It felt likeher.
I followed Auri as she moved into the space like it belonged to her, like she already knew it down to the soil. And maybe she did, because when she looked up at me, smiling radiantly, cheeks flushed and eyes lit from the inside. I knew one thing with absolute certainty.
Wherever she was? That’s where I wanted to build the rest of my life.
Side by side, we walked toward the others, where Colette was already launching into a surprisingly organized pitch for a last-minute wedding.
“…sunset in the grove would be beautiful, but if you want sea views, I’ve got a few perfect spots up near the ridge. One’s shaded by cypress trees, and the other gets a breeze that could lift her veil just enough to look dramatic but not ridiculous…”
“Sold,” Ivy said, eyes gleaming like she’d just spotted her prey. “That’s the one. Veil-lift ratio is critical.”
Colette handed us each a glass of something chilled and pale—local, she said, light-bodied with a bite of citrus. It went down smooth, too smooth, and I was already half in love with it by the time we veered back onto the wedding topic.
Auri let out a breathy laugh beside me, her hand flexing where it rested on my back. “We haven’t even picked a dress.”
“Don’t need to,” Lucy piped up. “You’d look like a goddess in anything. Honestly, go naked and we’ll throw flowers at you.”
Kimi nodded solemnly. “Very Aurélie-core. But Fraser would combust.”
Auri rolled her eyes. “You’ll need to think of something else to call us, because there are about to be two Frasers in this group.”
Chaos. Absolute chaos.
“Frenchie and Scottie,” Ivy said, nonchalantly. “Done. Next.”
“I call her Ray,” Kimi added, sipping his wine.
“What—what the actual hell—” Marco threw his hands up. “I'm gonna start calling you Fraser Prime and Discount Fraser.”
“IloveDiscount Fraser,” Lucy gasped at the same time Aurélie muttered, “I hate Discount Fraser.”
“Wait, wait wait. I have thoughts,” I interjected. “Which one of us is Prime?”
Everyone froze.
“Obviouslyyou,” Marco said, pinning his gaze on Auri and shrugging. “You’ve got the whole ‘global brand’ thing.”
Ivy’s jaw dropped. “Excuseme?”
Auri’s brows shot up, looking offended on principle alone.
“You’re callingDuboisa discount?” Ivy snapped, rounding on Marco. “She is thewhole goddamn brand.One she and I built together.”
Marco held up his hands. “I didn’t mean it like that?—”
“Oh my God,” Auri deadpanned, setting her wine glass down on the tasting bar. “Is this because I make less money?”
“Wow. Thesexism,” Ivy gasped, clutching her chest like she’d been stabbed. “This is why we riot.”
Kimi chuckled menacingly. “He’s gonna get canceled.”
Marco groaned. “I was making a Formula 1 joke!”
“I was making afeminismjoke,” Ivy retorted.
“Callum’s not Prime. He’smine,” Auri retorted.
“Okay, okay,” Colette interjected, unbothered and glowing. “Before someone starts a group chat called Discount Fraser Support Group?—”
