Page 120 of Victorious: Part 3
“I can do that,” he says thoughtfully. “Work with kids who’ve been through hell, help them feel safe again, sounds like exactly the kind of thing I want to be doing with my life. Even if those miniature assassins do scare me a little.”
Chuckling, I smile. “Just think of them as other versions of Poppy because that’s kind of what they are.”
He jerks his head back, pulling a hilarious face at me. “Jesus! More versions of Poppy running around. All in the one building, and Sadie is going to be their teacher?”
I lean up and kiss him, soft and sweet and full of promise. “Poppy and Haven are going to be there to help guide them too. Remember, these kids have been through a lot, and everyone is damaged in their own way. Some just more than others. I love you, baby, but even you’re not immune from emotional trauma,” I tell him against his lips.
He raises his brow, kissing me back, humming under his breath. “I love you, too, Reel Girl. And I see what you did there. Okay, I’m in. Let’s help these tiny assassins get back on their feet.”
I cuddle into him, and around us, the clubhouse continuesits gentle wind-down. Dracula has claimed his favorite spot on Ink’s lap, purring so loudly I can hear him from across the room. Cassandra is attempting to teach Ink some complicated card game, their heads bent together in concentration. Navy just sunk what looks like a winning shot against Theo, who’s protesting loudly about trick shots and unfair advantages.
This is family, I realize.
Not the family I was born into, though Maverick and I will always have that bond, but the family I’ve chosen.
The family that chose me back.
Phoenix and me, Alpha and Haven, all the brothers and their partners, even Dracula in his own feline way, we’re all connected now by something stronger than blood. By choice, by loyalty, by love forged in the fire of shared struggle.
“Alpha!” Haven calls from across the room, her tone clearly conveys that she’s had one too many tequilas. “When are we doing it, asshole?”
Alpha looks up, blinking a few times, the tiredness clear on his face. “Doing what?” he calls back from the other side of the clubhouse over the music.
“The fucking wedding, you idiot. Our wedding,” she says, raising her shot in the air with such force that all her drink spills out of it.
We all laugh as Alpha grins. He sets down his drink, stands, and walks over, wrapping his arms around her, making her squeal with the force. “How about next month? Right after we get the center opened?”
She stares up at him lovingly, although very drunkenly, as she sways in his arms. “Perfect,” Haven says, standing on her toes to kiss him.
Another loud cheer erupts around the room, even the brothers passed out on the floor seem to wake for the occasion before Poppy slams into their legs, embracing them tightly.
“Think they’ll actually make it to the altar this time?” Phoenix asks quietly.
“They better,” I reply. “I already have my dress picked out and the social media layout planned.”
He chokes back his laugh. “Of course you do.”
The night stretches on, comfortable, warm, and full of possibility. Tomorrow will bring new challenges, I’m sure, it always does. But tonight, surrounded by the people I love most in the world, watching new relationships bloom and old ones deepen, I feel something I haven’t felt in a long time—genuine optimism about the future.
Phoenix’s hand finds mine in the dim light of the clubhouse, our fingers intertwining naturally. His wedding ring, our brand-new ones that flood me with so much excitement and love, feels cool against my palm.
And even though I love that we have new rings.Real rings.We still have our impulsive makeshift rings locked away for safekeeping. Those rings tell our story perfectly. How we were impulsive, unpredictable, maybe a little crazy, but absolutely, unquestionablyall shook upand in love.
Vegas will always hold a special place in my heart.
Dracula chooses that moment to abandon Ink and make his way over to us, leaping gracefully onto the couch and settling himself across both our laps like he owns us.
“I can’t believe we brought this damn cat home with us,” Phoenix says, scratching behind Dracula’s ears.
“I can’t remember a time before we owned him.” I smile as the cat begins his rumbling purr.
Phoenix cuddles into me further, continuing to pet our cat, and he sighs contentedly. “I hate to say it, but you’re right, and this is the only time you’re going to hear me say this, but I think I love this fucking cat.”
Jerking my head back, my mouth drops open as I stare at him,and he glares at me. “Don’t make it fucking weird, Clo.”
Giggling, I say nothing, simply turn back, sinking into his arms, loving the fact that I’m married to the best man in the world, and we both love our pet cat.
What could be better than that?
