Page 93 of Best Kept Secret

"Then promise me that no matter who says what, you'll first talk to me andneverbelieve someone else over me."

He kissed me softly. "I promise."

Chapter 36

Beau

Istood in the middle of Mira's small apartment, surveying the setup we'd thrown together in the last hour. Balloons hung from the ceiling—pastel shades, the kind Nova swore Mira liked, even though Mira wasn't one for this kind of thing. She hated a fuss, but Nova had insisted. The dining table had a plain vanilla cake in the center, white frosting, and nothing over the top. Katya had baked it, saying it was the least she could do after everything that had happened.

I wasn't much for decorations or parties, but this wasn't about me. It was about showing Mira we hadn't forgotten. ThatIremembered.

She hadn't had a birthday celebration for many years. Her parents had thrown parties when she was younger, but that was to show off their home and hospitality to the Indian community. This year, when she turned twenty-three, I wanted to give her a party with family and friends, those who loved and cared for her to be there with and for her.

The apartment wasn't big, but it was warm. Old brick walls, hardwood floors that creaked underfoot, and the soft scent of whatever candle she had burned the previous night still lingered in the air. We'd draped fairy lights around the apartment, and Mama had brought in a truckload of flowers to brighten every room.

Mama was now all in with Mira, regretting how she'd behaved. The Sens had tried to get in touch with her again, and she'd told them she'd rather see them dead than in her house, and if they dared to show up in front of her again, she warned them, she was a good shot. All true. My father had been a gun aficionado and had taught both Trevor and me to shoot and maintain guns responsibly. I still went to the range at times for fun, though it had been a while. Trevor, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with guns, especially as a schoolteacher who hated that his students and colleagues needed to do active shooter drills.

Pari sat on the couch, bouncing with excitement, clutching a small box wrapped in glittery paper. She was practically vibrating with joy, waiting for Mira to walk through that door so she could hand over her present to herMiramashi.

I wasn't as calm as I looked, which was fucking nuts. I managed big money deals, and here I was, sweating at a birthday party for a grown-up.

But this wascrucialbecause it was yet another way for us all to show Mira how much we cherished her.

She hadn't told anyone it was her birthday. She'd been working, living her days as if it were just another date onthe calendar. Nova knew since she was the office manager for Savannah Lace and had her employment papers, and I had a dossier on Mira that a PI had put together.

We decided to throw a surprise party, especially since Nova had a key to Mira's apartment, which used to be hers.

Mama was by the window, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She hadn't said much since we started setting up, but I could feel her guilt in every look she gave me, every shaky breath she took.

She had checked with me, and I'd agreed that giving Mira a Bodine heirloom as a birthday gift was the right thing to do, a way to make her feel like she was part of the family. But I'd warned her to keep it simple because Mira wasn't into the ostentatious. Mama had listened and had wrapped up a delicate tennis bracelet that she'd inherited from her mother-in-law and wanted to pass on to my future wife.

Whatever issues Mama had with Mira seemed to have disappeared. She'd resolved what was happening in her head, especially after she found out how she'd hurt Mira, who was the person who least deserved it.

"Looks like we're ready," Nova announced, straightening one last string of lights before glancing toward the door.

"Yeah." I nodded. When I'd told Gabe that I was going to set up for Mira's birthday party myself, he'd looked at me like I'd told him I was planning to wear a pink tutu and danceSwan Lake. I didn't blame him—this was exactly like me putting on a fucking pink ballerina dress and doing a pirouette.

This was not a Beau Bodine anyone would recognize—but then they'd never seen the Beau Bodine who was madly in love with a damaged woman, who he'd further hurt because he had his head way up his ass.

On top of the fact that Mira was so young—sure, she was more mature than most twenty-two-year-olds, but she was nearlyeleven years younger than me. It was my job to let her grow into herself without my influence. As a possessive man who didn't want her out of my sight, this shit wasn't exactly easy.

"She's here," Katya announced as she was on watch, looking out of the window.

A few minutes later, we heard the key turn in the lock, and everyone fell silent. Pari giggled softly, her hands clasped in excitement.

The door creaked open, and Mira stepped inside, her expression blank at first—probably tired from work, expecting the same solitude she'd grown used to. But then her eyes landed on all of us, and I watched her freeze in the doorway, her entire body going rigid.

"Miramashi!" Pari squealed, running over and throwing her arms around Mira's legs. "Suppise!"

Mira blinked, her mouth slightly open, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of the room—decorated just for her. The cake, the Bengali food, the balloons, the fairy lights. The family she'd been trying to push away, standing there waiting for her, trying to make things right.

For a second, she looked like she might bolt. Her eyes flicked over to me. First, there was confusion and then followed her beautiful smile.

"Happy Birthday!" we all cried out.

"Thank you." She looked around in awe, her voice barely above a whisper. She dropped down to pick up Pari.

"Darlin'." I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around her, dropping a kiss on her mouth. "Happy Birthday."

---