is next weekend and I need this thing to rock. And I’ve decided that I’m going to call it my Freedom Fest.”
“Eighteen and free at last?” I can’t help but laugh. “Was it hard time?”
“Ugh.” She slings her arm over her forehead and pretends to faint. “The hardest!”
Teagan and I go over everything from flowers to the band. You would think she were marrying British royalty the way Pinterest boards were being formed and analyzed.
Teagan slaps her hand to her cheek as we study the vast array of images we’ve managed to compile in the short hour we’ve been at it. “Do you really think this could all come together that quickly?”
“Are you kidding?” I close my laptop as we both stand for the first time in an hour. “I’m a pro at making things happen. I’m organized to a fault, and believe me, I’ll use this superpower to make sure your birthday goes off without a hitch.”
“Thank you.” She throws her arms around me tight as if I were her Freedom Fest savior, and I just might be. She was looking into mouth blown balloons and crepe paper before she met me.
“You’re welcome.” And now is a perfect time to segue into a quick sound bite for Barnes. It’s never too early to indoctrinate the youth as far as higher education goes. Now that Axel and I are practically back together, Teagan is family. And just like Teagan, there’s no way I’d want her anywhere near Whitney Briggs. My heart pinches because Sunday just so happens to attend that sexed-up university. But it’s a longstanding Knight family tradition, so I didn’t dare interfere. Plus, her big brother Rush is there. What could go wrong? But as far as Serena and Teagan go, nope. It’s Barnes all the way. Just as I open my mouth to get the indoctrination underway, Shep pops up.
“There you are. Come on, kiddo. I need to get you back to the office before Dad turns you into a pumpkin.”
“Ugh,” she grunts at the thought. “That’s right. Dad’s got some big acquisition meeting this afternoon. A million new ideas by a million new people. It’s safe to say my father very much enjoys riding the coattails of others.” She sticks her finger down her throat and wretches.
“Text me if you need anything,” I say as she speeds back out into the restaurant, but Shep takes a few steps back.
“I talked to Mortgage Mergers. They said you haven’t filed for the refi. I can help you with the paperwork if you’d like.” He ticks his head in the exact way that Axel does. It’s a bit unnerving how much alike Axel, Shep, and Teagan are. And come to think of it, one of my favorite things about Emilia was how much she reminded me of Axel.
“I think I have someone to help me out with that.” I swallow hard because I can feel it coming. “You know, I sort of just learned about Emilia’s passing, and I wanted to let you know how sorry I am.”
Shep’s cheek flinches. “We all are. Thank you.” He steals a quick embrace. “You have a beating heart after all.” He gives a playful wink as we head back out to the bar. “There were bets in place at one time.”
I belt out a laugh. “Did you make any money?”
“I took the over-under. Nothing too exciting happened.”
We share a laugh as we step out into the dining room, and I freeze solid once I see him. There he is, Axel—speaking sweetly to his baby sister. My adrenaline kicks in because I know what’s coming. The time has arrived for me to make things right between us.
Shep and Teagan say goodbye as they hit the door, and it’s just Axel and me locked in a gaze.
“Hey, Lex.”
“Hey.” I swallow hard, trying to quickly factor how to unravel this knot. “You know, I hear the overlook is beautiful this time of year.”
His head inches back, and his brows knit with confusion. I couldn’t have stunned him more if I pulled a gun on him.
I step in close and take up both his hands. My breathing grows erratic, and my lip quivers—a nervous twitch I loathe because it forever eats away at my self-confidence. “Remember that hike you offered up the first day we met at the Black Bear?” My entire body shakes as I ask the question. I might as well have taken off all my clothes and splayed myself naked over a pool