“Are you sure you won’t think I’m flirting?” he asked dryly.
She elbowed him, and something tight unraveled inside him. He grinned, lifting his arm to wrap it around her. Her voice was muffled against his side when she spoke. “I’m sorry Dad never acknowledged you.”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry too.” That anger and resentment and love that made up this complex ball of emotions toward his father would probably always remain.
But the resentment he’d always felt toward Tani had eased significantly. She had wanted him. With no blood ties to him at all, she’d wanted him. He didn’t know if this would change his relationship with her, but it definitely made him view her in a different light.
“Can we acknowledge you?” she asked. “Privately or publicly.”
It took him a moment to speak. “Do you want to?”
Jackson placed his hand awkwardly on Gabe’s shoulder. “We lost one older brother. Might be nice to get to know another one properly.”
He nodded, hating the sting of tears in his eyes. “Yes. That would be nice.” He cleared his throat. “Now, Livvy, don’t you need to go get married?”
“Yup. Let’s go do that.”
Chapter 28
Eve fixed her dress and glanced up at Gabe. They stood just inside the house, Tani and Livvy adjusting Livvy’s dress behind them. John was already at the altar, an arch of flowers and vines. Sadia stood in front of them, fussing over Kareem, who would carry out the rings, his puppy on a leash at his side. “A rehearsal would have been handy, Livvy,” Sadia fretted.
“Nope.” Livvy cracked her neck. “I’m a single take kinda gal.”
Sensing Eve’s attention, Gabe looked down at her and smiled. There was a new, relaxed light in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. “You look beautiful,” he whispered.
She smiled, her chest swelling. Mr. Perez’s dress fit her perfectly. She’d said a little quiet “fuck you” to her father when she’d put it on. It had felt better than eating a delicious piece of cake.
He stilled, his expression unreadable. “What?” she asked.
He brushed his thumb over her lower lip, and she forgot to worry about who was watching them. “Nothing.”
The beginning chords of music came through the slightly ajar doors, and Gabe’s touch fell away, leaving a trace of heat.
“Okay, go time everyone,” Sadia whispered, and shoved her son out onto the deck.
Gabe escorted her down the aisle, and then she went to stand next to Nicholas while he took his place next to Sadia. He waggled his eyebrows at her, and she flushed. Someone would see, and get the wrong idea.
What’s the right idea?
That they were friends. Really friendly friends.
Livvy came down the aisle and Eve refocused on her brother and a wedding ten years in the making. Everyone held themselves together admirably well, until it came time for the two to recite their vows.
Nicholas pressed Livvy’s hands to his chest. “Livvy, I have loved you since before I knew what love was. I carried that love with me every second we were apart, and I will carry it with me for all my days. You have made my life brighter and sweeter. I promise to cherish you for all my days and nights.”
A tear trickled out of Livvy’s eye. “Nico, last night, my mother said we should be each other’s light in the dark. That’s what you are and always have been for me. My love for you makes me stronger, which is how love should be. I won’t thank you for loving me, because youshould—” always a comedienne,she paused for the burst of tearful laughter from the audience before finishing “—but I will always be grateful you are in my life.”
Without looking behind him, her grandfather passed Eve his handkerchief. Eve discreetly patted her eyes, hoping her makeup hadn’t run.
What do you want?
Her gaze met Gabe’s. His eyes were as damp as hers.
Have you ever wanted something you couldn’t have?
This. She wanted exactly this. She was worthy of this.
Why couldn’t she have it?
