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FORTY-EIGHT

LENNOX

Despite the burnt orange and yellow leaves adorning every tree flanking the street as I walk down Langfield Way toward the corporate offices, the warm sun is decadent on my skin.

Beside me, Sara is wearing a smile that rivals mine. Her hair is now Bolts Blue because the season is officially underway.

She bumps me with her shoulder. “We could do this every day, you know.”

A warm laugh bubbles out of me. “You are at the arena or traveling for like half the year.”

“Okay, not every day. But still,” she says, growing quieter. “This is huge, Len. An engagement and a new career? Are you freaking out?”

I give myself a moment to mull over her question. Not even a year ago, I was single and living in New York. I didn’t have a career; I had a job. I owed no one anything.

We’re approaching Langfield Corp so that I can discuss the potential new job. Accepting it would mean I’d be tethered to the Langfield family not only through our marriage, but for work too.

I’d be going all in.

A breeze kicks up, causing fallen leaves to ghost past us. That swish of wind feels like magic. Like Boston’s way of luring me into accepting. Reminding me of its beauty in the simplest of moments.

Fall in New England.

A walk to work with my best friend.

Bliss warms my cheeks and brings a smile to my face. “Not freaking out even a little bit.”

“Good. Liv’s awesome. Not just as a future sister-in-law, but at work. And she keeps Beckett in line.” She snorts. “Well, as much as anyone can keep that man baby in line.”

“He really is hard to figure out. One minute, he’s aloof and glaring, and the next, he’s on the ground, wrestling with Finn.”

Sara nods, a big smile spanning her face. “Exactly. At work, he’s a lot more reserved.” She grips my arm. “Unless he’s with Cortney Miller. He calls him Man Bun. Jeez. I can’t even tell you how excited I am to talk to you about all this insanity.”

“Man Bun?”

She smiles. “He’s the GM for the Boston Revs, and he’s married Liv’s best friend Dylan. You’ll love her. They’re neighbors too.”

Beckett’s comment from the other night comes tumbling back to me. The house on his street with lots of room for Aiden to run. I can’t help but giggle at the suggestion. For a moment, I force myself to really picture it. A home with Aiden. Family nearby. My best friend turned sister in the same city. Millie, Liv, all their kids.

A full life. One that almost makes up for the lackluster response from my own parents after I texted them both, asking if we could get together this week so I could talk to them in person about my engagement.

My mother told me she could possibly fit me in next Friday.

Next Friday.

She only has one child, and she can’t make time for me until a week from now, and that’s not guaranteed.

Why am I even bothering? They’ll only ruin my joy. They never liked Aiden, and they’ll never accept the engagement. My mother will pout, and my father is probably already scheming ways to break us up.

Outside Langfield Corp, I tip my head back and take in the skyscraper. The hundreds of floor-to-ceiling windows make it look like a hunk of blue ice standing amid the standard brick of Boston.

Is that why they chose the design? The family is obsessed with the color, with the sport—at least Aiden is—so it wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

I eye my reflection, then Sara’s. My faded pink hair is pulled low and to the side in an elaborate braid. My darker pink sweater cinches at my waist. Beside me, Sara is wearing a black skirt and black boots, just like I am. She leans into me, also taking in our reflection. For a long moment, all we do is breathe.

“I’m so proud of you,” she says.

My heart squeezes. I’m proud of us both. For going after what we want. For taking a risk after being hurt. For being true to ourselves.

“Come on,” I say, tugging her inside. I’m ready for the next big thing.

As Sara leads me through the offices, she introduces me to every person we pass. She’s obviously well liked. It isn’t even slightly surprising, since she’s my favorite person.

Hysterical, kind, and generous with her time and affection. She’s always been all of those things. For years, though, she saved those parts of herself for only the people closest to her. In college, she was closed off, and I made it my mission to help her make friends. Dragging her to parties. Forcing her to flirt.

It was all in an attempt to be so loud that no one ever truly got to know the real me.

Except for Sara. But even with her, I hid my softer side. Aiden may be the only person who’s ever known the whole of me. It’s fitting, since I only feel whole when we’re together. When I’m his and he’s mine.

Sara practically drags me toward her office, but we stop short when we hear giggles from the door beside hers.

“Beckett, stop. Not here.”

“Can’t. Need you.”

That phrase is followed by a loud, low growl.

My best friend and I look at one another, eyes wide, and burst into laughter.

“Holy shit. Beckett can get it,” I whisper.

Sara drops her head and gives it a shake. “You have no idea,” she mouths. “I’ve walked in to find our future sister-in-law fixing her lipstick too many times to count.”

I waggle my brows. “Get it, Liv.”

Grasping my hand, Sara pulls me through her door. “I’ll just email her that we’ll be ready for her when they’re done.”

With a chuckle, I settle into the couch in her office. I’ll never get over how nice her space is. It always smells like fall in her office because of the diffuser she keeps going. There’s also an entire bookshelf filled with pictures of her family and friends.

My personal favorite is a picture of her sitting on Brooks’s back as he does one hundred push-ups on the ice while in full gear—their pregame ritual. She’s got this big smile on her face that only comes out when she’s around her fiancé.

A light tapping has us turning our attention to the door.

When Ava tentatively peeks in, I squeal. “Oh, hi, girlfriend.”

Ava is still pretty quiet around us, and it’s probably a good thing. I’m not sure our group of friends could take another loudmouth like Sara and me. Hannah is sarcastic and a badass boss babe, but she’s not loud. Millie is quieter, though not timid in the least.

