“I’m fine, Serena. Look we got tricked. I totally understand why you would think it was me. I’d have done the same. But I don’t need your money any longer. I’m earning enough in my job to cover what I need.”
“Look, I know you said you want to stand on your own two feet but I promised I’d help you find love.”
Leonie held a hand up. “I met someone. It’s very early days but we get on great. I’m okay. I’m not your responsibility, Serena. Go live your life and let me live mine.”
I nodded and got up. “I wish you the very best in life, Leonie.”
“Did I say we weren’t friends? Now I found out that bitch was playing me, I have a vacancy. Just keep out of my business is all I’m asking.”
“You got it.” I told her, then I smiled.
The door opened and Ted popped his head through. “Just checking everything is okay?”
“Yeah it's fine.” I told him, but he wasn’t looking at me.
Ah, it looked like I had a clue about the budding romance. I wished them well.
Saying my goodbyes I left them to it. It was time to go home.
22
Serena
We spent the night talking about all the recent events and in the early hours of the morning, we all agreed to retire to our new separate rooms for the evening as it was all too soon after the drama. They weren’t furnished yet but we’d claimed a room each and they had a bed and gave us space from each other.
I rose early the next morning and heading downstairs I was surprised to find Carter in the kitchen. I went to the refrigerator to grab a chilled O-neg.
“You not filming today?”
“I quit.”
“What?” I had to regrab the bottle as it started to slip from my hands.
“I hate it, Serena. I love my life here, the surf. I’ve missed it. I need the surf almost as much as I need blood to survive. So I quit. They have to get a replacement and re-film all my scenes.” He smirked. “Serves Catalina right for being part of Cynthia’s gang.”
“You reckon Catalina set you up?”
“Course she did. She got us into the exact place where it would look real and then shared the clip with Cynthia. Well now her series is seriously behind schedule. It’ll be such a shame if the network pull it and replace it with something else.” That smirk came back again.
“Are you planning on making a suggestion to the network, Carter?”
“I think that series is getting old.” He laughed. “Okay, I’m grabbing my things and going to the beach. See you later.” He kissed my cheek and left.
That night when everyone was home I gathered them in the living room, saying I had more to say. They looked worried. I wondered if I looked like I was about to faint. I’d never been so nervous.
“Not so long ago.” I began. “Carter in his usual reticent style made a suggestion about the four of us.”
Carter sighed. “I know. I fucked up. I thought we’d moved past this?”
“Could you let me finish please?” He nodded while sighing dramatically.
“While I was in New York it got me to thinking. I realized that by sharing your true nature with me and asking me to be part of a relationship with you all, you were showing me your trust. I wanted to show you mine and I planned something.” I sighed. “Now unfortunately the shit then hit the fan and the whole issue of trust between us fell apart. Someone was able to come and threaten that. Threaten my belief in you all. I’m mad I allowed that to happen. Angry with myself that I didn’t give you the chance to explain.” I looked at each of them in turn. “So that’s the vow I’m making today. That no matter what happens from this day forward I trust each and every one of you. I want you to know I would lay down my life for you and I hope I showed that when I risked the turning.” I swallowed. “What I’m saying is that I’m in this for the rest of our lives, for however long you want me.” I dropped to my knees and coughed and t
he jeweler appeared from his hidden position in the dining room.
“Will you, and I’m going in alphabetical order here, guys: Carter, Flynn, Jayden, and Smith; marry me. I don’t give a damn that it won’t be a proper legal ceremony. We organize whatever happens in vampireland okay? But will you allow me the honor of being your wife at some point in the future?”
I looked at the jeweler. “There’s a ring for you all with the eternity symbol upon it, to let you know I’m yours forever.”