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“I love you,” I say again. I tell him so much, but he only seems to want to hear it more. It’s like he’s finally given himself permission to accept it. To embrace it.
“I love you, too, Firefly.” He kisses my forehead. “Now let’s go.”
“Is it time?”
“It is.”
His eyes meet mine as the announcement repeats; the female voice signaling a new adventure.
“Final call for Atlantic Airways flight 77 to Los Angeles, boarding at Gate 22.”
Epilogue - Jet
“Nervous?”
I keep my attention fixed on the other end of the petal-covered aisle.
“No.”
Jay chuckles and slaps a hand onto my shoulder. “Could have fooled me. Listen, getting married is the best thing you’ll ever do.”
“I know that,” I grunt in response.
I’m not nervous about marrying Ava. I can’t fucking wait to add a second ring to the one of mine she’s already wearing and show the whole world that she’s mine forever.
But she should be nervous after what I found out this morning.
The string quartet continue to play as we all wait for the bride to arrive. I catch my father’s eye, and he raises his brows at the ice sculptures shaped like waterlilies that I had specially flown in. I shake my head at him as he smirks.
No, she didn’t ask for them. Ava never asks for a thing. But it doesn’t mean I’m not going to try and give her the world.
Give her everything.
Because Goddamn, it makes me a sap, but I love that woman with every drop of blood in my body. And I’d bleed them all out onto the floor if it meant seeing her smile.
“Where is she?” I hiss at Jay.
“Relax. Wait until you have kids, then you’ll get used to waiting on other people all the time.” He laughs, easily falling into his role as a supportive friend and best man.
I stiffen at his words, my palm twitching.
I force myself to take a slow, deep breath as I wait.
Holly and their two daughters, Summer and Sydney, are sitting with Matt and Stefan. The group of them are in deep conversation with Hayden and his boyfriend and girlfriend. He catches me looking and throws me a cocky wink. How the bastard has time to work and keep two people happy in their relationship, I don’t know. But he’s been doing a great job. Atlantic Airways have now taken delivery of all of our new engines; Callaghan’s, and the second batch direct from Logan Rich. Business is thriving.
I should be able to step back, breathe a little.
But I can’t.
Not knowing what I know now.
Jay pats my shoulder in support again as the string quartet move into another song.
Still no sign of her.
My gaze tracks over the other guests, settling on Zena. If I wasn’t already wound tight as a spring, then the sight of her would do it. She looks remorseful, her shoulders curling down as she meets my eyes. I clench my jaw and offer her a nod. She returns it. I should at least be grateful she’s trying for Ava. Mitch was no longer on the scene when we returned to LA. And Zena’s kept to her word, never mentioning the movie, and being there for all of her and Ava’s therapy sessions. Ava comes home a little brighter after each one, but it still tears my heart out to see the pain in her eyes whenever her mother is mentioned.
Jay leans closer to me, his voice lowering in seriousness. “You sure you want to do this? You look like you’re about to blow an artery.”
