Page 75 of Relentless (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 2)

I scurry over to try to see them with Zion and Levi hot my heels. Griff stays a few feet away, watching for them to come up the stairs. I see one of the deck crew help Lilith off the tender. She’s looking over her shoulder and holding out her left hand for Connor. The diamond sparkles, catching rays of sunlight. A barely suppressed squeal escapes me, and Claire shoots a glare my way.

Levi pulls me away from the rail and whispers in my ear, “Act natural.”

I can’t act natural, my best friend just got engaged!

Lilith’s icy blue eyes go wide in shock when she reaches the top of the stairs. She glances back at Con and sees his wide smile, both dimples popping. I launch myself at her as soon as she takes another step.

“Congratulations!” I squeal into her ear while I bounce up and down. Then she’s pulled from my arms and enveloped by Zion. I grab Con and give him a big hug which he returns just as enthusiastically.

We’re each given champagne and toast to the happy couple. One of the deck crew did film it for Con, so we all gather around and watch it on one of Griff’s tablets. It’s filmed from behind while they’re sitting on the bow of the tender. Con points off the side, and while Lilith’s head is turned, he gets down on one knee. The wind carries, so we can’t hear what he said, but the look on his face while he asks says more than a dictionary full of words could. The angle changes and catches Lilith’s face when Con slides the ring on her finger. Their devotion to each other is tangible and bring tears to my eyes.

I look up at Levi and see just as much emotion on his face. Even before he knew he was related to Lilith, he was protective of her. Seeing how happy he is for her, how much he loves her, makes my heart swell. Being here with everyone makes me feel like I have my family back.

I’ve seen Con and Griff off and on over the years, spent time with Z and Lilith in Chicago several times, but right now, on this yacht, I feel whole. I let the tears spill out of me, happiness flooding my body.

* * *

“Do you want to jump off the sun deck?” Levi asks after we finish brunch.

A slow smile creeps across my face. “Do you even need to ask?”

He grabs my hand and pulls me up.

“Where are you going?” Con asks.

“Diving off the sun deck,” Levi answers. “Anyone want to come?”

Con and Lilith both stand, Griff looks at the four of us and stands. Zion holds his hands up and shakes his head.

“I can’t risk hurting myself at this point in my career,” he says.

“Same,” Claire says. “I’m aiming for a principal position in the upcoming showcase. I’m not going to risk injury, but I’ll watch.”

I lead the way up the stairs and pull my dress over my head. By the time it hits the deck I’m already climbing onto the rail. Levi is right behind me, stepping onto the rail with me. He holds his hand out for me palm up. I take it and look at him. We’re so in sync with each other, we don’t even have to count for each other.

He lets out a whoop and I scream as we plunge through the air and into the gorgeous azure water. The silence of the deep water envelopes us, and I fight the urge to swim down into the depths. Levi grabs my hand and pulls me up to the surface.

“I know what you were thinking about doing,” he says as he shakes his hair out. We swim out a little ways to watch as Con, Lilith, and Griff jump in.

“It’s always a temptation. The challenge of seeing how far I can go before I need to come back up,” I answer as we tread water.

“That was so fun,” Lilith says as they swim over to us. Her diamond sparkles in the sunlight.

“Want to do it a few more times and then lay out?” I ask.

“You can lay out,” Lilith says over her shoulder, “I’ll be under an umbrella hiding from the sun, so I don’t turn into a lobster.”

“Same,” Griff says.

Lilith and I jump a few more times while the boys decide to hop on the jet skis. Zion and Claire are hanging out under an umbrella on the sundeck, sipping on some sort of frozen cocktail. Lilith sits down between Zion’s legs and leans back.

“I’m so glad you could make it, Z.” She wraps his arm around her and holds her hand up to admire her ring. “I want to know which one of you helped him pick out this ring?”

“I did,” I answer.

“I figured. He probably would have gotten something showier if you hadn’t been there.”

“I don’t know, he picked that one out of the three I suggested, and I thought it was the best.”

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