The Price of Peace: Book 3 In The No More Regrets Series

Shane’s POV

Man… I can’t believe they’re actually finally married.

I stand there for a second, drink in hand, letting the reality of it settle in while the reception buzzes around me with the music thumping, people laughing too loud, somebody already drunk and it’s not even late yet.

I glance over at Sade, someone I’ve known since I was fourteen. Damn near my whole life. She’s leaning comfortably into her second husband glowing, relaxed, like a woman who’s been through hell and came back with receipts.

Together, they’ve got a whole football team of kids. Four with her ex husband and four with her current husband. She catches the look on my face and laughs.

“Well, you know they’ve been together for a little while,” she says. “They actually met at my wedding to Adamo.”

I frown. Hard. “What do you mean they met at your wedding? I work with them. They’ve known each other forever.”

Adamo lets out a laugh. “She swears by that story. But nah, Sienna and Knox kind of, sort of grew up together. The wedding just… sped things up. Little infatuation, little office hook ups, and boom here we are.”

I nod slowly. “That tracks.”

I glance around again. “So where are your kids?”

Sade shrugs. “My mom and dad have ours. The other kids are with their father.”

I blink. “So Marco has them?”

“Yeah. Him and his new girlfriend.”

I wince. “Still calling her new, huh?”

She smirks. “Force of habit.”

I shake my head. “They’ve been going strong. I’m honestly shocked they’re not married yet. And no kids?”

I pause, then mutter, “Maybe he knows he fucked up when he cheated on you, and can't find anyone like you.”

Sade exhales, long and tired. “I really don’t want to talk about Marco. I’m not talking about my ex when I really don’t have too. I am here enjoying myself being child free. No babies weighing my arms down, no breastfeeding every other hour, and no one calling my name every five minutes. I am relaxing.”

I laugh. “Well don’t relax too hard. Last time you did that, you walked away with a surprise set of twins.”

Adamo laughs loud as hell. “No more surprises. We are DONE done. Eight is enough. Plus I got snipped.”

I nod. “Eight is more than enough. That’s a whole basketball roster.”

Sade tilts her head at me. “So… how’s Shane Jr.?”

“He’s good. Getting ready for eighth grade.”

She sighs. “I miss when the boys used to hang out all the time.”

“Yeah,” I say. “Different schools. Different lives. And then… everything else.”

She knows what I mean.

“The whole situation didn’t help,” I continue. “When he found out what really happened, I think he felt guilty. Like his mom broke up his best friend slash godbrother’s family.”

Sade’s expression hardens. “Oh no. I need to talk to him, and Lily too. They need to know none of that was on them. That affair was between two grown ass, reckless adults making stupid decisions.”

I nod. “You’re right.”

She studies me. “So speaking of reckless adults… where’s Isla?”

“At home.”

Her eyebrows lift. “You didn’t bring her?”

“Nah. Last time she came to one of my work events, she got drunk and showed her natural ass. I’m not doing that again.”

Sade laughs, leaning into Adamo, rubbing against him like she owns him, which she absolutely does.

I look around the room again, feeling oddly aware of myself. I mean, I’m not ugly by any means. I'm six feet, two-ten, muscular build. Nice full beard lined up. Hair looking right. I put in work to look good.

But Adamo?

That man looks like he stepped straight out of a Greek mythology textbook.

He’s the reason I look the way I do now. One day he said, Come run with me. Then it turned into workouts. Then a personal trainer. Next thing I know, I’ve got muscle where I used to have excuses.

Women are on him like white on rice, and he doesn’t even notice any of them except for Sade.

“So are we running on Monday?” I ask.

“Five a.m.,” he says.

“Disrespectfully early,” I reply. “But I’ll be there.”

I step away, deciding to give them their moment and go find Knox. Business waits for no one, even at a wedding.

That’s when I spot the chaos.

Sienna is mid mini crash out, eyes blazing, yelling at their baby, who is absolutely destroying the wedding cake like he’s been personally offended by it. Frosting everywhere. Hands, face, and suit, with no remorse.

He freezes.

Then cries like the world just ended.

I chuckle. Shane Jr. was the exact same way. Built like a tank and emotionally dramatic.

Knox’s mother swoops in like a superhero, scoops the baby up, and disappears. Knox pulls Sienna into his arms, calming her down like he’s done it a thousand times before.

Now that’s real love.

I grab a cupcake from the dessert table, and that’s when I see her.

The same woman from the Knox’s baby shower.

Honey tan skin. Thick black curls. Big brown eyes that look like they know things. Thick in all the right places, small waist, thick thighs, round ass, full breasts. The kind of woman who makes men forget their damn names and women roll their eyes.

She could make a potato sack look sinful.

She’s staring at me.

Licking her lips.

Yeah. I’m done pretending I don’t see her.

I walk over. “Hello, miss. I noticed you couldn’t take your eyes off me, so I figured I’d introduce myself. I’m Shane.”

She smiles. “Full of yourself.”

She turns to walk away.

I stop her. “Full of Yourself? That’ a weird name, but I had to tell you, lavender is definitely your color. You look incredible by the way.”

She smirks. “I’m Maya.”

“Nice to finally meet you,” I say.

“Since I didn’t get the chance at the baby shower.”

Her gaze sharpens. “Was that because your wife was there… and today she’s not?”

“So you noticed her.”

“Of course. The wedding ring helped.”

I glance down, rub my thumb over the band. “Our relationship is complicated.”

I tell her the truth. All of it without any fluff and no lies. I even tell her she can fact-check me with Sade.

She smiles slowly. “I already know about you and your wife, Shane. I just wanted to see if you’d be honest. And for the record, I don’t mind getting to know you more.”

We talk, and laugh, and exchange phone numbers.

Then Sienna appears out of nowhere and pulls her away.

Damn.

Maya looks back at me as she walks off, hips swaying, knowing exactly what she’s doing.

Yeah.

I’m a goner.