Page 141 of Best In Class
She grins wickedly. “Abso-fucking-lutely.”
“You gonna tell our kidsthat? That you swore as you said yes?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” she repeats and holds out her hand. “Put it on.”
I slide the ring on her finger.
It fits like a dream.
I stand. She throws her arms around me. Kisses me.
The waves rush up, cool around our ankles.
The sky glows behind her. And I know, we didn’t just get lucky, we earned this. Fought for it.
We stay wrapped in each other for a long time, her fingers brushing the back of my neck, my forehead against hers.
She grins at me, eyes still shining. “Can we go skinny dipping now?” she asks.
“Sure, why the hell not?” I say as if it’s such a chore. “Come on, Moonbeam, let’s get naked and get this done with.”
Then we get into the waves, splashing at one another like children.
I don’t think we’ve ever been happier.
CHAPTER 38
Luna
A YEAR LATER
The cameras are everywhere.
Savannah’s finest are out in full force—city officials, board members, donors in expensive shoes, and Helena Houston and her PR team swarming around like a wasps in designer suits.
The Minton Memorial Hospital gleams under the spring sun—steel and glass and green walls. The vertical garden in the pediatric wing is already lush. The atrium light reflects off every surface like we planned, as if the building itself is grateful to exist.
AndIdid this.
Well, the team did, but…yeah, I did this. I led it. I take pride in it.
I square my shoulders at the thought.
I hate this PR nonsense—smiling for cameras,speaking in soundbites, performing competence instead of just doing the work. It feels hollow. But I know that if I don’t show up, if I don’t take the mic, some man who knows half as much and speaks twice as loud will take my place.
As Dom told me, this is not just about me, it’s about every woman who comes after.
Women have been sidelined for too long—talked over, talked down to, or completely ignored. And if women like me, who are in the room, don’t lean in—don’t stand up and be counted—then who’s going to hold the door open for the next one?
I don’t want to do it. But I will because we deserve more than quiet corners and silent brilliance.
We deserve to lead.
We deserve to be seen.
And sometimes, that means stepping into the spotlight even when it burns.
But I refuse to step into the spotlight as anyone but me. Helena tried. She wanted me to wear a suit,blah, blah. I told her I’ll wear pants and a jacket.
