“YES!”Adley screamed and threw herself at Mason.He caught her and managed to not drop the ring.
“That was a nail-biter,” Cora muttered.
“As if she was going to say n-n-no,” Eden stammered.
“I think she should put the ring on before he drops it,” Wren suggested.
Mason managed to slip the ring on her finger, and Adley held her hand up in the air as if she had just won the Super Bowl.
Wendy was in tears, babbling about being a grandma and planning a wedding at the same time.
Everyone was talking at once, and no one was really listening to anyone.
Ender leaned down and kissed the side of my head.“About damn time.”
I smiled.“I’m really happy for them.”
He nodded to the camera that was mounted above the front door.“Mac is going to be happy as hell, too, with all of the footage she just got.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.“That should make up for Wrecker cutting off most of her recording.”
The celebration moved into the clubhouse with Alice and Karmen manning the bar, and Mom headed to the kitchen to make the popcorn Jude wanted so badly.
But exhaustion hit me hard.
I yawned, and Ender was instantly ready to get out of there.“Ready for bed?”he asked.
“It’s barely eleven,” I laughed.
He threaded his fingers through mine.“I think we can sneak away.”
He pulled me down the hallway, into our room, and shut the door.
“Is it really over?”I asked softly.
“Yes,” he said without hesitation.“They’re gone.They’ll never touch you.Or the club.”
I turned and kissed him gently.“So… normal now?”
He laughed quietly.“As normal as it gets around here.”
I smiled against his lips.“Just like I always wanted.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Ever
Three months later
Closing time crept closer, and the neonOPENsign buzzed softly in the window as the last streaks of sunset faded from Main Street.
I wiped my hands on my apron and glanced at the clock.Ten minutes.
Close enough to start the closing routine.
I filled the sink with hot water, the steam fogging my glasses, and reached for the dish soap.
The bell above the door jingled.