Freeing Destiny (Fate #2) (20 page)

Once she left, Caleb was first to clear his throat and speak in a deep, exaggerated voice. “I’d like to know your intentions with my stepdaughter, young man.”

The rest of the table broke out in laughter. I, on the other hand, wanted to punch my smug best friend in the nuts. “Douche,” I whispered as I shook my head. “You’re taking this stepdaddy thing a bit too far, don’t ya think?”

“Hey, if the shoe fits . . .”

“Stick it in your mouth,” Stella finished. “Stop making this weird. It doesn’t have to be. This should be a cool thing for you, Caleb. You and Ryan got your little bromance going on and now that I’m dating your best friend, the three of you can be one big happy—”

“If you say anything but trio, I’m gonna puke.” Nina looked up from buttering her bread, cocking a brow. “I’ve already lost Ryan every other Sunday to golf with his new bestie. Tell me, Mr. Davis, if you lived on the East Coast, how would
you
plan on monopolizing my man’s time?”

Nina eyed me, waiting for a response. My comeback came quick. “Russian bath house. Two times a month. No happy endings, I promise.”

“Oh my God. And this is why I’m thrilled I never had boys!” Gabriella feigned exasperation, but she wasn’t fooling any of us. That grin on her red-stained lips and the glow on her dewy cheeks told me she was as happy as a goddamn clam. I hadn’t known her long, but I didn’t need to in order to tell that this was what she’d always envisioned: dinner with her husband, her children, and their significant others. I had heaps of pride for my best friend’s wife in that moment. I knew of her hardships and had to commend her for turning out so . . .
normal
.

“Can I say something without sounding like a dweeb?” I blurted. I felt the need to share my own sentiments about this happy occasion.

Stella squeezed my hand under the table. “What are you up to?”

“Don’t worry,” I whispered, and leaned over to kiss her flushed cheek. “I won’t embarrass you . . . too much.”

Her grip on my hand became tighter, but before she could stop me the words were flying out of my mouth. “I come from a really fu—I mean, messed up family.”

The table fell silent, everyone’s eyes on me. I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination or if I heard someone cough Aubrey’s name as if to mock my confession. Maybe I was on high alert or maybe they were right. No. I
knew
they were right. My sister Aubrey was the main reason my family was as fucked up as they were, but that was neither here nor there. This was about the Edwards clan, not the Davises.

“As I was saying . . .” I cleared my throat. “It’s not often that I’m impressed. My buddy Caleb, here, can vouch for that.”

Caleb nodded, offering up his agreement.

“But this family—Gabriella, you’ve done an incredible job of instilling some kick ass family values in your daughters. I know this sounds ridiculous coming from someone who hasn’t been in the picture that long, but—it just radiates off the three of you when you’re together.”

I focused my attention on Gabriella—her smile broad, making her cheeks round with delight. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears—happy ones, I hoped—and her hands clasped together in a silent prayer. “Oh, Jack.” She tilted her head and said no more. She didn’t have to. I was acing the new boyfriend test.
Hells fucking yeah.

“Shit, you left her speechless. That’s not easy to do. You’re such a kiss ass, dude.”

“I’m not kissing ass,” I scoffed. “I’m serious. I’m so damn happy Stella’s staying behind, but I really do wish I could spend more time with all of you. I can see why my girl loves each of you so much. Even you, you pain in the ass. She loves you too.”

Caleb fist bumped me and winked at Stella.

“And it’s clear to see why she’s staying behind.” Gabriella’s sweet voice penetrated the intimate space, giving me another reason to . . . well, to ass kiss.

“Why, Gabriella, that means a lot coming from you. It was hard enough getting Nina’s approval.” I smiled at Nina only to be rewarded with an over exaggerated pout. “But Stella was pretty nervous about how you would react. She thinks the world of you, you know?”

