“Butterfly, I’m okay. Therapy saved me, and I know better now.”
“Have you seen her?” Carter squinted, studying Ty.
“Nope. I haven’t spoken to her in years. She could be dead, I really don’t know,” Ty’s voice was flat, emotionless.
“Fuck, dude. We can’t pick our family.” Carter leaned over and rested his elbows on his legs.
“I can and I did,” Ty said confidently. “And I pick Zoey and you and the band.”
“That means the world to me, dude.” Carter’s eyes wrinkled with love for Ty.
“Do I meet with your approval this time Carter?” I couldn’t help but ask, I didn’t want to get blindsided again.
“Zoey, you always loved Ty so unconditionally when he didn’t have a lot of love in his life, you made the biggest sacrifice to give him his chance.” Carter got up and walked over to me to give me a kiss on the head. “I’m so sorry for everything. I wish I hadn’t interfered. I didn’t know what you were made of back then.”
“Ty was worth it, I’m just glad all of that is behind us.” I settled back against Ty. He was my comfort. My home. “I’m where I belong, again.”
“We’re going to go public. We have a meeting with LTZ’s PR team in New York a couple of days before the show.” Ty moved me off his lap and stood. “I think the first thing on the agenda is to retire the songs that hurt you.”
“No, you can’t do that.” I was adamant. “I’m not going anywhere, and those songs are an important part of LTZ’s history.”
“I’ve also asked her to be the CEO of the foundation.” Ty directed the comment to Carter, ignoring my comment.
“That’s perfect!” Carter affirmed to me with a nod. “You’d be great at it.”
“Depending on the strategy that Sienna and Andrew come up with, would you go on the record about everything?” Ty queried as if I weren’t there.
“Of course,” Carter agreed.
I marched over to Ty and poked him in the side. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.”
“Zoey is such a smart, strong woman who can do anything she wants, and could have anyone she wants.” Ty ignored my comment but gestured at me. “She came back to me. Now we can finally build our lives together in a way that makes sense for both of us. We have eight years to make up for.”
“Have you told her that?” Carter chuckled.
“He has and he did.” I threw my arms around him. Ty cupped my face in his hands and softly kissed me a few times on the lips.
“Get a fuckin’ room.” Carter chortled before walking over to and pulling all of us into a group hug.
After leaving Carter’s house, we took a scenic drive along Lake Washington. I hadn’t been in this neighborhood in years, and it brought back so many memories of when Ty and I met. Glancing over at my handsome man, I loved that after the drama his face was serene with a slight hint of a smile. We zoomed over the winding road through the brilliant red-and-orange foliage in the Arboretum, the October breeze blew crisp through the rolled-down window where Ty rested his arm.
Our next stop was my folks’ house, which made me nervous. I hadn’t told them I quit my job. It seemed a bit funny that I was more nervous about dropping that bomb rather than the “I’m moving in with my boyfriend” news.
“Mom, Dad, as you know Ty and I have been seeing each other again for the past few weeks and—and, um—well, even though it’s fast, we are still very much in love and both feel like we lost a lot of time together, and I’m going to move into his house in West Seattle.”
Ty jumped in, “I love your daughter, I have from the minute I met her. We just can’t be apart anymore.”
“Zoey, Ty, you’re both adults and can make your own decisions, your father and I were already married by the time we were your age.” Olivia set a tray of cheese and prosciutto on the coffee table.
“Jeez, we’re not talking marriage yet, Mom.” I laughed nervously.
“I’d marry you tomorrow, but I’m not pushing my luck until I get you moved in.” Ty grabbed my hand reassuringly.
“I quit the firm a couple of days ago. Ty’s offered me a job to run his foundation. I’m trying to wrap my mind around all of it, but as I’ve explained to Ty, I don’t want to be kept.” I looked over at Ty and squeezed his hand. “It’s not who I am, not who I’m comfortable being. I can’t just—”
Dad interrupted. “A committed relationship isn’t being kept, Zoey. You need to find a way to work together through things, trust that you have each other’s backs even when you’re pissed or scared. Your mother and I are a team, above all else.”
“We are a team.” Mom nodded. “There will always be opinions from your family, friends, coworkers—but they don’t know you. Your best bet is to figure everything out as a couple. We are here to support you both. Just remember, it shouldn’t matter what anyone thinks, only what you think.”
“You’re not going to kill me?” I laughed, pointing between my folks.
“I might kill him.” Dad pointed at Ty, a stoic look on his face.
“Dad!” I swatted him.
“What? You’re my little girl!” Dad rolled his eyes and fixed them on Ty. “You. Promise me you’ll cherish her. Do not let anyone hurt her.”
“I promise.” Ty’s voice was deadly serious.
Having their support was a huge relief. On the way home it became all too real. Ty and I were really and truly happening. Talk about a 360-degree turnaround. All of my dreams were coming true, except for one thing. My anonymity would be a thing of the past once we were in New York. Ty stroked my knee, and I looked over at him.
“Are you okay?” I could barely see his eyes
