“Thank God.” Matt waves a hand. “One sane woman at the table.”
“Hey, don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” Christy cuts in, her lips curving around her wine glass.
Matt presses a palm to his heart. “You know I would never. Best mother out there.” He takes a sip of wine, then licks his lips. “It’s not that big of a deal. More of a PR stunt anyway. Alexis Camden’s publicist reached out after it ran. Wants me to escort her to some gala.”
Megan and Christy both gasp. EvenIknow how big of a deal that is. Alexis Camden is New York elite. Untouchable.
“Holy shit! That’s huge!” Megan gapes. “She only dates billionaires.”
“Well, apparently not always. Hope I’m not a disappointment.”
My brows knit. “Wait, you’re not a billionaire?” Honestly, I thought he was. Leo has hundreds of millions, and I know Matt has more.
Jensen turns to me. “Really, babe?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. He owns a lot of shit.”
Matt chuckles. “Not yet, Al. But this deal I’m working on is a big one. Who knows? Stranger things have happened.”
“Like you being on time to dinner?” Megan laughs, lifting her wine glass. “Or not sleeping with Alexis Camden.”
“Can we not talk about who I may or may not sleep with at the dinner table?”
I glance at Tom and Christy. This is always my favorite part—when the conversation veers too inappropriate for most families, but they just laugh, poke, and add to the fun.
Tom points his fork at Matt. “Nowthatwould be an achievement, Matt.”
Laughter echoes around the table.
“Oh my God,” Matt mutters into his glass. “Can we please go back to making fun of Jensen?” He sets it down and looks at us. “You two been furniture shopping?”
I shake my head, grinning. “Are you kidding me? You think the new chair we bought is exciting to talk about after that? Matt. This is Alexis Camden. She’shot.”
Amber calls down the table, “Yeah, when’s the gala? Or should I say, when are you adding her to the roster?”
Jensen chimes in, mocking a sports announcer. “Drafting number nine-hundred and eighty-six for the Grayson team, Alexis Camden!”
More laughter erupts around the table, and poor Matt—he just takes it. He pretends it bothers him, but we all know better. He’s secretly proud of hisaccomplishments.
“That’s a big fucking team, Jensen.” Kevin laughs. “But I would’ve guessed thousands.”
Matt stands, feigning offense. “Fuck you all!” He shoots his middle fingers up and leaves… to grab another bottle of wine.
By the time he’s back, the conversation has shifted to the grandchildren, who are all at the kids table in the front room. Jeff, Amber, Kevin, and Megan fill everyone in on their extracurriculars and how the kids are doing in school.
Jensen’s hand finds mine, fingers lacing and squeezing. When I look over, he’s watching me, smiling, dimples deep, eyes lit up.God, he loves me. Warmth shoots through me, spreading to every limb with his gaze, melting every shred of doubt I’ve ever carried.
When your husband looks at you like that, you can’t help but to soak it up, to drink deep from the well of his all-consuming love.
I haven’t forgotten what he’s done. I don’t think I ever will. But every glance, every kiss, everyI love youlightens the shadows of the past, until hopefully, one day, all that will be left to look back on will be this. Right here. Me and him. Laughter. Memories.
Love.
I laymy head against Jensen’s shoulder, sinking into the couch and the comfort of him. My arm loops through his, his hand warm on my thigh. The laughter and chaos hasn’t stopped, but it’s late, and the night is winding down.
“Alley?” Christy’s voice carries through the noise, sharp enough to pull my head around. “Will you come with me?” She nods toward the next room.
Jensen meets my gaze, patting my leg. He plants a kiss on my lips before I stand to follow her. She leads me into the office and closes the door, gesturing to a chair. I sit. She takes the one across from me, her smile warm, almost overflowing with love, and for a moment I wonder why I’ve been carrying all these ill feelings toward her.
