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She thrusts her shoulders back and the wall goes up. “You don’t know the whole story, Alex. Trust me. Don’t say something you can’t take back. I promise you, there is more to this than any of you know.”
“I love you, Z.” I squeeze her hand tightly. Exhale a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Try to figure out a way to backtrack and realize I can’t. I might as well put it all out there. Trust that we’ll get through it. “It’s just… Fuck. You’re right. I don’t want toeversay anything to you I can’t take back. Here’s the deal. We all have our own lives. Our own struggles. Our own obstacles to overcome. All of those guys have bent over backward for Ty. For years. They have protected him. They have loved him. They have defended him. Ty lives in his own world and doesn’t often see what he has in front of him. All of those guys are gems. Actual gems. Over many years, I saw how Ty behaved firsthand. None of them deserved what he put them through then. They definitely didn’t deserve what just happened today.”
Zoey’s lip curls. Her hazel eyes flash with anger. “Okay. I’ve heard enough. I’m not going to discuss this with you, Alex. With all due respect, if the guys have a problem with Ty, then the guys need to have that discussion. Not you and me. I love you. You’re like my sister. But Ty’s my husband. He’s my only concern right now because he needs me. If that puts me on the other side of the LTZ fence that seems to have been built? Fine.”
She lets go of my hand dismissively and starts rummaging around the room, clearly looking for something. We both look up when a doctor comes through the door.
I decide it’s time for me to go and I head for the door. “I love you, Z. I hope this all blows over. I really do. Jace and I are heading to my mom’s to pick up Lena. Ronni and Connor just left. Zane and Lianne are in the ICU with Carter. Fiona’s back at the restaurant trying to recover from the disaster. Text me when you’re in a better place. No matter what happens, you’re my best friend. I’m always here for you.”
I hover in the doorway for a second, but Zoey doesn’t even bother to look up or wave goodbye. My heart breaks a little. I’ll be devastated if I lose her.
I have to get out of here.
I have to get to Jace.
As I hurry down the corridor, I wonder if I should’ve held my tongue. By the time I reach the elevator to the garage, I’m bawling. Again. Fucking hormones.. No, it’s like the entirety of this shitty day hits me all at once.
I sit down on a bench to collect myself. To reflect on what just happened with my bestie and what it all means. It occurs to me, over this past year, Zoey’s surpassed me in the relationship game. She knows her husband. Believes in him. And she’ll stand by Ty no matter what. Why? Because she’s all in. And that gives her confidence in the face of adversity. Strength in her convictions.
What they have is unbreakable. I saw it in her eyes.
Whether or not our friendship survives, she’s just taught me something profound about commitment. Everything I thought I knew has shifted in an instant. Gawd, it’s so clear.
I’ve been operating from a place of scarcity.
Deep down, I’ve always been scared of losing Jace. I’ve worried that I’m not enough. I constantly look for cracks in our relationship to justify why I always keep one foot out the door. To justify my failure to commit to him fully. To avoid talking about our wedding whenever he asks.
Jace, on the other hand, operates from a place of abundance.
He’s been by my side through every single thing we’ve ever endured. Not just these past couple of years. Or even this past very tumultuous year. No. Jace presented his heart to me on a silver platter way back in Barcelona. And he’s done it again and again and again.
My man’s been all-in for over a decade.
Jace’s given me space when I’ve asked for it. Stepped aside when I told him to. Kept our relationship secret when he wanted to shout it from the rooftops. He’s even accepted the fractured parts of me I’ve doled out sparingly. Even when I know he wants all of me.
He deserves so much better than that.
I have no interest in playing it cool anymore. I’m done holding myself back from the man who loves me more than anything else in the world.
I’ve been so stupid. And selfish. Jace would never, ever hurt me. There’s no one on earth who has my back the way he does.
I love him with every single molecule in my body.
I’m going to love him for the rest of my life.
There’s no need to protect myself. He needs to know. Now.
I spring up and jab the down button over and over again with my thumb, willing the elevator to get there quicker. When the doors slide apart, Jace is there. I fall into his arms. “I fucked it up so badly. I’ve destroyed my friendship with Zoey.”
“Not possible, Poppy.” We ride down to the garage. He guides me to the passenger seat and buckles me in. “It’s been an all-around horrible day. None of us are going to get over what happened anytime soon. I think we need to focus on our own family. Keep each other safe.”
He moves to shut the door but I grab his forearm. “You, Lena, and this baby are the most important things in my life. Above everything else. I want us to get married. I’m not just saying it, Imeanit. If you want to go to Vegas, let’s go to Vegas. We deserve to have our own happy ending. I do not want to wait one minute longer to be your wife.”
Jace bends down and presses his forehead to mine. Rubs my nose with his. He cups my face with both hands and kisses me. A scorching, soulful promise of forever.
“Yes,” he whispers against my lips.
Weeks later, and I’m still in disbelief.
