“I know she will. She just needs a little push. I really hope this move helps her find closure so she can move on.
Who knows, maybe she’ll meet a wonderful man who will sweep her off her feet.”
Ace groaned, which made Alex giggle.
“Hey, I’m just saying that it can happen.”
Ace’s blue eyes brightened. “I know because you and I are living proof,” he told her.
Alex smiled, lifting onto her tiptoes and giving him a peck on the lips.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, too.”
“Want to head home?” She asked, feeling the need to ravish her handsome husband.
“I thought you’d want to stay until the end?”
“Arianna and Campbell have things under control.” She squeezed Ace’s waist. “I’m feeling like I need some special time with my husband. And since Derek and Juliet have the baby, we have the house to ourselves.”
Ace snorted a laugh, but the twinkle in his eyes and the smile tugging at his lips told Alex that he was on board.
“You’ve become insatiable,” he said, softly kissing her forehead.
“And you love it.”
“Damn right, I do!” He playfully growled before scooping her up in his arms and carrying her out of the venue as their friends and family waved and whistled at them.
Alex lay her head against Ace’s chest. Life was great in her world. She hoped Charley would experience the same happiness once she settled in her new home.
CHAPTER THREE
Charley stepped out of the gangway and into the bustling terminal of San Diego International Airport. As she made her way through the crowd, a mix of emotions suddenly hit her—nervousness, anticipation, and a faint flicker of excitement. She couldn’t wait to see her aunt and uncle.
When she reached the baggage claim, she stood by the carousel, watching the suitcases drift by. When she spotted her blue-and-tan striped roller bag, she grabbed the handle with a firm grip and set it upright on its wheels. She picked her backpack up from the floor, slung it over her shoulder, and headed for the exit.
As soon as she walked through the automatic doors, she was met with the cool sixty-degree evening weather. She took a deep breath, willing herself to be strong. She was there to make a difference, and she wasn’t going to let the past define her.
She was pulled from her thoughts when her phone pinged with an incoming message. When she opened it, she started laughing as she read her aunt’s text.
Aunt Bea:Sorry we’re late. We’re pulling into the airport now. You know how your uncle is directionally challenged.
What made her laugh harder was the eye-roll emoji her aunt added at the end of the text. It was no secret that her Uncle Glen was horrible with directions, and her Aunt Bea made sure he never forgot that. She was always busting his chops about it, but always in a playful banter kind of way.
She typed a message back.
Charley:No worries. I’m outside the last set of doors by the baggage claim.
Charley tucked her phone into her backpack. Moments later, she spotted her uncle’s dark gray Chevy Silverado making its way toward her.
Her heart started to beat a little faster. She loved her aunt and uncle very much. Even though they spoke on the phone and FaceTimed, this is the first time Charley has seen them in person since she left California.
Her Uncle Glen shared so many traits with her dad and brother, from their brown eyes and deep voices to the funny, lopsided smile they all had in common.
As the truck slowed, she could see her aunt waving through the window, which brought a smile to Charley’s face.
Surprisingly, her uncle was the first one out of the truck.
