Page 112 of I Dare You
I spun around, trying to take it all in. All of these pieces… all of these people… this was all for me. I swallowed past the lump in my throat and thought I was holding myself together despite the tears that threatened to fall until my dad stepped forward and wrapped me in a tight embrace.
“I’m so proud of you, Lydia. So talented, so strong and resilient. You are so much like your mother.” Those tears that were threatening to fall a moment ago… they ran down my cheeks in messy, wet tracks. “Except for the attitude. That’s all you, Lydi-bug.”
A loud laugh burst out of me. I had barely let go of my dad with another arm was wrapped around me. Wyatt’s large frame engulfed me, and he swayed me side to side in his tight hug.
“You were wasted in New York, Lyds. This is where you belong. With family and friends,” he said.
“You make a difference in the lives of everyone you meet,” Maeve added, pulling me into a three-woman hug with her and Veda.
I went around the room, hugging, talking, and socializing with everyone in attendance. A couple of people even wanted to buy a photograph, including the large group photo of Lisa, Brenda, Amy, and Lauren.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Woodson, that photograph is already spoken for. I’d be happy to show you some other ones though.”
Mrs. Woodson held my hand, sandwiching it between her firm, wrinkled palms. “That’s too bad, dear. But I understand why someone else beat me to it. It’s a portrait of strength and inspiration. So full of life,” she said, gazing at the ladies’ smiling, laughing faces. “I see that spirit in you, Lydia. I hope we get to do this again next year.”
Mrs. Woodson wandered off to continue browsing through the room.
A shriek rang out, causing everyone to turn to find the source. Scarlett flung herself toward the newcomer at the door. Bright red hair in heavy waves framed the woman. She looked to be in her early twenties, but her fair, freckled skin immediately identified her as Scarlett’s sister.
“What are you doing here?” Scarlett asked, a smile stretching her face wide.
“I needed to come meet my nephew,” her sister laughed.
Luke walked up to greet her, carrying Colton.
“Aurora’s here.” Scarlett beamed.
“I see that. Hey, Aurora. Or I guess, it’s Auntie Aurora now.” Luke gave her side hug, letting Aurora take Colt from his arms.
I turned and scanned the room. Most everyone had goneback to their conversations or were plying themselves with more free appetizers. Except for Wes. His gaze was locked on Aurora, a quiet tension simmering behind his eyes.
I touched his arm to get his attention, and he flicked his gaze to me. “Are you alright?”
“Yup. Just keeping an eye out.” The smallest of smiles crossed his face. “Are you enjoying your night?”
“What do you think?” I gestured to the room of people and art around me.
“You deserve it, kid.”
I caught Seb’s eye under a collection of photos from the shop. The moments of joy, excitement, and pride when a client saw the finished tattoo for the first time. I left Wes to his monitoring and made my way to him.
“Hey there, handsome.” My hands came around his middle, and I tilted my chin up to him.
The kiss was as PG as they came, but sparks lit across my skin all the same.
“I can’t believe this. It’s absolutely incredible,” I said. “Thank you for doing this.”
“You are incredible.” His lips touched mine again. Just a soft caress, but one I felt like I couldn’t live without. “I love you, Lydia Wilder. And I’m not the only one. This town loves you. We want to celebrate you the way you deserve to be celebrated.”
“Why?”
“Consider it a birthday present.” He popped his dimple in a cheeky smile, knowing damn well what that dimple did to my insides.
“My birthday is in May,” I told him, looking up at him from my furrowed brow.
He took my hand, intertwining it with his, and brought it to his lips. “It’s eleven years of missed birthdays.” He leaned in, his honey-brown eyes darkening before he captured my lips in a long, lingering kiss. Chaste, but full of promises. Promises of love and safety. Of forever.
“I love you too, Seb.” I nestled against his firm, broad chest. His strong, tatted arm held me close, and he dropped a kiss to the top of my head. Eleven years apart would barely be a blip in the lifetime we would spend together. Because I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Sebastian Devereux was my forever.
