Page 93 of Made For You
I felt him take a heavy breath before he said, “You’re really happy, aren’t you?”
Glancing up at my brother, I noticed how tired he looked. I wondered if the change in our relationship affected him as much as it had affected me. The only difference was that I had Talon in my life.
“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
“That’s good.”
“I think you’d like Talon if you really gave him a chance.” Andrew nodded and looked across the room where Talon was watching us with a contented smile.
“I’ll try harder.”
“Thank you.”
“I know I’ve said it a hundred times already, but Iamsorry… for everything. What I did was wrong. Sometimes I forget that you girls are all adults. You’re still those little girls that begged me to play dolls with you when I would have rather rode my bike outside.”
I smiled remembering all the times he helped us play house and take care of our babydolls. “You played with us every time.”
“Because I love you.”
“I love you too, Andrew.” We were already close from dancing, but I released his hand and wrapped both arms around his shoulders, hugging him tightly.
He leaned down and whispered, “I only ever wanted to protect you and make sure you were happy.”
“I know, big brother.”
We finished dancing to the song, and I felt Andrew and I had a turning point in our relationship. Maybe we were on the right path to the friendship we once had. He made his way toward the bar in the corner, and I set my sights on my husband.
Instead of taking the vacant seat, I casually sat on Talon’s lap. His strong arm wrapped around my waist, tugging me closer to him.
“Hey, peaches.”
“Hi.”
“Aurora!” Dean shouted over the music from across the table. “Did Talon tell you about Jeremy? It’s all over the papers.” I’d been so consumed with making sure Franny had the perfect wedding that I’d been out of the loop for weeks. The last news article I read was about Talon’s uncle being sentenced to life in prison. That was the same day Gigi officially moved to Ashfield,over a month ago. Between the wedding and the baby-making, I was already stretched thin.
“No, what about him?”
“He was caught embezzling political funds from investors for his father’s campaign.”
“What?” I knew he was a sleaze, but that was a new low, even for Jeremy. I still couldn’t believe we’d dated for so long.
Dean was cackling as he scrolled through his phone. “That’s not even the best part.” He turned his screen around to show me the picture beneath the headline. It was Jeremy’s mug shot showing averyreceded, sparse hairline. It seemed like the last time we all saw him, he had been wearing a toupée. “His wife was the one who turned him in.”
I was glad she found a way out of that farce of a marriage. I knew a contractual wedding wasn’t going to work out for everyone, but I was sure glad it worked out for me.
“Where’d Aspen run off to?” I asked Dean noticing my sister was no longer in sight. Neither was my dad.
“She and your dad went to talk to someone. Well, in reality your sister freaked out when she saw some guy walk in while you were out on the dance floor. I assume she went to ask why he was there and your dad followed.” Most of the people in attendance were from Ashfield, except a few out-of-towners on Liam’s side.
“Hm… Mom any idea who it was?” I asked her, interrupting a conversation she was having with Alex. When she asked who I was referring to, I repeated what Dean had just said.
“Oh, I’m not sure, but Betsy was telling me that Owen Ramsey was back in town.” He had been Aspen’s nemesis growing up. The two had some sick pleasure in tormenting each other.
Talon’s fingers ran along the exposed skin of my back as I leaned my head against his shoulder, nearly curling up in his lap. He twisted his head, his lips brushing along my forehead, as he asked, “Think Franny would notice if I took you home?”
“And miss all the dancing and fun?”
A puff of air escaped his nose as he chuckled. “We danced and drank and entertained all these same people three months ago at our own reception.”
