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But eventually, we step apart and I move forward, clearing my throat. “Well... how do you follow up onthat?”I ask, earning laughs. “Uhm... gimmie a second because I’ve totally forgotten what I was going to say.”
Wiping away tears, I decide to wing it and smile out at the crowd. “I love you guys, all of you. And I’m looking forward to creating something special together. I don’t know what the future is going to look like. I don’t know all of the details. But I’m looking forward to finding out. Together, all of us, men and women working to be our best selves.”
“As part of this bright new world, can you do a toy demo class? I got my eye on one of those diamond-studded numbers,” Anthony calls out, his voice unmistakable. “Oof!”
I follow the sound and see Jaxx at his side, an evil grin on her face, and Anthony rubbing his chest, where it seems she backhanded him. “Looks like that might already be covered, but we’ll see,” I answer.
“Are they...?” I wonder quietly.
Evan leans over. “Yeah. Apparently, after the podcast, Anthony apologized and apologized and apologized, and eventually, Jaxx told him if he was going to keep getting on his knees, he could make himself useful.” I look at him in shock, and he shrugs. “Like your meet-cute was any better,” he jokes.
“Hey!” I balk, and he laughs.
“They’re . . . different,” Evan admits. “Anthony said something to me the other day, something about Makima and chainsaws? I had to Google it and I’m still not sure I get it beyond Jaxx is suuuper-bossy and Anthony’s enjoying the hell out of following her around like a dog.”
I can totally see Jaxx with a dominatrix vibe, but I have no idea what Makima is. “Are you sure he wasn’t talking about Bedroom Heaven’s Father’s Day line? We have a chainsaw dildo, called Timb-her, and a combo cockring-prostate stimulator called the Mow Me Down.”
Evan blinks, still computing what I said, but he shakes his head. “Nope, let’s say I learned a few things, and saw some things I can’t unsee too.”
I chuckle at the haunted look in his eyes. “Just because it’s for them, doesn’t mean it has to be for you,” I say gently.
“Good. I’m going to find Reagan, and remind myself that plain, old vanilla is a delicious classic for a reason.You should mingle, but don’t overdo it. The guys are really glad you’re back, but don’t let them bombard you. I told them to give you space to breathe and not to circle around you.”
“Thanks,Dr. White,” I tease, truly thankful that he’s being so thoughtful about things that might bother me.
Everyone gets up, shuffling around the room to talk and people take turns making their way up to me and Chance for congratulations.
Luna and Kayla nearly tackle me, demanding to see the ring and proclaiming that they’re going to be bridesmaids, along with Olivia. “And any of your friends from school too, of course,” Luna allows.
“Yeah,” Kayla adds. “The good thing about Chance having a ridiculous number of brothers is that you can have a big bridal party too. Just don’t put Olivia with Kyle.”
My brows jump, and Kayla rushes to clarify. “He’d let her down easy, of course, but let’s be real, any woman who walks down an aisle on Kyle’s arm is going to be fantasizing it’s their wedding. It could be the frozen food aisle at the Piggly Wiggly and she’d still be singingdun-dun-dun-dunwhile picturing babies with steel blue eyes.”
Luna laughs. “Really? I think they’d be trying to run away. Cole, on the other hand? He’s got that mysterious angle working for him.” She pulls a face reminiscent ofZoolander’s Blue Steel, something I can’t picture Cole doing at all.
“Are you two trying to marry off more of my sons?” Miranda Harrington says, obviously overhearing Luna and Kayla as she approached and mock-scolding them.
“Leave them alone,” Charles says warningly about his boys, “or we’ll start trying to marry you off too, Kayla.” He raises his brow at the uncomfortable double-standard. She responds with a glare, her raised brow a near-mirror image of her father’s.
“Congratulations, Samantha,” Miranda tells me, taking the conversation back and hugging me gently. “You too, Chance,” she says as he comes back to my side after escaping a conversation with Jaxx. If I heard correctly, I think she was suggesting a toy vending machine in the lobby called ‘Dicks on Demand’ and Chance was saying that the guys probably wouldn’t buy enough dildos and vibrators to warrant that, but a QR code on the bulletin board might be okay.
“Thank you,” I say, cutting my eyes to Chance. “I wasn’t expecting it.” He grins, quite pleased with himself for surprising me.
“Really? We all knew. I’ve known for like ever, but Uncle Chance promised me a new Nintendo Switch if I kept my mouth shut for a change and didn’t spill the secret,” Gracie says, having come up with Cameron.
“Grace!” Chance shouts as she coldly throws him under the bus.
Cameron chokes out, “He said what?”
Gracie pats her dad’s arm sadly. “I know. I tried to negotiate for theAnimal Crossinggame, but I couldn’t get the deal to stick. I’ve got some ideas for that, though, don’t worry. And” —she holds a finger up proudly— “none of them involve bribery or blackmail or what’s that word...” She taps her chin, thinking. “Oh, yeah,misbezelment.”
“Embezzlement? That’s not—” Cameron starts to argue, but who in the hell is gonna convince Grace that there’s anything wrong with being paid for her silence? And she did say herAnimal Crossingacquisition plansdon’tinclude those things, so that’s good. Mostly.
“Grandpa Chuck and Grandma Beth are about to climb out of their skin. We’d better get over there,” Chance says, pointing at the family members still sitting in the front row. As we head over, he whispers, “They could not only walk to us, but probably skip, but it’s a respect thing. We need to come to them to show off the ring and accept congratulations.”
“Like they’re royalty?” I surmise.
“Something like that.” I frown, seeing the conniving look in Grandma’s eyes. “Or maybe condolences in your case because Grandma Beth is probably gonna tell you all the bad things I’ve ever done and why I’m not worthy of you.”
