Page 162 of For Your Consideration

“Wait.” Noah held up a hand, looking between Quinn and me. “Can I be on your side, Q?”

“Wow, dropped Knight fast.” Jaxson shook his head on a laugh.

“Does that mean Oli, Jaxson, and I can play rock-paper-scissors for it?” Will asked.

“And this is why we didn’t have a wedding party.” Quinn shook her head at the arguing.

Sutton snorted. “Yeah and because half the attendants would be standing up with you.”

“I will play rock-paper-scissors so we never have to talk about this again.” Knight shot his hand up.

“Done!” Noah smirked, shaking his hand out before making a fist.

These people were insane. But they were mine.

As Sutton laughed at Noah, her hand resting on my thigh, my chest expanded. I loved her with every piece of my heart. Something I’d never experienced with another person. Every day was better with her in it. I’d thought she was a puzzle I needed to solve, but it turned out she was the missing piece I didn’t know I was looking for.

She accepted me for who I was—even my grumpy, quiet, and sullen moments. No push to change. No expectation to be anything other than myself.

I didn’t have words for what that felt like. Being loved exactly as you were.

She was my peace.

Epilogue

Noah

“Cheers, mate.” Jaxson tapped his glass against mine as we both took a sip of our drinks. We were at the table watching some of the couples dance in the middle of the floor.

The wedding had been beautiful, and I had definitely shed a fucking tear watching Knight and Quinn profess their unwavering love.

I looked from Knight and Quinn to my mum and dad who were spinning on the dance floor. My dad was whispering something to her that had her throwing her head back in laughter. I knew how fucking lucky I was to have two parents who loved each other like they did. To get to witness the beauty in their relationship growing up. It was inspiring, and looking at Asher and Sutton, I was pretty sure we would be at their wedding next.

“Do you ever think about settling down?” Jaxson asked, pulling my attention to him. “Seems like there’s something in the air.”

“Me?” I put my hand on my chest. “I couldn’t do that to the ladies.” He snorted and took a drink. “You?”

I watched him closely as something crossed over his face. Jaxson was tight-lipped about his past before we met him in uni, at least with women. He may come out with me, have a woman on his arm, but I was fairly certain he never took them home, even though he acted like he did. There was something there but I didn’t push.

At least not unless I needed to.

Asher came up to the table, sitting down with a sigh. The man was quiet, sullen, and intimidating. Dude was built like a linebacker and had tattoos covering his hands. I’d been with him since he was fourteen though and he was a brother, so his attitude didn’t bother me. Honestly, I liked to try and provoke him. The more murderous he got, the more of a thrill it gave me.

“Did I hear Sutton mention she was paying rent?” I asked Ash as he looked over at where his girlfriend was dancing with my dad now, laughing.

I definitely got my charm from that man.

Asher suppressed his smile into the top of his beer. Something he hadn’t done a lot of before Sutton and her daughter came into his life. “Yeah, she wanted to contribute.”

“Are you struggling for money?” Jaxson looked over at him, confused.

We were three of the six board members of Knight Enterprises, a multibillion-dollar corporation. As we built our business over the last ten years, we also built our wealth. None of us were struggling for money.

Asher shot him an unimpressed look. “I’m putting it all into a fund for Sophie. I match every amount I move. She’ll be taken care of for the rest of her life by me but I know it’s important for Sutton to save for Sophie’s future. I’m just making that easier. It’s a good compromise.”

“Compromise? That she doesn’t know about?” I knew the answer before I asked. Asher just ignored me.

“This way Soph can go to medical school then law school then throw it all away and become an artist for all I care. As long as she’s happy.”