Page 93 of Restrained

Vivienne sits down at the table, exchanging a glance with Penelope before looking back at me. “Me too.”

Penelope grins at me happily. “Looks like this wedding was extremely beneficial for most of us.”

I smile, none of us actually needed to talk about this new revelation.

We’re on our way to being as whole as we can be, and although bittersweet, it’s mostly sweet.

40

LOLA

It’s been a few weeks since the wedding, and we’re slowly getting back to normal. It’s been good to be back in the warmth of California.

The second hotel is about to open, and Hayden and I are working to get the third one open very soon. Of course, it’s more pleasure than business these days, and I'm more than happy about that. We’ve both learned to slow down and enjoy.

I stare at Hayden lying in my bed, naked and only his lower half covered by my white down comforter. He is magnificent, not only in physical beauty but in the strength he’s given me since I've known him. He challenges me in ways I never expected.

And I've never been one to resist a challenge.

I kiss his cheek and smile when he doesn’t move, dead to the world as he sleeps.

I grab my silky robe and wrap it around me as I walk to the kitchen, not yet hearing Baz running around the house this morning.

Viv’s dark hair catches my eyes as I grab a cup of coffee and notice her out on the patio. She’s been quiet since the wedding,and I've been trying to stay out of it, hoping that Asher didn’t hurt her.

Hayden is right, I can’t fix them no matter how badly I want to.

I open the door and walk out to join her. She’s smiling with a mug in her hand and looking out over the ocean. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Viv. If Baz is still asleep, why the hell are you awake?”

She laughs and takes a sip of her coffee. “The quiet is kind of nice.”

I have to ask her. I see the sadness in her eyes, and I’m taking baby steps with the whole not meddling thing. “Did you and Asher get into it at the wedding? He was quite something there.”

She shakes her head slowly. “No. He doesn’t talk to me anymore, Lola. He calls and asks to speak to Baz, and that’s it. He doesn't care enough to try to upset me.”

She seems saddened by that fact, and I feel awful for her. I know how much she still loves him. “I think I messed up, Viv.” She looks surprised, her eyes on mine as I continue. “I never should have convinced you to leave. I was worried about you guys, and I thought it was best, but that doesn’t mean itwaswhat was best.”

“You were right. We were torturing each other, and it was only going to get worse.”

“Or maybe you would have worked it out. You don’t seem to be moving on here.”

She studies me cautiously and then sighs. “You mean with Sawyer?”

I nod. “I thought that you wanted to see if that was going to move toward a commitment, but it seems to be the same sort of arrangement you had with Asher.”

I don’t want to hurt her, and I don’t want to overstep anymore. But she is my friend. “Maybe that’s all I really want right now. I don’t think I’m ready for being in love and a committed relationship. And I don’t regret moving here.”

“Do you regret leaving him behind?”

She thinks that over. “Yes. He’s Baz’s uncle, and they have this insane bond. I think I should have left things differently, Not so abruptly.”

I’m pretty sure that is my fault. I put the urgency to move in her mind. “I’m so sorry, Viv. I had no right to put so much pressure on you. I love my family so much. I thought I was...”

She stops me. with a hand on my arm. “You thought you were helping. And you were trying to. I’m a big girl, Lola. I made my own decisions. I have to live with them.”

“Do you want to be with him?”

---