I glance at the screen. It’s open to my social media feed and—"Whoa!" I straighten. "Am I reading that correctly?"
"One million likes on this social media feed and the video’s been shared on other platforms and racked up thirty times that in views."
"No way," I gasp.
"Yes way, lady. You’re a celebrity," Zara announces.
My arms and legs tremble. At the same time, that weightless feeling I’ve been carrying since Liam’s earlier declaration intensifies. Surely, I must be dreaming. Maybe I’m in a parallel world where, not only am I free to be myself in front of everyone, but also there are people out there who support me in this endeavor.
Liam must sense the emotions coursing through me, for he brushes his lips against my temple and whispers, "You okay?"
I nod.
"You want me to tell them to fuck off so you have some time to come to grips with everything?"
"No, it’s okay. I want to see them."
"Not for long, though."
I peer into his features, and the hunger I see there sparks a burn of need in my lower belly. My thighs clench. I bite down on my lower lip. He lowers his gaze to my mouth and his gaze heats.
Zara throws up her hands. "Seriously, you guys, can’t you keep your hormones in check for a few minutes more?"
"No," Liam says at the same time that I laugh.
"Sorry. We’ll behave, I promise."
She spins around and walks back into the study. Hunter follows. Liam strolls into his study, still carrying me. That’s when I realize he was right. Not only are Summer and Karma seated on either end of a couch but their husbands Sinclair and Michael are also there both standing behind their wives. Weston is seated with Amelie on his lap in another chair. Arpad is leaning against a table with Karina in the V between his legs. There’s also Declan Beauchamp, who cuts a solitary figure near the bar.
Their gazes track us. None of them comment on Liam’s new look, either. It’s almost like they expected it of him, and accept that this is right for the two of us. Liam walks over to the armchair near the unlit fireplace. He sinks into it with me in his lap.
"Glad to see you all are so at home," he drawls.
"Thought you wouldn’t mind us consuming your favorite whiskey, either." Hunter pipes up from where he’s joined Declan near the bar. Zara takes the seat farthest from him, which puts her near Amelie and Weston.
"What are you having?" Liam narrows his gaze on the glass in Michael’s hand that’s filled with clear liquid. "Is that—?"
"Soda," Michael confirms.
"Soda?" Liam blinks. "That what you’re having, too, Sinclair?"
"And about time. Why should they drink when their wives can’t?" Zara interjects.
Sinclair raises his glass. "I have no regrets. I can truthfully say, I don’t miss the booze. If I can support Summer in this journey, it’ll all have been worth it."
Hunter looks at Liam. "Perhaps I should get you soda, too, so you can start practicing."
Liam laughs. "Bet you were waiting for the opportunity to say that to me."
"I freely admit that." He raises his glass filled with an amber liquid that must be whiskey, given the open bottle on the bar between him and Declan.
"Sorry, again, about barging in, but we wanted to be the first to congratulate you, Isla, on your very brave step, and to tell you that we’re here with you and for you, every step of the way." Hunter raises his glass.
"We are in your corner," Summer blows me a kiss.
"To you, Isla, and to Liam, for being with you on this adventure." Karma smiles.
"We have jointly donated a million dollars to the National Alopecia Research Foundation. It’s nothing compared to what you must have gone through, but it’s the least we could do." Michael squeezes Karma’s hand.