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“Mom, Dad, Fred,” I say, then look at Carter. “This is my boyfriend, Carter Cogswell.”
They all rise and walk around the table so they can shake Carter’s hands and formally meet him.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Carter says, giving Dad a firm handshake. “Your daughter has told me nothing but wonderful things about you all.”
I smile to myself as Carter moves on to shaking Mom’s and Fred’s hands, too. He’s already so warm toward them. I never would have guessed this is how he’d be as a boyfriend. Gentle, kind, respectful. It only makes me fall deeper and madly in love with him.
Carter’s eyes shift toward me as if to say,I’m doing a great job so far, right?
I chuckle and give him a secret thumbs-up. I suppose real life can be a lot better than my wildest dreams.
Chapter 30
Mia
Three Years Later
“Monaco?Again?”Lukesaysas he takes another sip from his glass of whiskey. “You practically go every year now. Aren’t there other places you’d like to visit while you’re in Europe?”
Carter and I exchange humored smiles. We have taken a day or two during our week-long trip to Monaco to go sightseeing in France, Italy, and Spain, but we always stay a bit longer in Monaco. Even the staff at the villa we frequent have started treating us like locals.
We’re sitting at our wooden bench table on the balcony of our penthouse on the Upper East Side with Luke and Ava. After Carter and I got engaged two years ago, I moved into his penthouse, but everything about it felt more suited for a bachelor. As soon as we found this place, we knew it was home. Six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and two stories tall. The perfect place to start a family…when we’re ready for that.
Ava throws her head back and groans. “I wish my husband took me to Monaco every year. But alas, I’m as single as the night is long.”
Luke lets out a laugh. “Where do you come up with this stuff?”
Ava tugs at the garnet pendant of her diamond necklace. “It’s an expression. I’m pretty sure it’s from a literary classic.”
He shakes his head. “It’s not at all. You made that up.”
Ava narrows her eyes on him. “You don’t have to bully me about it.”
“You know I’m not bullying you.” Luke ruffles the top of her head, then rises. “Come on, let’s go refill our drinks. Let’s give Grace Kelly and Cary Grant over here some space so they can plan out their trip.”
Carter huffs at this, but I don’t mind the comparison.To Catch a Thiefis one of my all-time favorite movies, and one of the reasons I pushed us filming in Monaco so hard. And look how that paid off.Runaway with Mewas a massive hit. It got renewed for two whole seasons and is still going strong with high ratings.
Ava stands up, and the two of them carry on their teasing all the way to the refreshments table.
Once they’re out of earshot, Carter turns to me. “They’re definitely dating in secret, right?”
“Oh, absolutely,” I say. “At the least, they’re hooking up. Ava hasn’t talked about seeing anyone for months. Clearly, the flirting never ceases.”
“Isn’t this supposed to be our one-year wedding anniversary party?” Carter groans, but it’s full of good-natured sarcasm. “Yet they always find a way to make it about them.”
“It’s going to be like that for the rest of our lives, you know? I know Ava. She’ll lock Luke down in no time at all.”
Carter tilts his head closer to me. “Perhaps it’s time to find new best friends.”
We give each other a swift peck on the lips, then rise so we can tend to the rest of our partygoers. We decided to keep our anniversary party small, only inviting a handful of our closest friends and family. As the evening progresses, the guests have dwindled down to our favorite people.
“Are you guys doing okay?” I ask Mom, Dad, and Fred. They’re sitting on the lawn chairs like they’re sunbathing during a European summer vacation of their own. “Do you need anything?”
“We're good, honey,” Dad says, flashing a toothy smile at me.
“Don’t call her that,” Mom says, tapping Dad on the shoulder. “Call her Miss Story Producer.”
I let out a chuckle. “Oh, come on, Mom. There’s no need for that.”
