Page 159 of Sunshine

“My dear,” Mrs. Cullen’s sharp voice cut in. “Stop before you embarrass yourself even more than you already have. You’ve brought up personal trials that you were the culprit in.”

Becca’s eyes widened, like she’d been slapped.

“This is a private event. If you will not use the good manners your parents saw fit to give you, we will ask you to leave.”

Talia went pale. “But we…but she’s been ignoring me for two weeks.”

I gritted my teeth, but before I could say a word, Mrs. Cullen turned her hawk-like gaze to Talia.

“As for you, if you want any business at all, I suggest you take the same advice. It is horribly inappropriate to bring these squabbles up at a party, where Ms. Kahele is working.”

Becca and Talia both looked like they wanted to protest, but Rob’s face had turned red. “Of course, Mrs. Cullen. Sorry to trouble you.”

“She doesn’t get to win—” Becca hissed.

Rob pulled both of them away, muttering under his breath.

I turned to Mrs. Cullen, and her guests. “I am so sorry that happened. I wasn’t aware they were on the guest list, or I would have steered past such a scene.”

“They came with the Baylor Firm,” Mrs. Cullen said. “You have nothing to be sorry for, dear. They areclearlyexperiencing sour grapes and thought their petty display would impact your event.”

“But it’s too grand,” the elderly man added. “Who among us hasn’t experienced the same thing from our rivals? Let us speak no more of it.”

And like that, they went back to talking about the event. Since Logan was there, I mentioned his vision for the menu, and we shifted the conversation to food.

I let out a breath. It was too much to hope this wouldn’t blow back on me, but no one was giving me shifty looks. They really meant it.

Becca and Talia tried their high school mean girl stunt, but it didn’t work. We weren’t teenagers anymore.

I relaxed and threw myself into the rest of the event.

We stayed until the small hours of the night, talking, dancing, and experiencing the rooms over and over. I met up with more guests, and we talked about the joy of trying experiences in certain orders, like the underwater room giving contrast to the desert vista. Or the mountain cabin after the guitar bar room.

My pack brought me home, leaving the take down for the cleaning staff we’d hired. I was exhausted, but peace settled over me.

Julian pulled me against him, and Luca and Logan cuddled either side of us.

“Thank you,” I said into the quiet dark of the room. Love pulsed inside me like a second heart. “For sticking up for me.”

“Always,” Luca said. “We willneverlet someone attack you like that.”

It was true. They had been there for me over and over, in every way that mattered.

“I got so lucky.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it.” Logan kissed my cheek. “You love with all of your heart. You throw yourself into everything you do. How could we not fall in love with you?”

“And we’re pretty amazing,” Julian said. “Of course we’d bring you into our pack.”

“We should go on a trip.” Luca nuzzled into my ear. “Just the four of us, now that the crazy events are done with.”

“But I still have three bonding ceremonies.”

“We’d leave a few months from now.” Luca sounded certain. “Somewhere beautiful, with a good food scene.”

“Italy,” Logan said. “The coast is beautiful. And I wanted to check out some of the new restaurants in Naples.”

I couldn’t hide the zip of excitement at spontaneously leaving the country on a whim.

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