“Well, now, I think I could do that.”
My chest swelled with appreciation. We were having the best conversation we’d had in years. There was one more thing I needed to say before hanging up though. If I didn’t, I would regret it.
“I love you, Mom.”
I could hear her bracelets clinking together as she moved her hand. A slight sniffle permeated the line. “I love you too, Xavier.”
My throat became tight. “I’ll talk to you soon so we can make plans.”
“All right, hon. I’m looking forward to it.”
I hung up and smiled to myself. I hadn’t even had a plan going into the conversation, but I’d had a commitment. And that was to be considerate and not push my opinion. Not once had I mentioned my father.
I was excited to see her, I realized. Going back to the trailer park I grew up in would be hard. At least staying in a hotel would buffer the experience. I still wasn’t sure about bringing Riley with me. My past was an ugly one, and she was too good to be exposed to it. Not all at one time, anyway. I’d still shared very little with her about my years growing up. Getting to the place where I could give her a large amount of information would take some time.
My phone interrupted my thoughts. I noted my mother’s name on the screen and snatched it up. “Mom?”
“Xavier, I… I was just thinking. After we hung up… I would like to come and see you in New York and stay for a while, I mean.” She exhaled, causing the line to crackle with the force of her breath. “I’m saying let’s just see. I’d like to take a look at that apartment you have there for me. It sounds awful nice.”
Tears filled my eyes. I could barely speak, let alone breathe. Somehow, I got the words moving. “It is. It’s really nice.”
“That’s good. Well, how about tomorrow?”
I blinked, unable to believe the words I was hearing. “Tomorrow?”
“I understand if you have things. I know you’re working all the time—”
I cut her off. “Come tomorrow. I’m sending the jet. And I’ll send a car to pick you up too. What time is good?”
“I-I reckon about noon.”
I blinked hard to keep the tears at bay. “Great. I can’t wait to see you, Mom.”
“You too, baby.”
I hung up the phone and placed it on the coffee table. The darkness of the living room stretched around me, but instead of it seeming scary and oppressive, it was magnificent and expansive. Something wild and unpredictable had just happened. Because of one simple decision to be accepting, a relationship had begun to heal. I did something I never thought I could do.
And the result was miraculous.
“Hey.”
I turned to see Riley leaning against the doorframe. She wore one of my oversized shirts, the hem almost coming to her knees. She rubbed her eyes and looked at me. “You’re up late.”
“I was talking to my mother.”
Riley straightened. “Oh. That’s nice.”
I stood and reached my arm out to her. “Yeah, it was.”
Riley came right into my arms, nestling herself into the place she fit so perfectly. “She’s coming to New York,” I told her. “Tomorrow.”
Riley tilted her face up. Thanks to the curtains open behind us, I could make out her smile. “Really? That’s so cool.”
I nodded and swallowed hard. “I haven’t seen her in years.”
“Are you serious? Wow…” Her smile stretched wider. “I bet you’re excited.”
“I am. And I’m excited for her to meet you.”
Riley’s smile softened and her eyes danced. “How did I end up here?”
“I should be asking that question.”
She ducked her head, looking sheepish. I hooked my finger under her chin and lifted her face so that our eyes could connect. The city lights coming through the window washed over her face, lighting up the best thing in my life. The best thing that had ever happened to me.
“You’re not going anywhere, are you?” I asked.
Riley pursed her lips in pleasure. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Good.” Pulling her closer to me, I pressed my mouth against hers. With her kiss, I tasted vanilla, cinnamon, and lust. I tasted love. I tasted new beginnings. I tasted the unlimited possibilities her love had opened up for me.
EPILOGUE
Riley
My fingers trembled as I held the bouquet in front of me, the scent of roses and calla lilies wafting up to me as I took the slow, measured steps I’d been instructed. Music soared throughout the room, compliments of the string quartet in the corner, the cello making my heart melt with its beauty.
My heart melted even further when I saw Xavier standing on the raised dais, the halo of lights decorating the focus of the room making him appear to be lit from within. Our eyes met, and it was no longer my heart that drew my attention. Something low and deep in my belly twisted at the look on Xavier’s face as he took me in. A slow, sexy grin grew wider the closer I got to him.
Giving him a saucy wink, I veered to the left and took my place beside the minister, turning just in time to see Ann-Marie’s smiling face midway up the aisle. But she wasn’t looking at me. Her eyes were on Davis, and after a quick peek, I could see that Davis’ eyes were firmly on her. Tears burned my sinuses as I witnessed the growing love blossoming between them.
So much had changed in the past year. It was as if destroying the list had opened up new possibilities for Xavier and his friends. Well, not Seth. Seth was still a douche we avoided at all costs. Even Davis’ family ties were not strong enough to hold together their relationship, but he didn’t seem to mind. Because the day I’d introduced him to Ann-Marie, Davis had been focused on only one thing… her.
The music shifted, and I refocused my gaze to the back of the room as the quartet began playing “A Thousand Years,” and Summer appeared in the doorway. She looked like an angel, her veil billowing behind her as if a light wind swirled inside the Cipriani just for her. I glanced over at Julian and tears stung my eyes as I witnessed the pure love shining on his face. My gaze slid from the groom to Xavier, the man who held my heart so tenderly. I smiled. There was pure love on his face too. For me.
On the day we destroyed the list, Julian had hinted at having found someone he cared about, and a week later, we’d all gone to dinner together. I liked Summer right away, and she seemed to like me too. Like mine and Xavier’s, their relationship evolved quickly, but they had vowed to wait a year to make sure the immediate attraction could stand the test of time.
It did.