Page 158 of The Trouble with Flings

Jennifer laughs, then winces. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”

“No more laughing,” I promise. “But I have one more thing to say. I don’t want you going back to finish the last week of school—”

“Fitz—”

“Hear me out,” I say firmly. “I don’t want anything happening to you or the baby, but as much as I’d like to steal you away to the island to keep you safe, I will never try to control your life.” I brush my thumb beneath her eye, catching another tear.

“Good, because those kids need to see that I’m okay.”

“Yeah, wild girl, I know.” I kiss her softly. “And you need to know they’re okay. But I don’t want to go a single day without you, which is why, after Holden’s done with his project and your maternity leave is over, I’m moving to the city and working remotely.”

“What?” she snaps. “You can’t do that. The island is your life.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, wild girl. I love the island, but you and Little Bean are my life.”

I kiss her before she can argue, and just as her fingers slide into my hair, the hospital room door blows open. I jerk back, my body tensing as Reggie storms in looking like he’s been through war. His white T-shirt is soaked in blood, one hand clamped over a towel pressed to his side, crimson dripping between his fingers. There’s dried blood streaked along his jaw, a vicious cut split across his forehead, and his chest is heaving like he ran here on pure adrenaline. His eyes are wild and lock onto Mia.

Jennifer jerks upright with a horrified gasp.

Mia shoots out of her chair so fast, it crashes backward against the wall. “Reggie?” Her voice breaks. “Oh my God! What happened?”

“The stakeout went south. I got shot—”

“What?” she shouts.

“I got shot, and all I could think about was that I never told you—” His voice cracks. “Jesus Christ, Mia, I never fucking told you.”

“Reggie—”

“I love you!” The words explode out of him. “I’ve loved you for so many years…” His breathing turns ragged. “I kept thinking if I died before I said it, before you knew—”

“You idiot,” she sobs, rushing forward.

He catches her against him with a strangled sound. “It’s always been you.” His eyes squeeze shut like he can’t believe she’s there, in his arms. “I love you,” he says again, quieter this time. “I love you so much it scares the hell out of me.”

Mia grabs his face with both hands and kisses him hard. The room goes silent save for the uneven sound of them trying to breathe through the emotion crashing between them.

Jennifer squeezes my hand, tears wetting her cheeks again.

When Mia and Reggie finally pull apart, her hands tremble against his cheeks. “You need a doctor.” Her brows knit, and she says, “How did you know I was here?”

Reggie grits his teeth. “That’s not important.”

She pulls back, her eyes serious. “Reggie!”

He relents with a pained expression. “I put a tracker on your phone a few years ago, when you went on a date with that asshole Wyatt.”

Anger rises in Mia’s eyes, and she stares at him in complete disbelief. “You are exactly the kind of man my mother warned me about. You’re the kind of man you warned me about. I should run for the hills!”

Jennifer laughs against my shoulder, then winces. “No, Mia,” she says, watching the two of them cling to each other. “He’s the best kind of man.” She glances at me and says, “The kind who breaks his own rules for you. You should hold on to him with everything you have.”

Chapter Forty-Three

Fitz

The Silver House lawn is a vision of understated elegance for Wells and Victory’s wedding, with candlelit lanterns hanging from tree branches, string lights casting a romantic glow over tables draped in white linen, and shimmering glass centerpieces overflowing with white lilies, red roses, and delicate greenery. But beneath the finery, the island’s soul beats sure and steady in the sea air, the moonlit water, and the familiar faces gathered to celebrate the brother I wasn’t sure would ever settle down.

I’m so damn happy for him. Hell, I’m happy for all of us, getting to share in his and Victory’s big day. He looks sharp in his tux, and Victory is stunning in a blush-pink one-shoulder satin gown with a fitted bodice and a layered tulle skirt with blush-pink floral rosettes cascading down to the hem.