Page 115 of Feel It in the Air

As much as I want to tell the world about how Teresa sang like a canary, selling out her literal partner in crime in exchange for whatever deal Auggie and Percy offered her, I won’t. I also won’t ever share the extreme jubilation of being the one to hand her the box of her personal effects that Mabel cleaned out of her desk prior to the authorities escorting her out. Whenever I’m down in the dumps, that’s going to be a happy place that I return to.

That and Gus Hayes telling me he loves me. Nothing will ever top that.

Snuggling into him more, I relax, letting any remaining thoughts of Teresa slip away. She’s gone, and that’s all that matters.

“Sorry, signed an NDA,” I lie.

“C’mon, we’re all Hayes executives here.”

“Anton Wright Hayes,” Miss Belle scolds. The whole room freezes, the triple name of one child enough to make the rest stand at attention. “This is family dinner. You have Munch to discuss business.”

“Yes, Mama.” Anton hangs his head, properly shamed.

Gus’s hand flexes against my hip, and I turn to face him, not sure if it’s out of fear he’ll be next or something else. My gaze meets his, those deep-green eyes of his holding on to my soul and stealing my breath. I see everything I could ever want in there—love, trust, forever. How I ever thought of walking away—even for a second—I don’t know. It’s something I don’t know that I’ll forgive myself for, but am thankful that Gus has. That he didn’t give it a second thought.

“Margeaux,” Miss Belle coos, the same way Willa did when I first met her. Like my name elicits special recognition. “I hope you don’t think me too presumptuous, but we have a little family tradition, and I’m hoping that you’ll join us in it this year.”

I jolt, startled by her request. She…she wants me to join in a Hayes family tradition? Focusing on Gus, I watch as his features morph from serious to soft, the love in his eyes still front and center as a smile takes over. My insides turn to goo, unable to help myself, seeing the hope in his face that I’ll say yes.

“Of course, Miss Belle. I’d be honored.”

“Oh good. Then this is for you.”

She produces a small, flat box with my name written across the front. If I thought I was surprised before, I’m flabbergasted now. She’s known I would be attending this dinner for all of maybe two days. Known of my existence for what, two weeks? How on earth did she have time to get me something?

“Every year we get a new ornament,” Gus explains, as his parents pass out boxes similar to mine to everyone else in the room. “There’s always some kind of theme. Since we don’t spend Thanksgiving together, one Sunday dinner when we’re all together, we open them up and each take a turn putting them on the family tree.”

Overwhelmed, I try to form a response. But I can’t. The wad of cotton sitting in my throat is preventing me from speaking, drying out my mouth more and more with each heartbeat. Tears sting the corner of my eyes, and I know I won’t be able to hold them back. There’s no chance.

“What’s the matter?” Gus asks, swiping at the first escapee.

“You…you want me to put an ornament on your family tree?” I choke out.

“I do. We do. You’re a Hayes now, Margeaux.”

That’s all it takes. Happy tears come flooding out, a sob quickly following. Gus chuckles, cutting me off with a kiss. I kiss him back, with everything I have, making sure he knows he’s my everything. My love. My future.

“I love you, Gus.”

“I love you, Margeaux.” He kisses me again, this time softer, but just as powerful. “Ready for this?”

I nod. “More than you know.”

And I mean it.

Because there’s magic in the air. I can feel it.