“Hmm.” Bailey looked him up and down before her smile erupted again. “You make a good point. Fine. I’ll allow it.”
With a tip of his head, Henry lowered his arms and pushed his hands into his trouser pockets as he winked at me.
Butterflies took flight in my stomach yet again, and I hoped and prayed that there’d never become a day where I took a simple wink from him for granted.
“I’m so sorry I brought the drama to the party,” Rhea said with a theatrical sigh of her own, pulling up beside me and giving me a one-armed hug. “Love the house, Bee. Stratford-Upon-Avon looks good on you.” She glanced over at Henry. “You, too, Cohen.”
“Good to know, Rhea. Glad you approve.”
“Wouldn’t have let you move her two hours away from us if I didn’t.”
“Okay, that’s enough from you two.” With a roll of my eyes, I broke free from their arms and gifted them with jobs they hadn’t asked for, thanks to their early arrival. I poured them a strong drink each, then pushed them outside with dramatic flair. They made their way to the garden, taking it all in and looking around in wonder, and the look of awe on their faces filled me with pride. If anyone was going to be honest with their opinions of my new life, it would be my two best friends. Thankfully, though,it looked like they more than approved. Deep down, I’d always known they would.
Henry picked up his potato salad and leaned in to whisper, “Have I ever told you that your friends are terrifying?”
“You never needed to.” I smiled. “It’s hard to miss.”
“If I wink at you today, it means you need to come save me from their wrath, okay?”
“You got it, soldier.”
His manly growl and kiss to the cheek set my soul on fire, and I had to force myself to get back to finishing everything I’d gone overboard preparing.
Not long after, Andy and Jace arrived, hugging me with all their might, their interactions with Bailey and Rhea exactly the same as they’d been in Mykonos almost twelve months ago to the day. After Andy had grovelled enough to assure Bailey he’d never do anything to hurt me or Henry again, the two of them had hooked up several times over the last year, but neither one of them seemed invested enough to make the same move Henry and I had to stay together. Andy and Bailey were two fires, no ice, and they were either an inferno that raged for everyone to marvel at, or they were both left to fizzle out, leaving them with nothing much to do except… screw. They’d probably hook up again tonight if they had their way, and honestly, that had nothing to do with Henry or me. They were grown adults.
Rhea and Jace, however, still flirted like they had in Mykonos, dancing around each other with impeccable choreography, yet they’d never fully gone there. Even though what they did with their lives was up to them, a little part of me really saw the potential they had and hoped they’d somehow figure it out. They’re chemistry came far too naturally for them to never even try.
James and Nina arrived next, with my parents turning up in separate cars soon after, somehow arriving and walking through the door at the same time.
“My darling girl,” Mum said, rushing towards me with an embrace that came more naturally to her now, as though she’d been set free from the chains that had tied her down and kept her in her own misery for far too long.
“Hey, Mum.” I closed my eyes and squeezed back tighter. In the last eight months, our relationship had only bloomed, and I had to wonder how much weight she’d been carrying around with her when Grandpa became sick, and she hadn’t felt like she had the kind of support from Dad that I always had with Henry.
“You all settled in, sweetheart?” Dad said, hugging me soon after Mum once he’d placed two bottles of wine on the kitchen island. “The place looks great.”
“I think we’re just about unpacked. Thanks again for all your help with the move.”
“That’s what dads are for.”
I watched as he and Mum navigated the kitchen together, reaching for plates and oven dishes to take out to the garden tables, and I let their newfound happiness and ease around one another sink in. They looked like two different people to me now that the arguments and strain had disappeared. I had no idea if they’d get back together again in the future, and I had no desire to pry on their feelings. Whatever life had in store for them, I only hoped they found their peace once and for all. Even if that meant loving other people along the way.
When the time came for me tofinallyleave the kitchen and make my way out into the garden, all my friends and family turned to watch me walk down the few steps that led from the decking to the grass. I stopped in my tracks, my long skirt hitched up in one hand as I eyed each and every one of them warily.
“What? Why are you all staring at me?” I asked, glancing behind me to see if someone unexpected had arrived before I turned back to face them all again. “Do I have food in my hair or something?” I reached up to run my fingers through it.
Henry stepped forward, holding an ice-cold beer as he held his free hand out to me. With suspicion, I let mine slip into his, our fingers entwining as he pulled me forward. “Guess people can’t believe what a lucky bastard I am,” he said, but not so quietly that Andy and Jace didn’t start immediately laughing and making gagging noises at Henry’s expense. “Ignore them. Jealousy makes men act like boys.”
“Theyalwaysact like boys. Infants, in fact.”
“Hey!” Andy cried. “That’s not nice.”
“The truth never is, Andy. Suck it up.” I grinned.
“Am I late to the party?” came a voice from behind me.
We all turned to look up at the decking to see Lillie standing there, staring down at me.
Silence descended over everyone as though they’d all been starved of breath. Henry’s hand tightened around mine, and within an instant…
