Viv

I’m getting released today, and I can’t wait. Rhys is picking me up, and we’re having that movie date—which really is a date now—that we missed when I got shot. I’m looking through the clothes Stella brought for me, when Reina stops by with some news I’m not ready for.

“Your parents just invited Matt and I to a gala in two weeks. The invite says you’ll be in attendance.”

“The invite is wrong.”

“Normally, I would agree with you, but this time, I’m going to ask you to go.”

“Can you give me a good reason to?”

“Rhys told us about how he was forced to walk away from you because someone was threatening your life. I’m not one to let something like that go, and I’m pretty sure the woman who’s behind it all will be there. Seeing you and Rhys together is going to make her angry, and she might be reckless enough that we can catch her legally. If not, I’ll still deal with her, but this would be more damaging to both her and Christon.”

“Two birds, huh?”

“Something like that.”

“Well, if Rhys is up for it, sure, we can go.”

“Perfect. And just so you know, you’ll be protected at all times. Both of you.”

“I didn’t want to ask, but it’s definitely a concern.”

“Do you want to talk about it to him, or should I?”

“I’ll do it. He’s not going to like it, but I think he’ll do it for me.”

“Good, because his parents are also going to be there, too, and the intel we’ve gathered points to them being in on it too.”

“Why am I not surprised? Do other people have parents who want money and power more than they want their children healthy and alive.”

“Yes, but that’s why we’re here.”

“The world needs you more than they know.”

“I’m not going to disagree with you on that.”

“I hear you’ve got a date tonight so I’m going to head back to my office, but we’ll talk more tomorrow.”

“I do, and yes. I’ll be here.”

She walks out the door, and I go back to looking at the dresses. I thought some were too dressy for our date, but now I realize they’ll work for the party. Stella knew, and sent them before I even said yes. I’d be offended if it didn’t mean she trusted me to make the right choice, which I know I did.

I pick out a dress for tonight that has a graphic of the Beatles crossing Abbey Road covering it. It’s just the right balance between flirty and fun. For the party, I choose a dress I was drawn to immediately. It’s a little too fun for me to have worn in my old life, but it’s perfect for the life I’m living now. I can’t wait to finally walk into one of these things on the arm of the man I love.

“Hey, Beautiful,” that man says when he walks into my room a little later. He’s got on jeans and a button-down shirt, and looks amazing, as always.

“Hi.”

“I can’t believe we’re finally going on a real date. I mean, it’s only taken us about a decade.”

“Better late than never.”

“Yes, it is.”

He takes my small overnight bag and the garment bag with my dress in one hand, and holds his other one out to me. I squeeze his hand as he kisses me on the cheek.

“I’m really hoping you’re the kind of girl who won’t mind a kiss at her door, even though it’s our first date.”

“Actually, I’m the kind of girl who’s hoping you’re going to kiss me long before we get to my front door.”

“I think that can be arranged.”

“Yeah?”

“Definitely.”

He pulls me to him, and our lips meet like they belong together, which they do. Unlike the last few days, this kiss is passionate, and full of need. I start to pull back, because I’m afraid it’s too much, but Rhys just pulls me closer, nibbling on my lips, and running his free hand all over my back as I finger the sexy indentations at his waist. Our clothes are on, but we’re definitely making out right now, and he seems okay with it.

“You okay?” I ask, forcing my lips from his, because I have to be sure.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more okay in my life.”

“We’re going to miss the movie if we don’t stop.”

“If it wasn’t our first date, I’d be okay with that. But, I want to do this right with you.”

Swoon. Okay, yeah, we’ve had our problems, and some of them are going to be with us for a lot longer than either of us wants, but this right here is why I can’t walk away, or give up on Rhys. The rest of the world has always seen a cocky rogue, but all I can see is the sweet and loving man who’s always protected me, even when I didn’t know it.

We hold hands as we walk out of the hospital ward, and into the elevator. Rhys helps me into his sleek BMW, and I find a bunch of white roses on the seat. I smile, remembering when we were kids, and Rhys brought me a white rose for our first “unofficial” date. He didn’t think my mother would notice one flower gone from her prized bushes, but she did. The next day, she almost fired the groundskeeper, but Rhys came forward, and said it was just a prank.

“Did you steal these too?”

“No, but if we were close to your parents’ place, I would’ve.”

Now is when I should tell him about the party, but I don’t want to ruin this night we’ve both waited so long for. “I love you, Rhys. So much.”

“I love you too, Vivs.”

Rhys

“Remember, you have to stay calm,” I tell X, as we make our way to Lennon’s office in the C&C building.

He agreed to meet with us, but Camari insisted on being there too. If X freaks out, or goes for her man, it’s going to end badly for everyone.

“I just need him to tell me what he knows.”

“You already know she’s okay, since you caught her video chatting with Micah the other day.”

“I need to know more than that. I need to know when she’s coming back.”

I don’t tell him I’m pretty sure coming back isn’t in her plans, because he’s on the verge of madness right now. He’s got the scraggly beard, the wrinkled clothes, and the crazy eyes of someone who’s losing it, because he is. Lennon needs to help him, but I’m not sure if he will.

