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Sebastian kisses the top of my head and pulls me down into his lap.
When Ashlyn announced they were getting married the Saturday after New Year’s because it was the only day that worked for the Kings and the Revolution, I thought she was crazy. That was only a month away. But she pulled it off.
They rented out an estate a few hours away and only invited our family and their closest friends. It’s gorgeous. A blanket of snow coats the grounds outside, and an explosion of deep blues and white roses with beautiful dark greens line the tables and accent everywhere the eye can see. They got married in a candlelit ballroom in front of a gorgeous fifteen-foot evergreen tree, sparkling with tiny white twinkling lights. Maddie stood in front of them in a deep green velvet dress as she performed the ceremony. Everything down to the tiniest detail was perfect and so incredibly Ashlyn.
“You okay, Len?” Bash whispers in my ear.
Oh, this man... “I’ve loved you for so long, Sebastian. Thank you for loving me.”
“Only ever you, crazy girl.” He stands and offers me his hand as the song changes, and I’m led onto the dance floor. “I need to get in a dance before one of our boys kicks me out of the way.”
“Never, Bash. You’ll always be my number one guy,” I tease.
“Even when I announce my retirement at the end of the season? You still gonna love me when I go back to med school?”
I run my finger over his lips. “The only thing sexier than being a baller’s wife is being a surgeon’s wife. Your brain has always been hotter than your muscles.” I press my lips quickly to his. “Not that I’m complaining.”
I rest my head on his chest and soak in this moment.
What a year.
* * *
Amelia
Isit down next to Ashlyn and hand her a glass of water and a piece of cake. “How are you feeling?”
“I wish she’d talk to me.” She motions to Lindy, who’s huddled on the other side of the ballroom with Scarlet. “Some days, everything is great. And others...” she trails off.
“She’ll come around. Don’t give up on her. Don’t stop pushing. That kid is stubborn like the rest of us. She’s going to talk to you, but it’ll be on her time.”
“Did you ever get over what happened with Annabelle Sinclair?”
I think back to that night and the way it led me to Sam, then I look over at my babies. Well, three out of the four of them. Lucky is asleep upstairs with Nonna. “That night gave me my life. It brought me to Sam. The good things in life are always a fight. But they’re also always worth it. That was my fight. The first of many. And it stayed with me for a long time. But I did get over it.” I grab a fork from the table and steal a bite of the delicious lemon-raspberry cake. “Sam helped.”
Ashlyn digs her fork in too, then moans when she tastes it. “This is good.”
“Mine would have been better,” I tease.
“I wanted you to enjoy today, not to worry about having to make a cake.”
Maddox comes over and holds his hand out to me, looking so much like his father, it nearly takes my breath away. “May I have this dance?”
I look over to find Sam smiling. “Of course, you may.” I take his small hand in mine and stand, but not before I take one more piece of cake. “Mine is still better.”
* * *
Scarlet
“How are you doing, Madeline?” I run my fingers through her freshly cut short hair and twirl a lock of pink highlights around my finger as I worry about my youngest sister.
“I’d be better if everyone would stop asking me that,” she snaps. And I recognize her pain. Not because it’s the same I felt at her age but because I remember feeling broken and not being able to express it. Feeling like I needed to be strong and put on a good mask.
God, I did that for so damn long.
I look lovingly over at my husband across the room, dancing with Brynlee while my baby boy dances with his little sister next to them. One day, that man might understand the way he saved my life. But knowing Cade, he’ll never believe me.
“Listen, Lindy. One day, you’ll be ready to talk about it, and I’m going to be here, ready to listen. I won’t give you advice. I’ll keep my mouth shut and just be the person you can talk to whenever you need me. Whatever you say stays between us. I swear.”
