Page 32 of Meant to be Mine

“They’ll land,” he said. “You’ve been doing such a good job with the store. Really making the family look good.”

Sebastian appeared at my shoulder. “Genuinely impressive,” he said. “The lighting is good. Soft. Good job.”

Briggs shook my hand and said, “The numbers are going to be good tonight.”

Dash appeared last. “Cousin,” he said. “You did well.”

“High praise,” I said.

“I mean it. This is legitimately impressive.” He looked around. “I had my doubts.”

“Well, I’m glad I exceeded your expectations,” I told him, chuckling.

Callum and Victoria came in about ten minutes later, without a spotlight but with the kind of entrance that didn’t require one. He found me near the bar, looked around the room, and looked at me.

“Not too shabby, little brother,” he said.

“I had good help.”

“You always had the instincts,” he said. “You just needed something worth pointing them at.” He took a sip of his drink. “This is worth it. I knew you were the right man for the job.”

Victoria appeared beside him with her hand on his arm and her eyes bright. “Drew, this is incredible. It’s so beautiful.” She stopped and pressed her hand to her chest. “The whole thing. I’m so happy for you.”

Victoria’s sincerity was refreshing. She came from our world, but she walked away from the wealth to do something that mattered. Now she was back in the world of the rich and powerful, but she was grounded. And she was helping Callum see how good it felt to help people.

“Thank you,” I said. “I couldn’t have done it without Kensey.”

“Ah, the infamous Kensey,” Victoria said. “I want to meet her.”

“She’s around somewhere.” I glanced across the crowd and found her without trying to, near the patio doors, talking to one of the buyers from Chicago. She was laughing at something the woman had said. She didn’t know shit about fashion, but she was doing a damn good job working the crowd.

“Oh, that’s her,” Victoria said.

I looked back at her. “What?”

“Oh, buddy.” She laughed. “If you could see the way you look at her.”

“What?” I said with confusion.

“Yep,” Callum agreed. “That’s not how you used to look at her.”

I rolled my eyes. “Guys, stop.”

“Did you talk to her about how you felt?” Callum asked. “I know it’s been a couple years since she’s been back in California. This might be your best chance before she leaves again.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said with an annoyed growl. “She’s my friend. We’re enjoying the night. We’re both making up for lost proms.”

“What does that mean?” Victoria asked.

“She got stood up by her prom date and I spent my night with my prom date puking in the back of the limo, so tonight is us making up for shitty dates.”

Callum laughed. “I forgot about that.”

Victoria ignored the puking part. “Ah, that’s so sweet. I love it.”

Kensey made her way over from the patio doors a few minutes later. I watched her navigate the crowd with an ease that surprised me. She didn’t think she belonged but she was owning the room like this was her beach club.

She spotted Callum and her whole face changed.