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I nodded as I pointed a finger at her. “Of course. But if you vomit in there, you’re washing the sheets tomorrow.”
“It’s not a party till Georgie gets wasted, makes Dad want to die from embarrassment, and then pukes in the sink,” Hampton proclaimed.
I sighed, knowing there was going to be a lot of hair holding in my future, and grabbed a champagne flute from the cabinet.
The space began to fill with more of our friends and family and soon I forgot I’d requested no party.
I’d been able to start a residency program in Atlanta not long after my license was reinstated, and I’d thrown myself into the work, trying hard to get back on track and erase the nightmare that had been the month prior.
I’d also continued to see the therapist about Jack’s death and had added being conned and nearly kidnapped at knifepoint to the list of issues to discuss. It was safe to say I’d be continuing therapy for a while to come.
I’d tried to convince Hampton to come with me to a session, promising it was worthwhile. He’d declined, insisting he was fine. It was the same lie he’d been telling everyone for the last year.
It was the same lie he’d been telling himself for the last nine years.
But I could only do what I could do. And that meant I was always there for him, but on my own terms. Because, as much as I’d hated to hear it that day Lawson and I had fought about it, he was right. I did let Hampton walk all over me. But those days had come to an end, and surprisingly, my relationship with my best friend was better than it had ever been. And even better than my own friendship improving, Hampton and Lawson’s relationship had taken a turn for the better.
Things had almost gotten back to a semblance of normalcy, at least as normal as life could be when you were in love with your childhood enemy. Life was good, we were happy, and time was marching on.
And then, six months ago, Lawson had come home and announced he’d been reassigned. The government wanted him to work on a case overseas in a war-torn country for the foreseeable future.
I thought I was devastated when they took my license away, but the way I felt then had nothing on the day and a half I thought I was going to have to spend the next few years without the love of my life.
Then Lawson had dropped the bomb that he quit his dream job with the government and had decided to start his own cyber security firm. We’d fought, I’d f
elt guilty, and he’d spent an hour convincing me he was making the choice that was best for him, not just what was best for me.
As the last guest was leaving, strong arms wrapped around my waist. “What are you thinking about?” Lawson whispered in my ear.
I leaned into him, relishing the feel of his solid body behind mine. “Thinking about how maybe I’m not so mad at my boyfriend for this party after all.” I dropped my voice in a conspiratorial whisper. “But don’t tell him that. He has an affinity for telling me he told me so.”
His deep chuckle vibrated through my body and I turned to wrap my arms around his shoulders. Standing on my toes, I sighed. “I love you, Lawson.”
He pressed his lips to mine, his kiss speaking of things he didn’t need to say aloud for me to understand.
He loved me too.
He always had.
Sometimes, the thought overwhelmed me, and I felt unworthy of the depth of his feelings for me. What had I ever done to deserve his complete devotion to me? Not a thing. But, on the nights I confessed my guilt, he always reassured me, without a moment’s hesitation, that it wasn’t my job to earn his love. The only thing I needed to do was accept it and return it.
And I did.
He broke our kiss and his eyes twinkled as he asked, “Ready for presents?”
My brow wrinkled. “I already opened presents.”
“I have a few surprises for you.”
I squealed. “You know I love a good surprise.”
Lawson led me to the living room and sat in the accent chair I’d added to his living room a few months ago. It was a bold teal, a bright pop of color to the otherwise drab gray couches he’d already had.
It was barely a week after he’d cracked the case with Smith and The Children of the Ministry that he’d given me free rein over his house. He’d pretty much declared I could do or have anything I wanted. I knew he would eventually change his tune, so I’d wasted no time turning the sparse house into a home.
Our home.
And every time I caught him using the throw pillows and blankets he’d grumbled about, I’d smile to myself.
