Page 50 of The Waiter at Table 6

VANESSA

One Year Later

“Welcome to the Beachfront Condos!”

As soon as the giant scissors cut through the red ribbon, the crowd erupts into cheers. I can’t keep the smile off my face as I clap along with them.

With the ribbon cut, the grand opening ceremony is officially over. Around me, my boss Olivia’s team moves to mingle with people in the crowd.

Which is Ryder’s signal that he can finally join me on stage.

He shoots up the steps with a big smile, eyes locked onto mine. When he reaches me, he’s quick to wrap his arms around my waist and press a kiss to my temple.

“Congratulations, babe,” he says excitedly.

“Yes, congratulations, Vanessa!”

I turn to see Ryder’s mom has also come to the ceremony. My surprise instantly melts into a feeling of warmth.

“Thanks, Ava,” I say with a smile, stepping forward to accept her hug. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Of course, I was coming!” she says. “This is so exciting, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Chris would be here, too, but he needed to cover the restaurant so Ryder could be here.”

Because of course Ryder’s family is as supportive as he is. I would expect nothing less.

She glances back the way she came. “I do have to get back to the restaurant for the lunch rush, though, so unfortunately, I can’t stay. But we’ll see you for Sunday dinner, yes?”

“Now that I wouldn’t miss,” I respond with a grin.

Ava nods. “Good. Because Melissa is bringing her new boyfriend over, and we need your help to see if he’s a sore loser.”

I’m still laughing as she walks off with a wave.

“So…” comes Ryder’s voice from behind me. His arms are once again glued around my waist, clearly not wanting to let go. “How’s it feel? Looking at your fully finished creation, knowing someone paid you a shit ton of money for it.”

I take a big breath in, then let out a heavy exhale filled with pride. “Surreal,” I breathe. “Exhausting. Exhilarating. Like I can’t wait for the next one.”

His chuckle tickles my ear. “Mom overheard Olivia talking about how she can’t wait to refer you to a contact of hers who’s opening a new hotel in the town over. You should probably expect a call.”

I couldn’t hide my smile if I tried. Olivia had mentioned the new condo to me, and she’d said as much about recommending me, but knowing she’s telling other people about it makes my confidence in my abilities skyrocket.

Looking up at the building we’re standing in front of, I take in the space I designed—singlehandedly. I had doubts, I had worries, and I spent more nights than I care to admit with frustrated tears in my eyes, but I did it. I did it. And I’m so fucking proud of myself.

“So, when’s move-in day?” Ryder asks, snapping me out of my introspection.

I shift my focus to the man who’s been nothing but supportive for the past year as I worked through this new and very terrifying phase of my life. The man who never let me be anything but true to myself, who loved me through every high and every low.

The man I fell in love with for precisely that reason and so many more.

I squeeze him a little tighter to me. “Two weeks. I told Olivia I’d let the grand opening craziness die down before I moved in and potentially put more on her shoulders.”

Ryder lets out a thoughtful hum, the sound tickling my neck. “And the new owners close on the house next weekend, right?” he asks, his lips brushing against my skin. “So we can still reminisce on that patio couch one last time?”

I laugh at the direction of his thoughts. “Dirty, dirty mind,” I tease. “But yes, we close on the house next weekend.”

The beach house sold quickly once I made the decision to list it. I almost didn’t want to, since it was paid off and I was making good money with my new job, but a part of me felt like I needed to move on. It was the place I took several big first steps, but I needed a new space to continue to grow.

So I’m moving into the condos. On my own. Ryder and I haven’t explicitly talked about moving in together, but I think that’s because he’s giving me time to grow into my own. Which just makes me love him even more.

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