I waited until we knew Poppy’s fate. Once she had the details secured, the house sold in less than four days. Ryanne signs the papers on Tuesday.
It worked out well that everyone is here at the right time. We’ll load the U-Haul tomorrow night once the house is packed. Dozer and Austin will start the trek to Charleston on Monday. Janie will fly back with the rest of the family. Ryanne and Andrew will drive her car after she closes on Tuesday. And that leaves Poppy and me living back in the Bellagio until her job is done.
“The entertainment has arrived,” Marco announces.
My attention is drawn to the side where Isaac saunters in, wearing a custom-made suit and his million-dollar smile. He goes to Grady, shaking his hand and is immediately assaulted by Cole.
“Traitor,” I grumble.
“You invited him,” Pierce counters, not hiding his grin.
“Poppy invited him.”
“Poppy has a soft spot for him,” Marco goads, and my eyes cut to him.
“I don’t get the animosity. I thought it was all water under the bridge-type stuff. Isaac turned out to be a good guy. Why the raging bull?” Darby’s question is aimed at me, but it’s Pierce who answers.
“Baby, the man may have redeemed himself with his screw-up, but he still dated Poppy.”
“So what? We know what didn’t happen there.”
Pierce’s eyes shift back and forth, and then his chin tilts in silent communication. She catches on and her jaw drops.
“You hold a grudge because he was her boyfriend?”
She gets it. The man touched her, held her, slept in the same bed with the woman who fucking owns me.
“Yes,” I answer unapologetically.
“Are you kidding? That’s the most hypocritical and ludicrous thinking. It’s like saying Tommy Ashes, who I dated my senior year and spent prom night with is a threat.”
An icy chill settles in the air, Pierce’s face a mask of stone. He takes her martini, sets it on the table, and grabs her hand. “Excuse us.”
She points at me. “I’m not done with you. After I deal with my overbearing husband, you’re next.”
He hauls her away, and Marco chuckles at their departure.
“Never a dull moment with your family.”
I nod in agreement. He doesn’t know how right he is.
Chapter 42
Poppy
I stare into the dim and empty theatre, digging through memories. It seems like a lifetime since I stood in this same spot, doing the same thing, all those years ago. That girl with such big dreams and aspirations is barely recognizable in my brain.
The excitement and sense of accomplishment remain, but tonight is different. The excitement is about what lies ahead.
My eyes are on the VIP section where, an hour ago, people that mean so much screamed and cheered as I gave my final bow on this stage.
Scottie and that outfit—there was no way to miss him.
The unashamed shine in Marco’s eyes visible from this far.
The girls screaming their heads off. Annie and Lynda hugging and crying.
Isaac Blake with the men, smiling down with approval.
And Evin, front and center, his arms crossed, eyes locked to me, beaming. Pride, acceptance, adoration all filled me inside, and I know my instincts are leading me in the right direction again.
A prickle tingles the back of my neck, and I twist to find Dante waiting quietly. “You ready, Pips?”
“You didn’t have to wait for me.”
“We walked in together, we walk out together.”
A lump lodges in my throat at that memory, and my fingers go to the tattoo on my hip.
“With me this time.” Ryanne steps around him. The faint splotches on her cheeks that tell me she’s been crying.
“Ryanne—”
She throws a hand in the air. “Stop right there. I just calmed down. It took me an hour to do my makeup and you ruined it in three minutes. My false eyelashes came off on Andrew's shoulder, and the perfectly crafted smoky eye was more like a horror movie queen.”
“Sounds tragic.”
“It was mortifying.”
“You did an outstanding job on recovery.”
“That’s because I’ve been at your dressing table doing damage control while you’ve been reflecting.”
At the word reflecting, my attention goes to the enormous water feature that is the highlight of the stage. “Dante, do you remember the first time we both aerial-dove into the pool from the platform?”
“I remember like it was yesterday.”
“I have that same excitement and adrenaline. The uncertainty, the anticipation, the fear… all of it. Last time, the water was my safety net; this time, it’s Evin.”
“I love that for you, Pops, but you don’t need anyone else. You’ve always been your own safety net.”
“That’s why you don’t need to worry about me. I’m content and at peace with my decision.”
“We know, but this is important to us. The end of an era.”
“You know I’m back here on Monday in my new position.”
“Not the same.”
I nod, sweeping my eye around once more, and join them, linking my elbows through theirs.
The lobby explodes with cheers when the door opens. Dante takes me in his arms and twirls us, dipping me low—like that first night. When he puts me back on my feet and we bow, my gaze goes to the spot.
The spot he’s always waiting for me.
Evin’s perched on the wall, one leg propped at the knee, his arms crossed and eyes zeroed in on us. Possession, fire, and love all drill into me, heating my skin.
He pushes off and I meet him halfway. “Did you enjoy the show?”
“Stunning.” He touches the flower behind my ear before threading his fingers through my hair.
“You waited in our spot.”
“Always.”
My heart explodes and my body moves on its own, leaping into his arms and wrapping around him. I kiss him hard and quick. The noise behind us fades away.
“We did it.”
“You did it. I was along for the ride.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Yes, you could.”
I scrunch my eyebrows and twist my lips, pretending to think about this. “Maybe without you, but definitely not without Rexwell, Jesse, Cal—”
I’m