Camari opens the door when X knocks, and I’m not surprised to see Matt is also in the room when we enter. To say things have been strained between him and X would be an understatement.

“You’re going to be civil, and listen to what Lennon has to say.”

“We both know you need me more than I need you, Matthew, so quit trying to play boss.”

“I’m fairly certain hiring you was the worst mistake I’ve ever made in my professional life, so don’t try and threated me, Xavier.”

“Enough with the alpha male bullshit,” Camari tells them. “Ask what you came to ask, X, and then all of you can leave.”

Lennon smiles, and shrugs his shoulders when I look at him, and I think I might need to get to know him better. He’s comfortable with his place in this room, and doesn’t mind his girlfriend protecting him. Those are two things I need to work on in my own life.

“Lennon, I need you to tell me where Seri is,” X says, managing to stay calm while he says it.

“No.”

“Excuse me?” And there goes the calm.

“She’s one of my best friends, and she doesn’t want you to know where she is, so I’m not going to tell you.”

“You have to know how worried we are about her,” Matt interjects, looking between the two men like he’s trying to figure out whose side to be on.

“She’s okay, but she’s not coming back.”

“She has to come back!” X yells, before falling into one of the chairs. “She has to. I can’t do this without her.”

“Can’t what? Work?”

“Live. I can’t live without her.”

“Maybe you should’ve made that clear to her.”

“I know. I know I fucked up, and I want to fix it.”

“You’re going to have to give her time. She’s hurting, and trying to protect herself.”

“Please, Lennon. I don’t have time. I’m only getting out of bed every day because my son needs me, but it’s getting harder and harder to remember that.”

“I’ll tell her, but I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Then give her these.”

He pulls a stack of papers from inside his rumpled jacket, and holds them out to Lennon. I have no clue what he’s doing, but I know it can’t be good. Lennon takes them, and opens them, his eyes going wide.

“You want her to have custody of Micah?”

Whoa. Matt and I look at each other, our jaws dropped. X loves his kid more than anything.

“Yes. I’m not functioning, and he can tell. It’s starting to affect him in a negative way.”

“I don’t…you can’t…are you sure?” Lennon asks, fumbling for the right thing to say.

“Yes.”

He walks out of the room as we all stare after him. Matt is the first one to react, leaning over the desk to look Lennon in the eyes.

“I’m not his biggest fan right now, but I never expected this. You have to get Seri to at least contact him. She’s completely broken him. He’d never send Micah away if it wasn’t bad.”

“I know. Oh God, I know.”

I turn to see Seri walking out of the closet in the corner. She looks as destroyed as X does, and tears are currently running down her cheeks, as she rocks back and forth.

“Seri,” Matt says, rushing to her side.

“What have I done?”

“Nothing that can’t be fixed.”

“You’re wrong, Matt. Like you said, he’s giving me his son, because I broke him.”

“Come back, and make it better.”

She nods, wiping her eyes, and straightening her shoulders. “I’m back. Can you fill me in on the new projects, Rhys? I know X is giving you more responsibility.”

“Yeah, he is, and I can definitely give you the info.”

I’m in a little shock over the instant change in her demeanor, but I welcome it. The temp assistant is nice, but she’s not Seri. She also looks at X like he’s hung the moon, which he completely ignores, but is still annoying. I miss the verbal sparring Seri brought with her, if only because it kept me entertained back then, when I wasn’t getting any work to do.

“Let’s go. I need to get to him sooner, rather than later.”

“Of course.”

I don’t even know what’s happening right now, but it’s crazier than what I’ve got going on. Like, seriously, these two make my problems seem much smaller than I thought they were. They aren’t, but they feel like it when I see the devastation on both of their faces.

I give her the info she needs, and then we’re on our floor, and the elevator doors are opening. You could hear a pin drop as I trail behind her through the cubicles in the middle of the floor. X is standing at the temp assistant’s desk, but he turns when the room goes silent, and drops the papers in his hands.

“Seri.”

“I’d like my job back. Please.”

“Whatever you want. Anything you want.”

“Just my job for now.”

She looks pointedly at the woman sitting in her chair. That woman looks like she wants to argue, but X isn’t having it. “Get out of the damn chair.”

Seri sighs, but there’s a smile on her face. “I see nothing’s changed while I was gone.”

“Everything’s changed. No one can replace you. You have to know that.”

“It’s definitely nice to hear.”

“I’ll say it every day if you want.”

“Let’s not get carried away.”

“There’s more I need to say to you.”

“Not yet. I’m not ready for anything but work right now.”

You came back.”

“I did. Don’t make me regret it.”

“I won’t.”

“Yes, you will, but we’ll deal with that later.”

“Okay.”

They’re staring at one another like they’re afraid of each other, and I take that as my cue to leave. I didn’t think things would go down like this today, but I’m happy they did. Now, I need to go see my own woman, and keep working on moving forward with her.