Stella and Gabriella shared a private, knowing glance. Silent words of the heart were sometimes the loudest. “I told her she was crazy to think I could be disappointed in her, for anything. She’s always been wise when making important decisions, and this is no different. I won’t lie, the timing of everything could’ve been better, but you know what, who’s to say we have to live by the clock? Monotony sucks the life out of anything. Bending rules and taking chances—that’s a whole lot more fun. Don’t you agree, babe?” Gabriella nuzzled into Caleb’s shoulder and clasped her hand over his.

“Okay, so can we cut the mushy, brownnosing shit and get on with the real stuff? What are you going to do when your batshit crazy sister finds out about the two of you?”

“Nina!” Everyone but me shouted unanimously. I would’ve chosen a different, more colorful name to call her, but I was still in kiss-up mode. It would have to wait until I was off woo-parole.

“Neen, why are you so fixated on what
she
thinks? Who cares? Nobody even knows where the hell she is. It’s no sweat off my back and shouldn’t be any of your concern.” Stella took the level-headed approach when I would’ve demanded she fuck off and mind her own goddamn business.

“Seriously. I don’t think they have anything to worry about. Jack’s a grown man who can date whomever he pleases. Besides. She’s not
after
him. You’re safe from her blackmail and stalking.” I couldn’t ignore the ice in Gabriella’s eyes when she spoke of my sister. It was a sore subject that I really wished Nina hadn’t mentioned.

Time to get this out of the way and move the fuck on.

“Listen, if it makes you all feel any better, I’m not that close with Aubrey to begin with. Yes, she’s my sister and of course I love her, in the only way anyone
can
love Aubrey—at a distance. I haven’t spoken to her since she fled. My parents believe she’s shacking up with an old friend who has a family home in Spain. She’s a world away and I don’t think she has any intention of showing her face around here for a while.
If
and when she does come back, it’ll probably be once Stella’s already made some roots in New York. What she doesn’t know or can’t see won’t hurt her, so Aubrey is not an issue for me and shouldn’t be for any of you. Sound like a deal?” I hated having to put people in their place when it wasn’t exactly my position to do so, but I didn’t want this family gathering to be tainted by painful memories or sour circumstances. Aubrey was out of the picture. She was a nonissue.

“Just in time,” Caleb announced as the waitress approached with a tray of alcoholic beverages.

Gabriella was handed her glass of wine and raised it in the air. “I’ll second that.”

Once we’d all taken the first sips of our poison, the subject of Aubrey was dropped and the rest of the conversation flowed easily. Despite the minor snafu that was my intolerable sister, our evening went better than expected. Ryan and Nina yawned their way out of after dinner plans, but Gabriella and Caleb accepted my offer to join us back at my place for a tour of Stella’s new digs and a nightcap.

Stella

Caleb made himself at home with a beer in one hand and his feet up on the coffee table. Mom, however, examined the place like a gosh darn fire marshal. She’d always been protective, but this was over the top, even for her.

“Mom, would you relax? Everything’s up to code. Not that you would have the first clue what to check for anyway.”

“I’m not checking for that!” She shooed me away and kept snooping.

“Well, then, what
are
you looking for?” Curiosity had me there. My mom was your typical mother in most aspects, but because she had us so young,
she
was still young. She related to us in ways my friend’s moms couldn’t. I loved that about her, but sometimes it was a hidden curse. “If you pick one more thing up from its rightful place I’m going to burn your fingers with a match, Mother. What are you looking for?” I spied over my shoulder to make sure Jack and Caleb weren’t witnesses to Mom’s odd behavior.

“Would you shush, Nervous Nelly? I’m looking for a flaw.
Anything
to show that man in there is not as perfect as he comes off. He’s almost too good to be true, Stells. Don’t you think?”

Oh, I’d thunk it, all right.
But I’d spent enough time pinching myself and asking my inner gullibility the same damn question. Every time I came up with the same answer. “What you see is what you get, Mama. He’s the real deal. Good as gold and all mine.” My heart swelled as I sang the words.

