Page 56 of Bound and Blitzed

“Thank you, Avery,” Nova says, gesturing toward a server holding a tray of champagne flutes. “Help yourselves and have fun!”

She moves on to greet Jag Baglione and his date.

“Hey! Glad to see you,” Leni says, pulling me into a warm hug.

“You too!” I hug her back, meaning it. I exchange greetings with Talon Miller before Leni pulls me toward Raia and some of the other women.

“You look gorgeous, sister.” Raia kisses my cheek warmly.

“I’m so happy to see you,” I gush.

“Me too.” She smiles, pulling me toward the bar. Raia orders us two signature cocktails—cranberry aperol spritzes—and gives me a knowing look. “You doing okay?”

I sigh. “Carla is speaking to me.”

“I know. But I also know it’s been tough on her. Which means it’s been tough on you, too.”

“You don’t have to do this, Rai. Carla is your friend?—”

“Carla will always be one of my best friends. But you’re my sister, Vale. I care about you, and I know your parents’ silence is hurtful,” Raia says softly.

I nod, looking away. “Of course, I wish they were more supportive. If they just got to know Avery…”

“Eh, they still might not approve.”

I snap my gaze back to Raia and she laughs.

“I’m kidding,” she says, thanking the bartender and passing me a glass. “They will come around. Carla’s talking to them. She wants you to be happy. That’s what your family wants, deep down. They just need to see you with my brother to know that.” Her gaze flickers to Avery before finding mine again. “When you two are in the same room…” She sighs. “Listen, when Avery first told me about the two of you, I didn’t believe it. You guys are opposites, and I wondered what you could have in common. But seeing you together, knowing you both as individuals and now as a couple, it’s obvious you’re in love with each other. Your parents just need to see it to believe it.”

Unsure what to say, I take a gulp of my drink.

Is that how we look? Like a couple in love?

The thought causes my cheeks to heat and my heart to race. I mean, of course people must think we’re in love—we got married! But Raia’s words don’t cause an onslaught of panic. Instead, they bring about an acknowledgement. The seed of truth springs upward, blossoming into realization.

I’m falling in love with Avery. I’m falling in love with my husband.

The man who swore he couldn’t give me rainbows and magic has already given me so much more. I glance around the space until I find him.

And, as if he senses my reaching out to him, Avery turns and his eyes find mine.

Hold.

He smiles, one side of his mouth hitching up.Are you okay?he silently asks.

I bite my bottom lip and dip my chin.Never better, I reply.

Beside me, Raia sighs. “Smitten as a fucking kitten.”

I snort and turn back to her.

“Merry Christmas, babe.” She holds out her glass.

I clink mine against it. “Merry Christmas, Rai.”

Then, we drink to the night. To the holidays. To the future, which already seems brighter.

“Are you girls warm enough?” Arlene asks Raia and me as we huddle under a blanket in the box seats.

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