“Did you know that orcas have been attacking great whites for the livers?” I bounce on my toes.
We go back and forth about shark facts, which keeps us busy, especially when we join Valerie and she includes her own stories until we get to the reception hall. Of course, I see Holden, Roman, and Gunner there too.
Tears prick my eyes again and I take an unsteady breath. Nick kisses my temple. “Go talk to him and I’ll reward you.”
“Bribery?” I snort.
“I may or may not have a picture that I drew as a kid … of a shark.” He whispers in my ear with a chuckle.
I groan, kiss his cheek, then take a hesitant step across the room. It feels so big. I can’t think of crossing it alone, but Holden meets me halfway and hugs me so tightly that I think my spine realigns. Without a word, he takes my hand and leads me into a hallway where we have some privacy.
“Sophie, I’m so sorry.”
“I know you had to.” I rub my arm. “But I … it doesn’t mean I like it.”
“I didn’t plan it.” He assures me, trying to calm me. He looks at my face and shakes his head. “Oh, baby, I made you cry.”
“I just have to accept that you guys are girl magnets.”
“I told her no. She wanted to try again, tried to say that you’re greedy and making me share because you make me feel like I’m not good enough to have you to myself and that’s not true.”
I wipe at my eyes.
Holden hugs me again after a brief hesitation. “Fuck, I love you so much. As soon as I sat down I wanted to get up and go to you. As soon as she said she wanted one lunch to change my mind, I knew that there was no point in the conversation.”
I sniffle. “You loved her once though.”
“So long ago. And it was a different me. You make me want to be so much better. Constant inspiration.” He insists. “She could be the most beautiful, the most successful, richest woman in the world and it wouldn’t matter.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s not you, Sophie.” He lifts my chin and presses his forehead to mine. I can tell he’s panting, that his eyes are watering. “Please don’t call this off because I had a meal with her. I told her no. I told her not to come. I told her to go home and get back to her life.”
I kiss him. He freezes a moment, but then he kisses me back, his mouth so soft, so compliant, and warm and perfect. Kissing Holden is … is as good as a top-tier spa package. It has the exact same effect on my body. My shoulders relax and every muscle relaxes.
“I’m yours.” He breathes before kissing me again. “Completely and totally. Unashamed.”
“Even if you’re sharing me?”
“You’re sharing me too.” He chuckles, kissing my forehead. “We both love the guys. Granted, I don’t want to fuck them, but I’m so happy at the idea of us all living together. I love our game nights. I love our group dates. I love the idea of a future where we all travel together, where I know they love you as much as I do. Where we’re all happy.”
I wipe at my eyes again and Holden curses. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be fixing the tears.”
Rolling my eyes, I shove him. “Save that shit for the vows.”
He hugs me and rubs his fingers through my hair. “Don’t you worry. Those are all set to go. We just have to get there.”
“No more drama,” I tell him.
“I’d say ‘I promise’ but I never would have expected Nancy to appear.” He sighs. “All I can tell you is I’m not going anywhere, baby.”
I squeeze him and we stand there for a while, calming each other with soft touches and whispered promises. When we walk back in, I’m still a damp mess. Gunner looks between us. “Are we … are we good?”
“Yeah.” I laugh once, lacing my fingers through Holden’s fingers. “We’re all set. We just need to get to the wedding part of this trip.”
Roman nods. Nick winks at me and we finish checking off our list for the day. The next day I finally manage to get to a salon since we didn’t manage to get that done before we left. I get a nice hair treatment, get waxed all over, get nice acrylics for the wedding, and another massage that I didn’t even realize I needed.
By the time we leave, I have that brand-new feeling again. Two more days.