Divided (Unguarded #2) - Ivy Stone Page 0,79

in the room land on her, including Rocky’s from his spot down on the floor beside the table.

Silence keeps us on edge until Lindsey’s face breaks out into a smile worth a thousand words. She turns to Charlotte, who bites her lip, her eyes bulge with contained excitement. They both spare Mason a glance who nods lovingly into the eyes of a woman he so clearly loves.

“This morning, Mason proposed to me… and I said yes.” Her voice heightens as she gets to the yes.

She pulls her arm out from under the table and a big shining diamond on her left hand catches in the light. Cheers and claps echo through the room. And while everyone’s high with excitement Lindsey flicks my way, her hair draping over her exposed shoulder. Her bright eyes so similar to mine fill with something light rather than darkness. She glances around the room, soaking in our surroundings like I did not long ago. She smiles. And I smile back. No words are necessary. Through our biggest fears, came our greatest strength. We were two girls who came from nothing. We’ve been surviving. Some days just barely, but we’re still here. Together. And this—this is everything we never had and everything we’ve always wanted.

Now we have it all.

Cassidy’s high-pitched excitement vibrates through the room. “Now we get to plan your bachelorette party.”

“Oh, don’t forget the strippers, Cass,” I yell out across the table.

Mason puts up a hand. “Hold up. There will be no strippers. No other man is getting anywhere near my woman.”

“Is that right?” Lindsey straightens her back and tilts her head toward Mason. She may be madly in love with the guy, but my sister is not a woman who likes to be told what to do—by anyone.

Roamyn chimes in. “Yeah. I second that. No dick is getting anywhere near Ali’s face. Not unless it’s mine.”

Trey groans. “Well, you guys aren’t any fun.”

“Why don’t we have a joint party then?” Oliver suggests.

Trey’s brows draw in. “Like, together?”

Cass rolls her eyes at him and I bite the inside of my cheek while I hold in the big V word. Roamyn notices and he shakes his head.

“Ali,” he warns.

“Vegas, anyone?” I suggest, my lips breaking into a huge smile.

Trey’s face splits with excitement. He claps and points my way. “Now we’re talking.”

Within two hours the Vegas trip is planned and a wedding date has been set for two months from now.

The balcony door clicks opens but I don’t turn around. I know who it is. Mason leans over the railing beside me and we stare out into the city. I needed a moment of quiet away from everyone. I love my family. But just thinking the word family in my head keeps dredging up my past with Cannon. Here was my perfect escape to just think and enjoy the quiet. Not that brewing over this shit for a month in silence had helped a damn thing. Mason knows it too. He’s been eyeing me off tonight. Doesn’t help that my best friend can read me like an open book. But I guess that happens after eight years of spending nearly every day together.

“You wanna tell me what’s going on with you or you want me to try and guess?”

My lips turn up as I concentrate on the stars. “I’ve got to tell you something. Probably should’ve told you when I figured it out.” I cough. My throat thickens with emotion I can’t push away.

“The day we paid Cannon a visit. When we were in his office, I saw a photo on the wall. My mom was in it. Cannon had his arm around her in the photo and it looked like it was taken in the clubhouse a long time ago. Seeing it…” my voice cracks, “…it brought on another memory, and I’m not too sure how to process what I remembered.”

“I know,” Mason replies, voice sharp and short.

I twist my head to him. “You knew?”

“Yeah. I saw you choke up at the photo, but I didn’t want to tip Cannon off. When we walked out, I passed it and realized why.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

He shrugs. “I was waiting for you to. I knew you’d come to me when you were ready.”

My body sags. I dip my chin. “He’s my father, Mase.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” he deadpans.

I scoff. If only he witnessed the same memory I did. There isn’t a single doubt in my mind that Axel ‘Cannon’ Hawke is my father.