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“What do you want?” Jackson says with a growl, stepping in front of me as Cindy climbs out of her car and turns our way,not a hair out of place on her perfect blonde head despite driving with the top down.

“Ooo, protective. Jealous, Mina. So jealous.” She grins. “Well, you two have certainly put the cat among the peacocks, or whatever that saying is. It’ssohilarious watching all those conservative news reporters getting their panties in a twist over this. Iloveit.”

“Cindy, if you’re here to make us feel bad, don’t bother,” I say, glaring. “I’m happy. You know that feeling? It’s a bit like being bought a Bentley convertible, except it actuallymeanssomething.”

She laughs. “This is so adorable. Romantic. You two don’t care what anyone is saying about you, you have each other. Anyway, I didn’t come here for an argument. We’ve been frenemies long enough to dispense with all that, right, Mina?”

“Whatdidyou come here for, Cindy?” Jackson doesn’t sound taken in but…

I think she’s genuine. She’s typical Cindy, but she’s also different. I think she actually likes the romance of it all. I never thought I’d say this, but I think she’s actually living vicariously through me.

It’s creepy, and I know what Tina would say.Kiss my ass, Cindy.

But I’m not Tina. Not today. So I wait, and after a moment she speaks.

“What I came here for, Jackson Sanders, is to steal you away for myself.”

He growls, and tightens his grip on my hand. I think if she wasn’t a girl, he would already be half killing her by now.

“Joking!” she says with a chuckle. “God, you should see your face. Fine, I came to say I’ve spoken to my dad and he’s agreed to back off. I know all about the deal you had with him, to bail out your father and whatever. I love that you told him to shove it so you could be with…her… Anyway, he’s not going to cause any trouble. He won’t sign you, but he won’t get in the way of anyone else signing you, and heisstill interested in your dad’s business deal. He says between them they can turn things around or something. It’s a good opportunity. He’s a stubborn ass, but he’ll call your dad later,Iwanted to be the one to tell you first.”

“You’re serious.” Jackson sounds shocked more than anything.

Cindy nods. “Well, that’s all. I’ll let you two lovebirds get back to your date or whatever. Ciao!”

She turns and reaches for the handle of her car door, but I can’t help myself.

Slipping out of Jackson’s grip, I rush across the driveway and throw my arms around Cindy’s shoulders. “Thank you.”

“Please let go of me, Wilhelmina. Do you have any idea how much this pant suit cost?”

I grin and hug harder. Like she said, we’ve been frenemies long enough.

Fifteen

Jackson

Ten years later

They’re my world.

My team may have won the Superbowl with me as the star player. Mina may have just had her fifth season at New York fashion week, with her designs gracing red carpets and royal events the world over. My dad may have just sold his controlling interest in the business he and Harson set up ten years ago for a fortune that even he can’t blow through. Mom may have got her wish to travel the world, photographing every endangered species, bringing notice to the masses through her charities.

But I’d give it all up in a heartbeat if any oneof my family needed it. There would be no contest. Because as nice as those things are, they’re meaningless without love.

Just watching Mina with our three children, Lana, Stefan and two-year-old Dean. Watching the way she grins as they splash and dive and laugh. This is what it’s all about. This is life.

I don’t think my wife’s fear of water will ever quite go completely, but she’s at a point now where, so long as she stays to the shallow end, she can get in the pool. And that’s massive progress.

“What do you think, son? More oregano?”

Dad’s making his famous burgers. Well, famous among our little tribe anyway. His own blend of herbs and spices, something he’s been working on for years, and he’s never quite satisfied with the result.

I grab the proffered burger out of his hand and take a bite, closing my eyes in bliss. “It’s good.”

“Sure? More salt? Less pepper?”

I shake my head. “Seriously, Dad, I think this is the one.”