Page 36

Thirty-Six

Luna

“I want it that waaaay!”

I wince at the sheer volume of Smitty, even as my amusement wins out.

How does the man know every single line to the boy band classic?

I have no clue…and yet, he’s rocking it.

“This makes no sense,” Bri says softly.

“What doesn’t?” I ask, turning my eyes from the horror show that is Smitty’s rendition and glancing over at Bri.

She’s scowling. “He’s making a fool of himself, and he doesn’t care.”

My lips twitch as Smitty wraps up the song and tries to pass the mic to Gray—a man who definitely isn’t interested in making a fool of himself with or without a microphone.

When that doesn’t work, he hands it over to Joel, who takes his time selecting a slow rock ballad that has everyone bopping their heads and tapping their feet.

“I think the best part of Smitty—and let me preface this by saying I’m still getting to know him—is that he is unequivocally himself and doesn’t care who knows it.” A beat. “Kind of like Kathy.”

Bri tilts her head to the side, studying him, then turning her head to Kathy, who’s relinquished her party prep kingdom in the kitchen and is now sitting in a chair next to Carrie, the two of them cackling about something as they each enjoy a glass of wine.

Bri glances back down at Joel, who’s trying to coax Aiden into taking a turn, taking her time processing my words.

Then she smiles.

It’s small, but it’s there.

At least until Smitty starts heading our way.

Then her face goes blank and she inches behind me.

Damn.

I hate that for her.

But I don’t bring her instinctive action up, just smile at Smitty as he comes over, trying to smooth over any awkwardness.

Despite that, he notices Bri’s hesitation, and I watch his entire demeanor change—slowing his pace, gentling his movements, quieting his voice.

Bold and brash become soft and easy.

“You two ladies need anything?” The question doesn’t boom. It floats through the air, landing delicately on our ears…and I realize it’s kind of how he handles his wife, Kailey—with the utmost care.

Bold and brash and…a big ol’ teddy bear.

My heart squeezes.

“No,” I tell him, slanting a look at Bri, who shakes her head. “I think we’re good.”

“Cake? Champagne?” He waggles his brows. “Another glorious rendition of a Backstreet Boys classic from my glorious vocal cords?”

Bri giggles.

It’s quiet, so quiet that I barely hear it.

But, again, it’s there.

“Don’t encourage him,” Kailey says as she comes over, loops her arm through Smitty’s, and smiles up at him. She’s a quiet woman, the polar opposite of Smitty. They shouldn’t work but they do.

Probably because he’s the aforementioned big ol’ teddy bear.

“Encourage?” he asks, affecting outrage. “I am the karaoke master . I need no encouragement.”

She lifts on tiptoe, presses a kiss to his bearded cheek. “That we all know.”

“Rude.” He taps the tip of her nose then sweeps a hand out. “Maybe I’ll gift you all my vocal talents again.”

“You can”—her eyes sparkle with mischief I wouldn’t expect from someone so quiet—“but that might make me bust out the wombat song.”

The big man rears back, face going pale. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“You know me. You love me.” A beat, those mischief-laden eyes holding his. “So yeah, what do you think?”

“No more Backstreet Boys.”

Another kiss on his cheek, this one a loud smack. “Exactly.”

Bri giggles. And, God, I love that sound.

“What’s scary about wombats?” she whispers to me.

But, Smitty, with all of his superpowers, hears. “What’s scary about wombats?” he asks, shuddering. “First of all, it’s the beady little eyes. They’re dark like death and pierce straight into your soul, reminding you of the fragility of the human condition?—”

Kailey groans, head dropping back, gaze on the sky. “Here we go.”

“And there are the claws?—”

“Luns.”

I turn away from Smitty as he starts talking about cube-shaped poo and see that Aiden is behind me with two men I don’t recognize, though both look relatively familiar. As though I’ve seen them somewhere before.

More hockey people, maybe.

“Hey, tiny tornado,” he murmurs, bending so the words are spoken directly into my ear. “I invited someone.”

“And I likely overstepped because I invited someone else,” the older of the two men says, his gentle blue eyes coming to mine. “I hope you don’t mind a couple of party crashers.”

“Of course not,” I say, though I think my uncertainty shines out through my words because when he extends his hand, his voice is careful. “I’m Jean-Michel.”

Another blip of familiarity, but I still can’t place the men. “I’m Luna,” I say. “It’s, uh, nice to meet you.”

He releases my hand, glances around. “Your house is beautiful.”

“It was my grandmother’s.”

“I know.” His eyes sparkle with something I can’t comprehend, other than it seems like he’s in on a joke that I don’t know yet.

“Jean-Michel is Jean-Michel Dubois ,” Aiden says. “Owner of the Eagles and also?—”

“Titan Capital,” I whisper.

Holy shit.

There are people like my family, who—my restricted access to the family trust fund aside—have money to live comfortably and somewhat lavishly. And then there are people like Jean-Michel.

He could buy this house.

Buy the neighborhood.

Hell, buy the entire city and it wouldn’t even create a dent in his coffers.

And he’s standing in Grams’s back yard.

Thank God Kathy helped me put up the twinkly lights.

“Aiden told me a little about what’s been going on with your family?—”

My eyes go wide, hope blooming in my belly. This man could take on my brother and father, could truly help me make a difference.

“—and also some about your dreams for Smythe?—”

My eyes go wider, hope growing, spreading.

“—and while I don’t know a ton about medical products?—”

My stomach sinks, the hope that had been building inside me deflating like a leaking balloon.

But he’s still talking. “Luckily, Jace does.”

Jean-Michel nods at the man next to him, tall and handsome with a kind smile.

He sticks his hand out. “Jace Henderson. I own Genen-core.”

My mouth drops open and I robotically shake Jace’s hand, but I’m looking Aiden. With complete and utter shock.

Because…

If Jean-Michel is a titan—no pun intended—in the business world, Jace is renowned in the biomedical sphere… and for his work in making health care accessible to everyone.

And Aiden did this for me.

Brought these men into my orbit.

Slowly, I turn to face him, mouth opening, all the feelings I have for this him—the boy I knew and loved, the man I’m still learning but absolutely loving now—welling up, prepared to enter the air.

But I don’t get that far, don’t get to give voice to the words.

Because I hear?—

“You fucking bitch!”

And turn just in time to see my brother and father barreling through the back door of Gram’s house.

The karaoke—a rendition of Don’t Stop Believing— cuts off.

The yard goes quiet as everyone turns to see what the commotion is.

And I feel my temper snap.

This again.

This a-fucking- gain.

Why do they have to keep coming into my life and messing up beautiful moments?

Why do they have to keep trying to control me?

Why do they have to keep ruining my life?

But before I can let any of that loose?—

I see a flash of brown hair as Aiden tucks me behind him, protecting me, not knowing I’m ready to breathe fire.

“Don’t call her that!” Bri shouts, rushing in front of us, in front of Jean-Michel and Jace.

She puts her arms out to block my brother and father from proceeding.

But they don’t care—about women, about people they think are below them, about anyone other than themselves and their wallets.

My dad lifts a hand…

And shoves her.

And the entire yard goes deadly quiet.