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“I love it.”
“It’s perfect!” Marley said, tugging her into a hug.
I nudged Cole and winked. “You did good.”
His smile was brilliant. “It’s about damn time.”
I snorted. “I wasn’t going to say it.”
“Someone had to!” Marley said. “I never thought I’d be married before y’all.”
“You eloped!” Lila accused. But her eyes were locked on the ring. She turned back to her fiancé and pressed her lips to his. “It’s perfect.”
“Good.”
“We have a lot to plan.”
“A small wedding,” he promised with a gleam in his eyes.
“Maybe we shouldn’t send out invitations,” she joked.
He grinned wider. “I’ll get better security.”
She dissolved into laughter and fell back into his arms. I’d never been happier for her.
Maddox wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed my temple. “They deserve this,” he said softly.
“I’m still mad you didn’t tell me.”
He just laughed and kissed me, silencing all of my complaints. I was here with him, and everything in the world suddenly made sense.
23
ATLANTA
PRESENT
To celebrate Lila’s engagement, we all got dolled up and went to a fancy bar in Buckhead. Even Derek joined us. I could see doubt in Lila’s eyes about telling him, knowing Ash was his best friend, but she was too excited to keep it quiet.
I glanced at Derek as Lila dragged Cole out onto the dance floor. “So …”
“I’m not telling him,” he said before I could say anything else.
“Someone is going to have to tell him,” Marley said. “He can’t find out some other way.”
“He doesn’t need to know,” Derek argued.
“I’m with Derek,” Maddox said. “Why the fuck should it matter? He’s enamored with Amelia anyway.”
“Yeah, except … it matters,” I said.
Derek sighed. “Yeah, it matters, but we can’t do it yet.”
“Why not?” I asked.
Marley rolled her eyes. “They’re going sailing to see Derek’s cousins at the end of the month.”
Derek grimaced. “Forgive me for wanting him to enjoy a vacation. We’ve had this trip planned for ages. He’ll bail if he finds out before then.”
“Then, after that trip,” Marley said.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’ll tell him after the trip,” Derek said.
We all nodded. Plotting how to tell Ash Talmadge the news felt disgusting, but in some way, we all cared about him. Lila cared about him. I even cared about the bastard. And I could admit that I didn’t want to see him crawl back into the hole he’d fallen into when he and Lila ended.
With our clandestine agreement finalized, Derek pulled Marley out onto the dance floor.
“Do you think this is a good idea?” Maddox asked.
“I have no idea. But I can’t exactly ask Lila what she thinks.”
“No. I remember when we lived together when she was in PT school,” he said, his eyes going distant. “She and Ash were dating, and look, I know she loved him, but he was obsessed with her. It was unhealthy. Not that I could say that to her.”
“She wouldn’t have heard you. Trust me. I did say that.”
“It’s probably better he finds out right away. Otherwise, he’s going to do something stupid.”
I shrugged. “I bet he does something stupid either way.”
“Do you think that’s why Cole waited this long?”
“Nah. Cole Davis doesn’t give a shit what Ash thinks. Lila wanted to wait. She and Cole were endgame. The wedding part didn’t matter to her.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“I’m always right,” I said, leaning up onto my toes to kiss him. “Like about us.”
He laughed. “Nice topic change there.”
“Hey, you’re the one who said we were together.”
“I did,” he said, sliding his hands around me. “I can’t seem to fight you. Even when I tried all those years, I really failed. I always wanted to be exactly where I am. How can I give you up when you’re right here in front of me?”
“Please don’t give me up,” I whispered. “Especially when I make you dance with me.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the dance floor and our friends. He groaned behind me. He hated dancing and going out and peopling, but he was here with me, celebrating Lila. Even if it was one dance, it felt so right.
Despite Maddox always refusing to dance with me, he sure had rhythm. I never would have guessed it as he grasped my hips in his hands and swayed side to side to the gyrating music.
“Fuck, Josie,” he whispered against my ear. “I’ve been keeping my hands to myself all week.” He jerked my hips back against his. I bit back a groan. “Now, you’re here …”
I knew exactly what he meant. I’d teased him that he couldn’t keep his hands to himself this long. And we’d slept in the same bed last night with my back pressed against his chest, his strong hands holding me in place against him. I’d wanted to go further, but we’d been in my dad’s house. Personally, I knew how thin the walls were, and that was the last thing I wanted my dad to hear. Plus, when we rushed into things, they found a way of falling apart.
