His mouth fell open, then snapped shut. He stared at his ring. He was probably trying to decide if he was ticked or touched that I’d lied and had kept it close to my heart all this time. His gaze found mine, nervous and uncertain, as if asking whether this was real or whether I was simply saving him.
I smiled and nodded almost imperceptibly.
He didn’t return the smile. But he did spread his fingers and let me slide the band over his knuckle for the second time.
“There,” I said, satisfied. Then I pushed up on my tiptoes, slipped my fingers into the sides of his hair, and pulled his mouth to mine.
He collapsed into me, chest caving like he hadn’t exhaled in weeks. His hands trembled as he pulled me in. I decided then and there never to be the cause of his hurt again. And never to let him leave without that ring on his finger.
Fully aware that phones were rolling and the world was about to learn we were husband and wife, I leaned into the moment. I looped my arms around his neck and pressed intohim, our mouths finding a slow, familiar rhythm. He moaned and hiked me up—and I gladly locked my legs around his waist.
I’d missed this so much.
Missedhimso much.
Theo cleared his throat.
I didn’t want to break the kiss, but we were in public. So I smiled against Griffin’s mouth, my fingers tracing over the stubble on his cheeks. “Hey, you,” I whispered.
“Hey, yourself,” he whispered back. His voice made my stomach purr, same as when I was fourteen. He set me on my feet and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.
“Seriously? A forehead kiss too?” Kynzleigh sighed.
James cussed under his breath, handed the darts to Theo, and stalked off to take my spot at Bowen and Maggie’s table.
What was his problem? I turned my head, watching him go.
Kynzleigh gasped and shrieked.
Griffin and I looked at her.
Her mouth formed a softball-sized O. “No. Freaking. Way.” She slapped us both on the shoulder. This woman had a serious slapping problem. “Griffin.” Her mouth opened even wider. “You’re married to Juliette Serrant?”
He moved me in front of him and wrapped me up—my back to his chest, his chin resting on my head. “Sure am,” he said.
“Wow.” Kynzleigh shook her head. “And to think, I could’ve married Juliette Serrant’s husband.”
Theo snorted. “Not how that works at all.”
“I just love your Golden Hour bronzer,” Kynzleigh gushed. “And the entire Carmel Coast eyeshadow palette. Like, it’s my holy grail. See.” She closed her eyes and pointed to them with both hands.
“Nice job,” I said, struggling to focus. Griffin’s pheromones were making me delirious. “You’re really good at building depth.” I was feeling generous now that she was no longer a threat.
“Thank you.” She beamed, swishing her hips from side to side. “Did you know that you influenced me to buy DayGlow for the first time? It was that reel you did about how every woman is beautiful; they just have to believe it. And then you showed us how to place concealer and blush so they actually lift your face. I love that about you. You don’t gatekeep.”
Thrown by her generous words, I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. Sometimes the ugliness behind DayGlow’s curtain overshadowed the fact that I’d genuinely influenced millions of women’s lives for the better. At least I’d tried.
“That’s… really kind,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Any idea if DayGlow is ever going to bring back the Daydream Drip lip gloss?” She pushed her lip out in a pout. “That was my all-time favorite. I actually sobbed when it got discontinued.”
“Right?” I went to say, ‘you and me both.’
But Theo interrupted. “Actually, Jules left?—”
I steamrolled him with a laugh. “Actually, we’re not quite ready to tell the world that secret yet.”
“Ahh.” He tapped his nose. “Got it.”
