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He squeezes me a final time before pulling back, patting my arms as he does. He grins at me and nods. I watch as he glances at the coffee cup on the counter. A new emotion flicks through his gaze this time before he’s looking back at me knowingly.
“Did she get you that?”
My pulse thumps. “Yeah. I found it this morning. She said we need to continue the tradition you and SP started with your lame mugs.”
He stares at me for a moment longer and then says, “Tell her the truth, son. Adalyn is your woman, wedding be damned. Look at that tattoo on your finger. It’s not going anywhere. I knew Scarlett was meant to be my wife probably too quickly for some to understand. When you know, you know. But once you do, you have to work that much harder to prove you’re worthy of that honour. Don’t give her an opportunity to believe you’re not.”
His words strike deep. I tuck them away, keeping them somewhere safe.
“Thank you, Dad.”
He smiles softly. “You’re welcome.”
“Just out of curiosity,” I begin, nerves obvious in my tone. “If I were to marry her for real, would you approve?”
His answering smile is all I need to know how he’s feeling, but I wait for his answer anyway.
“You don’t even have to ask. She’s already family in my eyes. Make it official.”
37
ADALYN
Giddy excitement rushesthrough me as I run my hands over my front and push down the last sequin that flipped up on my dress during the ride over. Voices and pop music slip beneath Sebastian’s front door. Ivy knocks for us, a burst of her fruity perfume tangling with the flowery scent of mine.
“You’re practically vibrating,” she notes, laughing under her breath.
“I’m excited to see my husband. Sue me.”
It took a lot longer to get ready than I had initially thought. With Ivy surprising me with a celebratory post-wedding brunch and a full day spent shopping and getting our hair and makeup done, the day flew by, and then suddenly, it was evening. I’ve never been one to turn down a day of pampering myself, but I’ve also never had anyone waiting at home for me either.
“Is he here yet?” she asks.
“No. I told him to be here a few minutes after us so he didn’t have to be here alone.”
“Smart plan.”
The door opens a beat later, revealing a grinning Sebastian dressed in a bedazzled suit jacket, a matching shimmering dress shirt, and a pair of pink slacks. The white lights he’s set up through the penthouse make him look like a disco ball.
“Was there a dress code we missed?” Ivy asks, stepping inside. I follow her, instantly feeling the heat from the throng of people wandering around.
“Why, are you feeling plain, Vee?” I tease.
“Next to you two sparkly bitches? Yes.”
Seb chuckles, giving me a side hug. “No dress code. Great minds just think alike.”
“You’re lucky I don’t get offended easily,” she grumbles.
“Adalyn!”
Spinning toward the female voice, I find a group of women waving from the balcony doors on the opposite side of the living room. They’re unfamiliar to me, but I smile and wiggle my fingers in their direction anyway.
“You’ve let vultures into your home,” Ivy tells Sebastian.
“Vultures with killer modelling ability, I’m afraid.”
“Should I go say hi?” I ask.
