My heart began to beat more rapidly. “I’d like that,” I said, without daring to look at Darius.
We’d talked about our feelings and about me moving to Aster Valley, but we hadn’t talked about where I’d be living when I got here. I didn’t want him to feel pressured to move faster than he felt comfortable, and having someone in his space twenty-four seven might be moving a little fast for him, no matter how he felt about me.
Darius spoke up. “That’s interesting because I was planning to give Miller a… pamphlet on the accommodations at Chez Grant, and I have to say, I believe it’s a better fit for him than your lovely chalets.”
Wait, what? I whipped my head toward him, but he only pulled me tighter against his side and went on, “Also, according to the internet, Happy Teeth’s key performance indicators are top-notch, which I can only assume comes, in part, from Miller’s marketing contributions. I’m sure you’d be in very good hands with Miller on your team.”
My face ignited, but Mikey only grinned. “I’m afraid your recommendation carries as much weight as Tilly’s. You’re both way too biased.”
Tiller came in and set a large tray of cut-up fruit and breakfast rolls on one of the tables. “You’re one to talk,” he said to Mikey. “You told me this morning we absolutely had to hire Miller to manage our marketing because he was, and I quote, ‘really nice to be around.’”
Tilly huffed. “The man speaks the truth. There’s no harm in that.”
Charlie nodded without taking his head off Hudson’s chest. “He really is. And so calm.”
Hudson ran his fingers through Charlie’s long red hair. “You wouldn’t know calm if it bit you on your adorable Irish ass.”
Charlie lifted his head to glare at Hudson. “Says a Wilde. Pfft.” Then he lay back down on Hudson and closed his eyes to enjoy the rest of his head massage.
King Wilde glanced over at us. “Wildes can be calm. I’m calm. I’m the king of calm, no pun intended. Steady under pressure is my special skill.”
Falcon gave a begrudging nod. “It’s true. Although the pun was absolutely intended. He does it all the time, and it’s excruciating.”
Lior met my eyes across the group and winked. “King. As if.”
Felix elbowed him, Falcon laughed, and King groaned and murmured something about having received the name first.
I heard the nearly silent shutter release of a camera and turned to catch Teddy Marian sneaking a photo of Thomas and Rebecca curled up next to each other on one of the sofas with their heads together. Rebecca had someone’s baby in her arm, and Thomas’s thumb was gently stroking one of the baby’s hands while he smiled and whispered something to Rebecca.
“They’re disgusting,” Pete said, rubbing his wife Ginger’s feet. “All that marital happiness should stay behind closed doors if you ask me.”
Ginger scrolled through her phone as she enjoyed the foot massage. “Seriously. By the way, I arranged for someone to detail your car while we’re gone. Merry Christmas,” she told him without looking away from the phone.
He frowned. “You mean from when you and Noah spilled phallic glitter all over it after that bachelorette party? How is that my Christmas gift?”
She held out a bejeweled hand to him, still not looking away from the phone. “Also, you bought me a new sapphire ring for Christmas. It’s freaking gorgeous. Thank you.”
He took her hand and peered at it. “Huh. That is gorgeous. I have better taste than I thought.”
“And a lower bank balance,” she murmured under her breath. “But, like, way more head.”
Pete grinned like a cat who’d eaten the canary. “Favorite. Ring. Ever.”
“Thought so,” Ginger said before hitting a button on the phone that made the whoosh sound of a sent email. “I also just forwarded you Green Day tickets. You’re welcome.”
Pete stared at her in awe. “You got me Green Day tickets? For real?”
She put her phone down and returned his smile. “Yeah. Had to murder a few people to get them, but it was worth it. You happy?”
Pete’s chin began to wobble, and his eyes got suspiciously shiny. “You’re the best wife I’ve ever had.” He lunged for her and kissed her full on the mouth long enough to make their older daughters both gag and complain.
“Best one you ever will have, too,” she said smugly.
So much for keeping the marital happiness behind closed doors.
“Who’s Green Day?” Ammon asked, looking around the room for a hint.
“Newfangled shit,” Jude said, tuning the guitar one of Pete and Ginger’s girls had gotten. “Stick with the classics.” He strummed a recognizable Rolling Stones riff before handing the instrument off to his niece.
Tilly made the throat-clearing noise that always indicated she was going to say something we all needed to shut up and listen to. I braced myself. It could be anything, honestly, and the sweet, sentimental feeling in the room didn’t preclude irreverence.