“Well, thank God we had that photographer then,” Ramses said, coming in with his wit. He was a funny guy through and through, which was one of the many reasons I fell for him. He dropped his arms around Ares and me. “We’ll always have those memories.”
The families had splurged for a last-minute photographer and videographer in Vegas, but, even if we hadn’t, Fawn, Ares’s fiancée, had been there. She captured many beautiful moments with her own camera.
I still couldn’t believe my kids had found such wonderful people. We loved Fawn, too, and she was around the party somewhere.
“Even if we didn’t, we’d be okay,” I said, taking Sloane’s hand. She nodded, and I was so happy for this beautiful moment. They were few and far between these days with my kids getting older.
That only made these that much more special.
It didn’t take long for the news of no-big-wedding to travel around the house. Everyone was surprised, and, of course, they were disappointed, but they were okay with the decision. Dorian’s parents were okay with it too, and, as far as I was concerned, that gave me permission to completely be okay. I was worried about December not getting to have the big wedding of her dreams for her son, but she surprised me when she ended up looking kind of relieved.
“All the planning was already overwhelming me,” she said, laughing. She had a drink in her hand, and she and I were chatting toward the end of the housewarming party. The other wives were with us, my friends. Somehow, I had made best friends with some of the most wonderful and beautiful people in the world. I met December, Cleo, Greer, and Billie through our husbands, and I was happy not just to call these women friends but sisters. They were family, completely.
“I would have paid to see Royal cry again though,” Billie, LJ’s wife, said, and half the women’s mouths in our circle dropped open.
Greer faced December. “He didn’t?”
December nodded, her lips closed in a tight grin. Royal was one of the most emotionless men I’d ever met. He was so serious, and he cried at his son’s wedding? December lifted her hand to her mouth. “He tried to hide it but I saw.”
Billie obviously had too, and we all had a laugh at that. In fact, we laughed so hard we hadn’t realized that one of us was no longer a part of the conversation. That person was Billie, who suddenly stepped away from the circle.
“What’s wrong?” Cleo, Jax’s wife, asked her. She was magnificently tall and probably the tallest out of all of us.
Billie lifted a finger. “I recognize that girl,” she said, then directed our attention over to a young woman hanging out in a corner of the house. She was gazing around and wrestling with her hands. She was also completely beautiful, with large brown curls and a natural tan like my husband’s. She was slightly darker than him, though. She was also chewing her lip.
Greer came forward. “I remember her too. She was at the store when Bow and I were picking out stuff for the house. Remember, Billie?”
“Yeah, but I don’t just remember her from that,” she said and I tilted my head, confused. She faced our group. “I didn’t remember her that day, but, seeing her again, I realize now I’d seen her at the airport earlier that day. LJ and I saw her. Well, I saw her. I don’t remember what she was doing, but I definitely saw her there.”
Well, that was weird. “Is she friends with one of the kids?” I asked.
The question was posed to the group, and everyone shrugged.
“I recalled letting her in today, but I just assumed she was another housewarming guest,” December said, but, before she could finish, Billie was leaving the group. December stepped forward. “Billie?”
Billie lifted a hand, clearly distracted, and the rest of us watched as she approached the girl. Surprised, the girl jumped, then backed up. She looked uneasy.
“Maybe we should go over?” Cleo suggested, and we might have, but hesitated as we studied the two speak. Well, Billie was doing the speaking.
That was, until the girl spoke.
Billie was silent all of a sudden, frozen. She said nothing as the girl spoke, and the next thing we all knew, Billie’s glass of champagne hit the floor. She dropped it, and everyone in the room looked that way.
Everything in the room stopped.
LJ
I was the only one of my friends not at a housewarming party. I, unfortunately, had to work, but I’d been trying to rush all day to get there. Some client deadlines bit me in the ass. I worked in real estate and had an office in downtown Maywood Heights. I had office locations all over the world, but my main hub was here in town.
I was typing an email when the door to my office opened and my wife, of all people, stepped inside. I blinked. “Billie?”
My wife was supposed to be at that housewarming party. It was for a few of my godkids, my friends’ children. Not having any myself, I got no greater joy than to be able to support those kids. They were like my own, and I loved them.
“What are you doing here, beauty queen?” I’d called her that since college. We met there, this beautiful redhead, who took my breath away back then. Hell, she still did. I got up from my desk. “I just have a little bit more work to do, then I’ll be along?—”
I stopped speaking when a girl appeared from behind her. Perhaps she’d been there the whole time, but my sight had been on my wife first. Now, I noticed the girl, who was actually taller than my wife. She was pretty, with tanned skin and big curls, and I realized I’d seen her before. I’d definitely seen her at thecountry club not long ago when I’d been playing golf with the guys.
“LJ,” Billie started. The girl was beside her. Currently, the young woman wrestled with her hands, and she bit her lip as she stared at me. She looked so familiar. Like I’d seen her even before that day at the country club. I recalled that feeling as well that day. Billie wet her lips. “Honey, I have something to tell you.”
