Chapter 2

Grant answered immediately. “You hear that? She was trying not to spoil this for you.”

I looked at him. “Should I thank her?”

For once, he had no quick reply. Then he smiled and reached over to ruffle my hair.

“Fine. I said it badly. Your Majesty, stop glaring at me like I committed a felony.”

I turned my head away before he could touch me.

He didn’t take offense. He picked up Serena’s two suitcases instead.

“I’ll drive her to the hotel.”

As he passed me, he lowered his voice. “I’ll bring you a bag of those cinnamon-sugar donuts tonight. Those always used to calm you down. Don’t tell me they’ve stopped working.”

After they left, I began putting the primary bedroom back in order.

A moving-company receipt had been trapped behind the nightstand. The date was five days earlier. The pickup address was a hotel; the delivery address was my condo.

Under special instructions, someone had written: Long-term residence. Multiple boxes. Handle with care.

Grant Carter had signed for the delivery.

On the back, the movers had circled another note in red ink.

Primary bedroom cleared in advance. Move belongings directly inside.

I stared at the words and remembered asking in our group chat, five days ago, when everyone could help prepare the condo.

All three had said they were busy.

Serena’s return had never been the surprise.

The surprise was that they had already made the decision for me and expected me to accept it with a smile.

Three days later, I turned twenty-six.

At exactly 6:40 that evening, Grant appeared carrying a bouquet of my favorite white tulips and a cake.

“Check the time,” he said. “I’m not late. Anybody who stands you up today is a dead man, and it’s not going to be me.”

I gave him a faint smile.

He lifted one brow. “There it is. You’ve been walking around for days like somebody stole a million dollars from you.”

Owen and Tessa arrived on time too.

Grant slid his gift toward me. Inside was a silver bracelet I had admired for months.

“You looked at it twice when we passed the counter,” he said. “Of course I knew you wanted it.”

He fastened it around my wrist, his fingertips brushing my skin.

“Vivian, you’d better not trade me in. No other man is going to memorize all your ridiculous habits.”

Tessa groaned theatrically. “Please get married already. The rest of us are tired of watching this.”

For a moment, I wavered.

Maybe I could let the condo incident go.

I had barely made the first cut into the cake when Grant’s phone rang.

He looked at the screen and ignored it.

It rang a second time. He turned it facedown on the table.

“Nobody matters tonight.”

I glanced at him.

He smiled. “I told you. The birthday girl outranks everyone.”

Then Owen’s phone rang.

His face darkened after he answered. “Serena received Mason’s wedding invitation. She’s drunk.”

Tessa received a voice message at the same time. Serena was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

“Don’t come,” she gasped. “I just suddenly realized what a complete failure I am.”

Owen was already grabbing his coat. “I’ll check on her.”

Tessa hesitated for two seconds, then stood. “I’m coming.”

Grant stayed seated. He even slid the good half of the fish onto my plate.

“Two people are enough.”

I pushed the jealousy back down.

Ten minutes later, however, he began checking his phone.

The third time, I said, “Go if you want to.”

He frowned. “Who said I want to go? I’m answering a message.”

Five minutes after that, he came back from the restroom holding his car keys.

“I’m going to take a quick look.”

I stared at him. “You just said no one else mattered tonight.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you leaving?”

Irritation flashed across his face. He suppressed it quickly, leaned down, and squeezed the back of my neck.

“She’s drunk. Owen can’t control her, and Tessa says she keeps throwing up. I’ll get her to the hospital. Thirty minutes, no more.”

He kissed my forehead.

“Save me a piece of cake. We’ll finish celebrating when I get back.”