Although I'm still painting out of my apartment. I could really do with a studio.
Music starts to play-an acoustic version of Rihanna's "Umbrella." Everyone stands and turns to watch the bride come down the aisle.
First down the aisle is Gigi; she's holding Thea's hand, who just recently started walking. They both look gorgeous. Just like their mom. They have on bridesmaid dresses in a striking shade of blue. The color reminds me of Ares's eyes. The Kincaid eyes.
Gigi and Thea both have those striking blue eyes, and then I realize that Cam must have matched the color of the dresses to their eyes.
I can understand wanting to do that. I love Ares's eyes. In a non-creepy way, of course.
Missy follows behind them, wearing the same color dress as the girls.
She catches my eyes and smiles at me. She graduated from Dartmouth and is in New York permanently. It's good to have her home. We've gotten even closer over time. She's like the sister I never had and always wanted.
I hear a sharp intake of breath and glance at Kaden next to me.
He's staring at Missy. A look of unmistakable longing in his eyes.
A look I've seen on him a few times when she's around.
He thinks no one notices, but I have.
I've also noticed the looks that Missy gives to him when she thinks that no one else is watching.
I've tried to subtly ask her if she's interested in him, but she never gives anything away. She's quiet on the matter, and that is not like Missy at all.
And that tells me everything I need to know.
I just wonder, if they like each other, why the hell are they not together?
But then the same thing could have been said about Ares and me in the beginning. So, I'm no one to talk.
Then, Cam appears with her mom at her side.
Cam's mom is actually her aunt, but she raised Cam since she was a small child. I love Aunt Elle. She's a badass cop. Running a department at the station. Cool as hell. She even offered to look into the Leo thing for me, but I thanked her and told her not to worry. I was leaving it in the past where it belonged.
But, honestly, I was more concerned that what my dad and Ares had done that night could come to light.
Cam and Elle walk down the aisle. Cam's dress is stunning. Simply elegant. It's an A-line, V-neck, sleeveless ivory tulle dress sprinkled with diamantes, followed by a sweeping train. Her hair is flowing down her back, curled, strands of hair pinned up with diamante pins. She looks like a princess.
Next to her, Elle is wearing a pale gray three-piece pantsuit with a lace jacket. And the proud look on her face is everything.
I turn and look at Zeus as he watches his bride walk toward him.
I've never seen a man look more in love than he does right now.
Gigi is at his side, and Thea is in his arms.
When Cam and Elle reach him, he takes Cam's face in his hand and kisses her. Then, he leans over and kisses Elle's cheek.
Elle and Cam hug before Elle goes to take her seat.
Zeus hands Thea off to Ares, who holds her in his arms, and my ovaries do a flip-flop. They do every time I see him with those girls.
The ceremony went off without a hitch. It was perfect and beautiful. And I was crying by the time they were pronounced man and wife.
After that, we all walked over to the lake across from the house and released Chinese lanterns. It was so romantic.
Then, it was time for photos and onto the reception.
It's early evening now, and the speeches and toasts have been done, food has been consumed, and everyone is on the makeshift dance floor.
Me and Ares included. We're dancing with Gigi. He's carrying her, perched on his hip, one arm around my waist, and I'm holding Gigi's hand.
And my ovaries are heading into serious overdrive.
"When are you and Uncle Ares getting married, Aunt Ari?"
Gigi has recently taken to calling me Aunt Ari, which I kind of love. Okay, I love it a lot.
But her question makes me choke a bit.
Ares chuckles as I make a strangled sound in my throat.
"Um … uh … well, I'm not sure, Gigi. One day, maybe."
I see Ares's eyebrows go up, and I worry that I've said the wrong thing. It's not like we've discussed anything close to marriage before.
"Can I be a bridesmaid when you get married to Uncle Ares?"
"Uh … well … " I'm faltering. "If I get married to your uncle Ares, then you can definitely be a bridesmaid," I tell her, gently tapping her nose with my index finger.
She giggles, making me smile.
"Gigi girl"-Missy comes dancing over, taking Gigi from Ares-"time to dance with me. Thea just ditched me to go dance with your uncle Lo. I mean, really? What's that all about? And I'm left, looking like a loser out there, on my own on the dance floor."
"Nothing new there." Ares chuckles low.
Missy covertly flips him off, and he laughs again.
"Of course I'll dance with you, Aunt Missy!"
Gigi leads Missy off into the middle of the dance floor, and they get their groove on. At the age of six, Gigi is by far a better dancer than Missy. She's definitely got her mother's talent for dancing. For Missy … talent isn't exactly the word I'd use for her form of dancing.
I laugh silently to myself.
"So … what exactly did you mean by, if?" Ares's deep voice brings my eyes back to his.
"Huh?"
He slides his arms around my waist, pulling me closer.
"You said, if you get married to me. I didn't realize that was up for debate."
"I didn't realize it was a forgone conclusion."
His brow rises. "Full disclosure?"
My lips curve into a smile. "Always."
"It's happening, babe. Maybe not today, tomorrow, or next week. But it will be happening. I'll be getting down on one knee and asking you to be mine forever."
My breath hitches. "I'm already yours."
"Well, call me old-fashioned, but I want it to be official. I want my ring on your finger and my kids in your belly."
It's my turn for my brow to rise. "We're having kids?"
"At least four," he tells me.
"Four?" I almost yell, my eyes going wide. I figured, when the day came that I had kids, I'd have two. One of each.
"I said, at least four."
"Sweet Jesus. What are you working toward, your own football team?"
"A life, Ari. I'm working toward a life with you."
My heart swoops and dives.
"I want it all with you … marriage, kids, a home-the whole nine yards."
I stare up at him, smiling, running my fingers through his hair. "I want that, too. I'm not sure about the number of kids"-I grin-"but I definitely want my life to be with you."
"We'll stick a pin in the number of kids to revisit later, but we'll keep practicing making them."
"Now that, I can agree with."
I reach up onto my tiptoes and kiss him. His fingers grip the fabric of my dress at my back, his tongue slipping into my mouth.
"Move in with me," he says out of left field.
I lean back, staring into his eyes, wondering what the hell has gotten into him tonight.
"Where's my Ares, and what have you done with him?"
He chuckles low, and my stomach clenches in the most delicious way. "Just watching Zeus and Cam today … I've always known I love you and that I want you, but seeing them today … I want all of this for us, Ari."
My lips curve into the biggest smile.
"We practically live together anyway. Let's make it official. Move into my apartment. You can keep your place if that makes you feel more secure. Sublet it or whatever. It's not like you're going to need it though because I'm not letting you go anywhere ever again. I can turn one of the spare rooms into an art studio for you instead of you working out of that small corner of your living room. What do you say?"
He's staring down at me, his eyes so open and warm, filled with love for me, and there's only one word I want to say.
"Yes."
First and foremost, the biggest thank you goes to my husband and children, who put up with my absences without complaint while I spend time with my imaginary characters, building these crazy, fantastic worlds that I so very luckily get to share with you all.
My editor, Jovana-I have the best editor ever. You make my life a million times easier. And you put up with me dropping last-minute things on you, having constant delays on delivery and extended deadlines, and you never tell me off. You are a saint!
My cover designer, Najla Qamber-As always, just simply wonderful! Your talent to produce exactly what I'm wanting never ceases to amaze.
My agent, Lauren Abramo-You continue to bring amazing things to the table. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be seeing my books in stores in my home country or in other countries around the world. You've helped make my dream come true, and I can never thank you enough for that.