sebastian shrugged, unfazed. “This is a family business, and this is how families are made. I could have used much more colorful language. For example, one night, after a naked moonlight swim⁠—”

“And that’s my cue to leave,” Briggs said, standing up.

“Mine too,” Adrian agreed.

“I just got here,” Sebastian protested. “When did you get so uptight?”

“Briggs and I have a meeting with Callum,” Adrian said. “We’re working through some numbers with the wedding sublabel. You should sit in with us.”

I nodded, quietly flattered he wanted to include me, and I started to follow them out, but Sebastian’s voice stopped me. “Hold up, Dash. I wanted to talk to you for a second.”

I looked toward Adrian, who nodded and said, “Five minutes.”

I turned back. My brothers left, closing the door behind them. Sebastian’s playful expression shifted into something more serious.

“I saw the footage from Santorini,” he said quietly. “All of it. The show, the chaos, everything.”

“And what’s the verdict?”

“You’re a goddamn genius. What you pulled off in that storm? That was art.” He leaned forward. “I want you working with me. Not just on logistics, but on the creative side. You’ve got vision, Dash. Real vision. Let’s put it to good use.”

I felt something warm spread through my chest. “You know, Adrian and Briggs were just telling me the same thing, that I should consider jumping into the creative stuff. I appreciate hearing it from you though, since we would be working together. It means a lot.”

“You’ve more than earned it. Think about it. Now get to your meeting. I have to go check in with the rest of my team. We’re going to talk. We have to figure out how to up the game now. You’ve set the bar high.”

After Sebastian left, I stood there for a long time, thinking about my brothers. All three of them had found their partners. Adrian with Elizabeth, raising Buck and building a life together. Briggs with Mandy, still in that honeymoon phase where everything felt new and exciting. Sebastian with Bernadette, so deliriously happy he couldn’t shut up about it. There would definitely be more nephews and nieces in the very near future.

And here I was—alone. I’d spent years bouncing from woman to woman because commitment felt like a trap. Except it didn’t feel like a trap anymore. It felt like the thing I wanted most in the world. I wanted what they had. A wife. A family. Someone to come home to. Someone who challenged me and supported me and made me want to be better. Someone who would make me a father.

I wanted a life that meant something beyond parties and hookups and temporary pleasure. I wanted purpose. Legacy. Something that would matter long after I was gone. And there was only one person I could imagine having that life with. The thought of trying to build that life with anyone else felt wrong. Impossible.