Ava seems like she’s always one wrong move away from breaking. Like a beautiful piece of blown glass created by a difficult situation that has left her incredibly delicate.

“Liv asked me to be around for the meeting, but I can wait in the hall until it’s time, if you girls are catching up,” she says in her soft way.

“Stop it.” Sara scowls. “We’ve been over this. You’re one of us girls.”

With a deep breath, Ava sets her shoulders and floats into the room. Her long, thick red hair is probably the heaviest thing about her. Other than her personality. She’s constantly surrounded by sadness. The only time I’ve seen it lift is when she’s around Josie.

And she hasn’t seen Josie in weeks. Since the little girl went to live with her mother and her mother’s fiancé, all she’s gotten is a few photos and vague updates here and there. But we do know that Josie is healthy and happy. It’s hard to ask for anything more.

“How are things with Xander?” I ask.

Ava clutches her iPad to her chest. “Still pretty new, but good.”

Sara chuffs out a breath. “I still can’t believe you’re dating a guy who’s related to War.”

Ava’s grip on the iPad tightens further, her knuckles turning white. “Yeah.”

Curiosity has me leaning forward. Aiden is close with War, especially now that War is captain, because Aiden has always been invested in helping his teammates, the rookies more than anyone. I like War. He’s got a rough exterior, but like with Ava, I think there’s more to his story.

“How’s he been?”

Ava shrugs. “They aren’t close, so I see him more at work than when I’m with Xander.”

Sara perks up. “Brooks mentioned that.”

Ava nods, pressing her lips together. “Xander is close with his stepfather, but I guess War isn’t. After his parents’ divorce, War chose to live with his mom and really didn’t visit his dad. The guys had barely met before they were in high school, even though they’d been stepbrothers for years and years.” She lowers her gaze to the floor between us. “I don’t know. Family is difficult, I suppose.”

I snort. Truer words have never been spoken.

“That’s why we have each other,” Sara says.

“That we do,” Liv chimes in from the doorway.

I practically jump out of my chair, straightening my skirt, my heart suddenly pounding. It’s strange, feeling like I have to make a good impression while simultaneously knowing this woman is about to become family. “Hi, Liv.”

As she steps into the office, her cheeks are flushed, and the tie on her wrap dress is askew.

Behind her, Beckett strides in wearing a smile, looking perfectly presentable.

Liv glances back at him, and in response, his eyes settle possessively on her lips. God, I love them.

“Stop,” she hisses, obviously seeing what we all see.

Beckett merely smirks, then turns his attention on the rest of the room. “Good morning, ladies. Ava, thank you for joining us for this meeting.”

“Nope,” Liv says, turning and pushing him toward the door.

Confusion pulls at Beckett’s brows. “What do you mean nope ?”

“I can talk to Lennox about the job. You will just get in the way, Mr. Langfield.”

Sara and I eye one another, rolling our lips to keep from laughing. Liv did say that’s what Beckett likes being called in the bedroom. That knowledge instantly turns us into schoolgirls, ready to throw ourselves down on the floor in a fit of giggles.

Ava must be used to this, because she doesn’t blink over their interaction.

“Fine, but you owe me a date night,” he says to his wife.

“We don’t have a sitter,” Liv says, her shoulders deflating.

Beckett turns to the rest of us. “We haven’t had a night out since before the twins were born. She refuses to let any of my brothers watch the kids. Thinks they can’t handle all five of them by themselves.”

Sara straightens. “We’ll do it.”

Every head in the room whips in her direction.

“Right, Len? The guys don’t have a game on Friday. Between the four of us, we can handle them.”

My chest gets a little tight at the prospect. The older kids, maybe. But twin babies? I’ve spent almost no time around children, especially babies. This is the definition of being thrown into the deep end.

Then again, Beckett’s words from the other night replay in my mind. Aiden’s need for a place to run and play. He’d be such a good dad. Maybe spending time with his nieces and nephew would help me figure out whether I could ever see myself wanting kids of my own.

“Yeah, we can do it,” I say, my tone firm. Aiden will be thrilled with this idea. And it’ll give me a chance to check out this neighborhood a little more closely.

“I knew hiring you was a good idea,” Beckett says proudly.

I chuff out a laugh. “I haven’t accepted the job offer.”

Beckett adjusts his suit jacket and smirks. “You will. All right, ladies, if Livy has this covered, I’m going to find Cortney. We’ve got a bet going, and I’m totally going to win, so I’ve got to up the ante.” He presses a kiss to his wife’s cheek and mutters in her ear. Whatever he says has her swatting him away and makes her cheeks flush.

“You guys are so freaking adorable,” I say as I settle on the couch again.

Liv rolls her eyes. “He’s incorrigible most of the time.”

“And you love it,” Sara sings.

Ava, who’s still standing, shoulders pulled up to her ears, watches the three of us with a small smile on her face.

I pat the space next to me. “Come over here and tell me why I should accept this job. And what we’ll be doing.”

As she settles beside me, she quietly asks, “You really haven’t accepted yet?”

I give her a wink. “I like to keep the Langfield men on their toes.”

But the truth is, I already know my answer. I’m going all in. With Aiden. With Langfield Corp. With his family.

And maybe with one of our own.

The realization has me excited to share it all with Aiden. But because we never do things easily, through a conversation, my mind is spinning with ideas. With grand gestures—because if anyone deserves an over-the-top gesture, it’s my guy.