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Alastair presses his hand against the small of my back, and I have a feeling he’s doing the same to Ci. It’s time to go.

“I’d love to say it’s been a pleasure, but you tried to make my boyfriend eat a stranger’s pussy.”

Emil barks out a laugh as the three of us turn and walk away. We’re not small guys, but that’s as close to a diva walk as any of us will ever get.

“I feel like I need to brush my teeth,” Ci mutters under his breath.

“I can’t believe he smoked the fucking cigar,” I rasp.

“Not another word until we’re in our hotel room,” Alastair commands, already calling a ride share as we leave the club. We caught a break at the stadium with a couple of cabs waiting to get lucky, but we’re going to have to wait for someone willing to make a trip to The Rocks.

What an insane fucking night.

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

JULY

NOOR

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask Emil, glancing at him as we walk to the boat.

Zayn changed his mind about the redwoods, and decided to go whale watching instead. His aunts were a big factor in this, because aquatic creatures are their new favorite animals.

I’m not against this as long as I can sit.

“I can’t enjoy watching my favorite adult grandchild?” Emil snorts.

“I’m your only adult grandchild,” I giggle. Arran is up ahead with Zayn on his shoulders, listening to Adelina and Ari. They’ve both been warned not to call me Noor.

Liliana, Rachelle, and I sat them both down and carefully explained that I don’t go by that name in San Diego. I could see there were a lot of questions in their eyes but they both took deep breaths and Ari asked if I was hiding from someone. I said I was, and that was that.

They’re so damn smart, and I know that someday, there will be questions I will have to answer. I owe Zayn some of those answers too, but for now, he’s six and not equipped to process them.

Today, he gets to stay my precious little boy and I can protect his childhood in a way no one else did mine.

“You are, and you’re thriving,” Emil says approvingly. “With a boyfriend I don’t hate.”

“Dad, we can’t intimidate everyone with a shotgun anymore,” Ignacio grins. We’re such a big group, we chartered our own boat for today. It’s a gorgeous day, and I’m armed with a hat, fan, and lots of water.

“Oh the good old days,” I drawl, rolling my eyes. “Your mafia is showing.”

“Shh. Don’t tell our secrets, mija,” Emil whispers as I laugh.

Arran turns to find me, his lips curving up as he does. Zayn waves, his sunglasses in place with his hat as he grins. We started the day at Emil’s house with the birthday girls, and it’s been full of beautiful chaos and fun.

I will definitely need a nap after the boat ride, but I’m going to love every second of this.

“I can’t believe you invited him,” Ignacio says. “Does that mean this is serious?”

“Emil, no.” His eyes glitter with mischief and he tucks his hands into his pockets to join his wife who winks at me, knowing he’s up to no good.

“Oh really.”

“What are we discussing?” Theo asks, joining us.

“Isla’s boyfriend.”