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I walk toward her. “You were never a burden to us.”
“With the baby…” She trails off.
“I was an idiot, I didn’t realize that it was the biggest gift of my life,” I say. “I’m sorry for acting like a jerk. Back then, and now.”
“And I’m sorry for running away like that,” she says. “I guess we’re even now,” she teases.
I shake my head. “I was an ass. What you did was just to protect yourself.”
“And I was an ass too,” Ollie says.
“And me,” Artie says. “I shouldn’t have downplayed the importance of the Conservatory project. It was pretty dang important to me until you came along. And then I fell for you.”
Susan’s breath hitches. “You did.”
“So did I,” Ollie says softly.
“And me.” I’m the last to confess. “You have no idea how much we’ve missed you.”
“If it’s anywhere close to how much I’ve missed you…I think I know,” she says.
“The paragraph you read out…” I trail off.
She ducks her head before looking up. “It was obviously meant for you. All three of you.”
“I’m sorry if we bothered you here,” I say with heaviness in my voice. “I apologize too for my behavior earlier. You can go.”
Susan nods. I can feel her slipping through my fingers. She starts to turn away.
What am I thinking? How can I just let her go like this?
Without thinking twice, I tug her toward me and reel her in, just like I did the first time.
Susan’s soft, supple lips mingle with the bittersweet awareness of the public gaze upon us.
The world around us seems to fade into a hazy blur as my focus centers solely on the intoxicating connection we share.
As our lips part, I steal a glance at the faces surrounding us. Some wear expressions of shock or confusion, while others reveal curiosity or even admiration. The weight of their gazes doesn’t deter me.
I kiss her again, my tongue searching hers and wrapping around it to tug gently. I step back to let my brothers take the lead. Ollie wraps Susan in his arms and tilts her sideways to kiss her, making sure he protects her belly. Artie is more gentle, their kiss lingering.
Meanwhile the crowd around us swells. I know what they’re probably thinking—Susan’s books draw a little more inspiration from real life than they thought.
“Oh,” Susan says, brushing her finger over her lips. “Oh my.”
Ollie grins wolfishly while I take Susan into my arms, letting her hide her face in the crevice of my shoulder.
A few people clap, and some even whistle. They’ve caught on to whatever is happening here.
“I think it’s time to wrap things up here,” Susan says shyly.
“You’re right,” Ollie says. “Let’s go home.”
Susan hesitates. “I don’t think I’m ready to go yet. I have a few more book events in the city, and I have a gynecologist here for the baby. Can you guys stay here with me for a couple weeks instead?”
I exchange a glance with my brothers. “Sounds like a good idea.”
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