Page 50 of Sweet and Salty

CHAPTER 20

Zoe

Owen’s club is packed as we make our way to the VIP section he reserved especially for me and my friends tonight, a little mini celebration since he’s fully healed.

I hug Luna, Anne, and Lyla, nodding to Jim, Brad, Ridge, and Caleb, who happens to have the night off, as we all get settled into the lush couches in the VIP area.

Owen doesn't bother making room for me next to him, instead perching me on his lap in the seat he takes next to his friend. Music is pumping, and our view from the balcony on the second level gives us the perfect view of the dance floor below, crowded with bodies and people having a great time.

The night is a happy celebration, and somewhat of a callback to the first night I met him. It's not a masquerade party this time, so everyone came as they are, and I can't help but be on cloud nine at the how well my friends get along with Owen and Caleb.

“We have an announcement to make,” Anne says after we've all had a few drinks and have been laughing and chatting spontaneously throughout the night. She stands up in our little group, smiling down at Jim who holds her hand, looking up at her like she hung the moon. “I know that this little group knowswe eloped, but no oneelseknows. And I think we're finally ready to getofficiallymarried.”

I hurry to set down my drink, me and Luna and Lyla all jumping up from our seats and wrapping her in an excited, squeal-filled hug.

After we've had our little moment and settle down, Anne grips Lyla’s hand, asking if she'll be her maid of honor, and if me and Luna would be bridesmaids.

“Of course I will,” Lyla says, her words slurring slightly thanks to the drinks we’ve had.

Jim stands up then, nudging Ridge. “And you know I need you to be my best man,” he says to his best friend.

Ridge grumbles, but his eyes are smiling. “And here I thought you two eloping meant I dodged that bullet.” He cracks the smallest grin, nodding at Jim.

“And it's going to be an elaborate thing,” Anne continues to the group. “I'm sure none of you could’ve guessed, but I want to do the full wedding experience, just like my sister Persephone did. It'll be a weeklong affair, and I'm going to need my maid of honor and the best man to help plan and organize it all.”

Luna and I can barely hold back our smiles or as we look from Lyla to Ridge, two people who argue almost as much as they make heated glances at each other.

And now they're going to have to work together to plan a proper southern princess wedding for Anne and Jim? That’ll be interesting.

We celebrate for a little longer, Anne and Jim swapping stories from when they’d been friends before, Caleb disappearing sometime in the middle of the celebration, no doubt to chase down some pretty entertainment for the night.

Owen dips his head, putting his lips at the shell of my ear. “Come with me, Kitten,” he whispers, tugging on my hand andleading me away from my friends and up another set of stairs until we're back on the roof, the door closing behind us.

“So this is where it all started,” he says, grinning at me mischievously.

I returned the grin, fire dancing beneath my skin as I draw closer to him. “Do you want to play up here again, Silver?” I ask him just like he asked me the last time we were up here.

Owen wraps his arms around me, tucking me close as he plants a soft and smoldering kiss against my lips. “With you, Kitten?” he asks, pulling back and dropping to one knee. I gasp as he tugs a black velvet box from his pocket, popping the lid to reveal a gorgeous diamond ring set in a band of gold. “Always?” he poses the question.

Tears line my eyes as I nod. “Always sounds perfect.” I extend my left hand, and he slides the ring on my finger, a smile on his face as he scoops me up, drawing me to his eye level, kissing me hard enough to steal my breath and make sparks dance over my skin.

I wrap my arms around his neck, kissing him back, giving him everything he’s offering and more. “I love you,” I say against his mouth, meaning every single word in the truest sense of its meaning.

“I love you,” he says before reclaiming my mouth.

And as we clash together on the rooftop, the stars shining above us just like they did the first night we met, I find myself diving headfirst into my happily ever after.

And I don't dare look back.

Epilogue

RIDGE

“So I can't drive anymore,” Lyla says to Anne, the two girls falling into a fit of giggles. “I totally only meant to have one, but I think I'm on number three?”

“We can take you home,” Jim says, who, like myself, has stuck to only water tonight. Jim invited me to the little impromptu celebration for Zoe’s new guy, and I never miss an opportunity to get out of Sweet Water.

“No, I don't want you guys to have to leave now,” Lyla says, the cutest little wrinkle forming between her brows. “But I'm totally ready to go. I'll just call a Lyft.”

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