Page 105 of More Than Friends

“What is happening?” Camille asks, breathing heavily as if she just ran across the room to us.

“What do you mean?” Jude coyly asks. He begins to walk in the direction Camille just came from.

Camille’s eyes bounce between me and Jude as we walk toward the table filled with our friends. “Oh, I don’t know…the fact that you and Charlotte just kissed and you’re holding an adorable baby that looks identical to you.”

No one answers as we close the distance to the table filled with people I’ve been fortunate to grow close with ever since working at Pembroke Hills. Directly in front of me is Tyson, whose face lights up the moment he sees Ava. I don’t know if I’ve seen him smile much, but he melts at the sight of Ava.

Next to him is his sister, Winnie, and her husband, Archer. Next to Archer is Preston Rhodes—someone my dad often asks about—and Emma stands next to him, her face entirely lit up when she spots Ava. On Emma’s hip is Celeste, Beck and Margo’s daughter. Both Margo and Beck stand next to Emma, their attention focused on us, watching closely as we stop in front of everyone.

“Good evening,” Jude croons. He squeezes my hand and pulls me closer to him until I’m flush against his side. I reach out and playfully tap Ava’s nose, unable to resist making her laugh in this moment.

“Some of you already met or heard about her, but if you haven’t, this is my daughter, Ava.” He props her up on his hip slightly to show her off. The movement makes her let out an adorable little giggle that can be heard even over the live band playing in the far corner of the ballroom.

“Daughter?” Camille asks, her voice calm and composed but her face showing shock.

Jude grins as if he couldn’t be more proud to be introducing his daughter to everyone. It makes my heart completely melt. “Yes. My daughter.”

“It’s my job to know everything about everyone. How did I not know you had a daughter?” Camille asks, her voice full of disbelief.

She looks to her fiancé, Ryker, but he’s too busy looking at Jude to give her a response. “That’s amazing,” he marvels, giving Jude a smile. “Jude…adad.” He shakes his head as if he can’t believe it.

“Yep. I’m a dad. Don’t seem too shocked.” His attention focuses on Camille as he gives her an apologetic smile. “And don’t feel bad about not knowing. I’ve only begun to tell people recently.”

“But I’m your publicist,” she tosses out. “You’re supposed to tell me everything.”

Jude laughs. “I know. We’ll talk more about things regarding Ava later. I’m still gaining my footing with it.”

Camille gives a nod before her eyes slice to me. “And can we talk about the fact that you guys are clearly together? About damn time.”

Ryker echoes her sentiment by whistling and clapping his hands. The noise catches the attention of the people around us, but I don’t pay them any mind.

I can’t.

The way Jude turns to look at me takes my breath away. It’s one of those moments where everyone else fades away and all I see is him. He looks at me with so much love that I wonder if he’s always looked at me like this and I just somehow missed it, or if this is something new.

“I’m obsessively in love with Charlotte, and she’s made me the luckiest guy in the world by saying yes to being my girlfriend.” His words come out a little raspy as he stares at me adoringly. He blinks a few times before his dimples make an appearance with the deep curve of his lips. “And yeah. There’s my life update. Should we have some champagne?”

Our friends stare at us with wide smiles. It’s a moment I’ll never forget, a time I want to remember forever.

One by one, they come up to us and give us hugs and congratulations. We get settled at our table, and the entire night, I find myself wondering how I got to be so lucky.

Tears sting my eyes as I look around at the small group of people who have become my family here in the Hamptons. When I first moved out here, I didn’t know a single soul. All I knew was that it felt like I belonged in the Hamptons. I couldn’t have known that a job offer at an elite country club would lead me to finding so many incredible people…and falling in love.

Jude watches as Margo holds Ava and Beck holds Celeste and the two girls interact with each other. He wears a wide grin. It’s almost as if he can sense me watching him because he looks over at me and immediately pulls my body against his.

“I love you,” he tells me, his lips moving against my forehead before he presses a soft kiss there.

“I love you too.” I snuggle into him, soaking in the moment. It’s just the start of the summer season here in the Hamptons, but I’m so excited to spend it surrounded by the people here tonight.

Most of all, I’m excited to see what the summer—and the future—has in store for the two people I love most—Jude and Ava.

I can’t help but smile as I imagine all the memories we’re going to create.

If someone had told me I’d be starting the summer with Jude Kensington as my boyfriend, I would’ve never believed them. I would’ve told them that Jude and I were just friends.

But the universe has a funny way of working things out, and I can’t help but wonder if, all along, Jude and I were always meant to be more than friends.

EPILOGUE - JUDE - SIX MONTHS LATER