“I understand it,” she insisted. “They’ve never seen their father with anyone but their mother. But here’s the thing; we’re not officially together. At least not yet. We enjoy one another’s company, but we haven’t defined our status, which is probably why the boys were caught off guard to meet me.I’msurprised I’m here at a family party, but I was fairly booked up on this trip and the party just happened to coincide with a time that I was free.”
“Serendipity,” I said.
“Perhaps,” Candace smiled. “It worked out. For now we’re just enjoying our time together. He’s become one of my best friends.”
“Aw. That’s the way it should be.”
That was how it had been with my grandparents—and their relationship was always the one I’d held up as a model. Poppy and Grammy had adored each other, had made each other laugh, had enjoyed every minute they spent together all the way up to her last days. I’d always hoped to find that for myself, but no relationship I’d ever had had feltthat comfortable and steady. I didn’t have the best track record at finding men I could actually havefunwith, outside the bedroom.
When I tried to think of what that would even look like, I immediately pictured curling up on the sofa in the media room with Drew, watching reality TV and heckling the people on screen. Or hanging out in the garden with Drew and Winston, doing the crossword together and pretending Winston was giving us all sorts of ridiculous suggestions. Even when I was wrapped up in work—like the hours I’d spent going through Kristen’s video files from her grandpa—he made things easier for me, keeping me company and making sure I was provided with drinks and snacks. He made me laugh. He was thoughtful as hell. We cared about the same things.
Yeah, in addition to wanting to fuck his face off, I also really, reallylikedDrew Ashford.
Candace stepped back to admire her efforts. “Okay, not bad.”
I turned to check it in the mirror and sure enough, all that was left was a colorless wet streak.
“Thank you!” I gave her a quick hug and she laughed.
“We should get back out there or the guys might come hunting us down,” she said.
We walked out into the crowd and I scanned to try to find Drew. I finally spotted him near the windows, chatting with Harrison. They didn’t see me walking up so I slowed to try to eavesdrop on their conversation on my way over.
When I heard Harrison say my name I came to a full stop and ducked behind the corner.
“Yeah, she keeps surprising me,” Drew said.
I could hear the smile in his voice.
“I really like her,” Harrison said. “Seems like she keeps you on your toes.”
Now it was my turn to smile. An endorsement from big brother had to mean something.
“She sure does,” Drew replied. “She’s smart as hell. And when it comes to problem solving? Next level.”
“Clearly,” Harrison said. “All I can see are stripes of pink on everyone’s dessert plates thanks to her.”
“Right? That’s what I mean.”
“Talk to me about the ring,” Harrison said.
I glanced down at the sparkler on my hand. It really was a beautiful piece—simple but flawless. It was so brilliant that it looked like there were fireworks inside of it, even in the dim light.
“It felt right,” Drew said.
I wasn’t sure what they were getting at. Felt right how?
“I have to admit that I was a little shocked seeing it on her finger,” Harrison said. “Not in a bad way, just that … well, that you thought it was the right choice. I trust you, so I respect it.”
I strained to hear, because the conversation was getting deeper.
“I have to admit that it was partly convenience, at least at first. I still had Mom’s first ring in my safe at home, and we needed a ring to make the engagement look real, so …”
Wait. I was wearing hismom’sring? I glanced down at it again. I would have expected something grander… but on the other hand, he said ‘first ring,’ which meant that Oliver had probably upgraded her at some point. Oliver was the one who had really built the company up into a global brand. He’d inherited a hotel chain, and he’d turned it into an empire—but the big-time growth had happened long after he’d gotten married.
“It fit perfectly,” Drew continued. “Like Cinderella’s glass slipper.”
I hugged myself at the comparison.
