Page 69 of The Riders’ Reign
“And fools seldom differ.” Saint smirks.
“Hey.” Vani elbows him in the side and turns back to me. “I bought some food, too, and drinks. I figured his fridge would be full of beer and not much else.”
“Americans and their love for beer.” Saint rolls his eyes. “We French drink fine wine, Champagne, dine on oysters and the finest cheeses, and here everywhere I look it’s fast food, snacks, and beer.”
Ace is staring at Saint as if he’s grown a second head.
“Dude,” he says indignantly, “what’s wrong with fast food?”
“Everything.” Saint’s reply is droll.
He really carries himself as if he’s a royal from Versailles, transported to modern America and forced to suffer such indignities as burgers and fries.
“Um… shall we go into the kitchen, and I can show you what I bought?” Vani’s suggestion takes me by surprise.
“Sure, that would be great.”
We head that way, and Saint goes to follow us. “Give us a minute?” Vani asks him.
He frowns but shrugs. “Okay, I will be in the living room. With the biker,” he adds, sending Ace a side-eye.
Before Vani shuts the kitchen door behind us, I hear Ace ask Saint if he’s ever been stabbed by a porcupine quill and can’t help but giggle, especially when Saint cursing in French follows.
“You look good, Camile,” Vani says, setting down her bags. “Glowing, even.”
I brace myself for it, the moment she tells me I need to leave her father alone and be happy with what I already have.
It never comes. Instead, she puts her hands on her hips and sighs. “Camile, I owe you a massive apology. I’m really sorry for how I treated you.”
Nothing she said could have surprised me more. I stare at her for a moment then run to her and pull her in for a big hug.
“Do you mean that?” I ask.
She nods against me. “I really do. I’ve been doing some soul searching, especially after Dad got hurt, and what he said to me in the hospital. It was totally selfish of me, acting the way I did. You’re an incredible person and an amazing friend, and my dad is lucky to have you. To have all of you.”
“Vani, I’ve missed you,” I say into her hair as tears fill my eyes.
“Same,” she says with a sniffle, gently pushing me away so she can look me in the eye. “Just promise me one thing. Don’t go any further with this, unless you’re sure. My father doesn’t fall easy, but when he does, he falls hard. You must know one hundred percent that he’s what you want.”
“He really is,” I state simply. “I love him, Vani. With all my heart.”
She bites at her lower lip. “Is it possible that we could make up? Do you think you could ever bring yourself to forgive me for the awful things I’ve said to you?” Her voice cracks with emotion. “I’ve been torturing myself with them, going over and over them in my head, and wondering how I could possibly have spoken to you that way when you were going through so much. I don’t know what I was thinking. It’s like I lost my mind for a while there. I’ve been a complete bitch, Camile. I’m so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Of course, I can,” I say. “I understand. I do.”
She smiles and wipes away tears of her own. “Friends again, then?”
“Friends,” I confirm.
We grin at each other and then hug and laugh. I swear my heart feels a million times lighter. I hadn’t realized how much Vani’s disapproval had been hanging over me. It finally feels like everything is falling into place. All we need now is Jack home.
Vani empties all her bags, and we oooh and aaah over the purchases, unwrapping things and discussing where in the house they’ll look best. Ace and Saint watch sports on the television and leave us in peace to work our magic.
“Dad is going to hate all this stuff,” Vani chuckles.
I join her laughter. “Isn’t he just!”
Upstairs in Jack’s bedroom, I help Vani make the bed. I pause, wanting to ask her something but not sure if it will upset her. In the end, I put it out there.