“You sure? I can dig for more info from Caleb if you want. Just say the word and I’ll go Inspector Gadget on the boy.”

“Mom! You’ll do no such thing. Don’t you trust my judgment? And if you don’t—what about your own two eyes? Do you have one reason to doubt that I’m not in good hands or to think that I’m making a terrible mistake? Tell me honestly. I need to know now.”

She took a beat to speak and in that one small pulse of time I feared she’d let me have it. But with a blink of her exotically lined eyes, I knew I was safe. “I am so, so happy for you, baby girl, but I want to hate him. I know that makes me sound crazy, but I was just about to get you back for good. You’ve been away at school for so long. I was excited to be living in the same zip code again. I’m thrilled beyond words that you’re starting this new journey with Jack, but I’m sad I won’t be a part of it. Does that make me a bitch?”

“Of course it doesn’t make you a bitch! It makes you my mom. I would’ve been worried if you didn’t tell me you had
some
remorse over this, but I promise you, I know what I’m doing. For me to choose a guy over everything else, you know he’s got to be something special. We’re talking about
me
here.”

She smiled and then glanced down at her feet. “Little Miss Cautious. Remember when we’d call you that? You had to make sure the coast was clear for the tiniest, insignificant things. It’s why you’ve guarded your heart for so long. It’s nothing short of astounding to see you finally giving it to someone.”

Heart equals love, right?
“Whoa, hold up. Let’s not talk about hearts yet. It’s been ten days. It’s not love. It’s—”

“If you dare say
lust
I’ll slap that pretty smirk off your face. You’re falling hard and I’m telling you to just let go and enjoy the ride. You’re not staying back and shacking up with some guy I barely know just because you want to get your freak on, Stells.”

Oh. My. God.
She didn’t. My laughter was uncontrollable. Caleb even looked up from whatever it was that had his undivided attention on the TV. “Hey, Missy Elliot, are you serious?”

At the sound of our cackling, Jack emerged from the kitchen with two wine glasses and a dreamy look in his eyes. “What did I miss? You too seem to be having a lot of fun.”

“We are,” Mom admitted, accepting the drink. “You missed nothing. I was just . . . rapping.”

“As in Jay-Z and Eminem, rapping?”

“As in—
get ur freak on, get ur freak on, get ur, get ur, get ur
—”

Jack butt bumped my mother in her crouched rapper’s position and broke out in his own Missy tune. “
If it’s worth it, let me work it, put your thing down, flip it and reverse it
—”

“Stop! Stop it!” I laughed, holding my stomach and spilling wine on Jack’s hardwood floor. “You’re insane. Both of you. Just stop!”

Laughter echoed around us. It both fed my soul and nourished my heart. This was happiness at its finest. It wasn’t cookie cutter, but it was exactly how I wanted it.
Real.

When our breathing returned to normal and the loud chuckles subsided to giggles, Jack leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Sunshine, I love when you laugh like that.”

“Isn’t she something?” Mom’s goading interrupted what should have been a private moment.

“Yes, she is. And I’m honored to call her
my
something.” He kissed the tip of my nose and then patted Mom on her shoulder.

“Jack, if you don’t show me that
something’s
wrong with you, I’m gonna order a full background check. Caleb’s as close to perfect as they come and even he has his shit.”

“Hey!” Caleb whined. “I thought you liked my shit.”

“I love your shit. But I know shit about your friend’s shit and it’s starting to make me wary.”

I had no words. I could only shake my head and hope that this ridiculous meeting of the minds wound up on a happy note.

Jack took the lead, as always, and his words were wise, as always. “Gabriella, I have nothing to hide. I’m a good guy with a good heart who’s finally met the right girl. I won’t screw this up.”

“You’d better not,” Mom finally conceded. After a nod in Caleb’s direction, she draped one arm around me and the other around Jack. “Take good care of my girl, Jack. That’s all I ask.”

It was a simple phrase that held more weight than a ton of bricks. But if anyone was man enough for the job, it was my Jack.