“He's more man than you'll ever be.Yes, he's my choice.This ends here,” I added, taking a step forward so Chase and Lori would look at me.I wanted them to see the seriousness in my eyes—the finality of it all.“As far as I'm concerned, you both deserve each other, and I never want to see either of you again.”
And with that, I walked past them and toward the door.
I faintly heard Jaxon tsk behind me, saying, “I'd say stop messing with my woman, but it's so fun watching her put you in your place.”
Smirking, I continued out the door without looking back.And when I felt Jaxon's fingers lace through mine, everything felt complete.
33 | This Is What Home Feels Like
Savannah
Mylivingroomhadnever felt this full before.The TV hummed softly in the background, casting flickering light across the space as everyone settled into their spots as if they'd been coming here for years.Jaxon sat beside me, his arm draped lazily over my waist, his fingers absentmindedly caressing just underneath my shirt every now and then.
Nerissa had claimed the longer couch, her legs thrown across Jesse’s lap while she flicked through TV channels.I don't even think Jesse registered that he was rubbing slow circles into her ankles, too immersed in whatever Ariyo was talking about.
Grandma sat in the armchair beside me, fussing with the huge handbag she carried everywhere.
“Now, I'll tell you one thing.This lady don't play about a look being wasted.All this work only for them to say‘wedding canceled’with no explanation.Can you imagine?”
I glanced over.“You’re upset about the wedding?”
“Child, that wedding was doomed from the start.No, my pain is this wasted look.All this goodness and what, no one gets to see it?”
“A look like yours never goes wasted, Mama V,” Jaxon chimed in.
My grandma's eyes lit up instantly and she wagged her finger at him, smiling widely.“I told you about that sweet talkin’, boy.You best behave over there.”
Jaxon grinned.“I’m just telling the truth.”
She narrowed her eyes at him playfully.“Careful now.You keep that up, I might start favoring you over my own grandbaby.”
I gaped at her but before I could respond, Nerissa suddenly shot upright.
“Wait, there it is!”she yelled, pointing at the TV.“It’s starting!”
Instantly, the room shifted and everyone's attention went to the screen.Apparently, she was a dance extra in one of the upcoming drama series—a fact sheneglectedto tell me about.I settled back into the couch, letting myself sink into Jaxon’s side as the opening scene rolled.
“Which part were you talking about?With the hockey rink?”Ari asked.
“That's further in.”Nerissa waved him off, eyes glued to the screen.“And I told you, we weren't on the ice.Just behind the glass.”
Mama V leaned over after a few minutes, her voice dropping just enough to keep it between us.
“How you doin’, baby?”she asked softly.
“Really.”
The question lingered longer than it should have.
HowwasI doing?
The news of the wedding being called off wasn't a complete shock—at least, not after last night.I didn't tell her about what happened, but apparently, Lori had called her early this morning, frantic and spiraling, saying Chase said he wasn't coming.
And the press ate up the story of a gilded bride.It didn't take long for speculations about what happened to take over social media.
But me?I couldn't have been any more indifferent.
I thought I would feel something—a bit of relief or satisfaction.Maybe even vindication after everything they put me through—but there was none of that.When it came down to it, I meant what I said last night.I didn’t want revenge.I didn’t want closure from them.I just wanted to be done and move on.
