Page 154 of Hard to Judge

Hota’s strong hand shakes as he reaches down. His fingers caress something inside the box. “Is this…? Are these…?”

“They were yours. I’m so sorry you had to part with them.” Arlo grips Hota by the nape. “Now, they are returned to their rightful place.”

“Shinjirarenai. Watashi no ai.” Hota gently scoops one of the gold medals he earned in the Olympics from the box and stares at it. “How, Arlo?”

My cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

“You knew about this?” Hota’s gaze jumps to mine. “Of course you did.” He sets the medal down and looks at another, and then another, until he’s touched each one. “I didn’t think I cared about these.” His head shakes, and he blinks in rapid succession. “Now, I’m about to cry over some hunks of metal.”

Arlo grips on Hota’s nape tightens, lending him support. Then he grabs my hand and pulls it to his thigh, squeezing my fingers.

“It’s not the medals.” Hota’s gaze lifts from the box. He looks from me to Arlo. “I’m happy to have them back, and I still can’t comprehend how you found them.” His voice is a whisper. “More than that, it’s how much you cared to find them. It’s how much you love me. It’s how well you love me and let me love you.”

I hold back my tears because I know more will come, but I can’t hold back my affection. Not even a little. I launch into their arms.

Over the past year, we’ve perfected the three-person hug. Plus, plenty of other positions. The awkwardness of the couchand the box between us barely registers. All I feel is love radiating through us.

From the moment Arlo walked into my office, I couldn’t have imagined how much my life, hell, all our lives, would change.

“What is it?” Nat begs, breaking up our little love knot.

Hota shows us all. One by one, he regales us with the story of how he won each medal and which one held the most significance. Then Arlo shared the trials and tribulations of the past year, trying to track them all down.

A little while later, Nat, Laurent, and Dior Alain head to their New York home only used in the summer months and for special winter occasions.

Nat kisses my cheeks and hugs me tight. “I’ll see you in the morning, but must it be so early? Should we call Astor to see if she’d like to push it back an hour?”

“It’s brunch, Nat. Not sunrise breakfast.” I grin. “Trust me, you’ll want to be there on time this time.”

“Fine.” She huffs and steps back, accepting the coat her fiancé drapes over her shoulders. “I just hate to crush Michael’s hopes.” She flashes her gigantic ring. “Now that I’m officially off the market.”

Astor’s father will probably breathe a sigh of relief that he no longer has to worry about Nat’s advances. “I’m sure he’ll manage.” I wink.

“Astor will be so sad that I won’t be her stepmother.” Nat places a hand over her heart as though she’s fully sincere.

“Crushed, I’m sure.” I hug my soon-to-be uncle by marriage, who is younger than me, kiss Dior Alain on the fuzzy head, and then join my husbands at the door to wave them off.

“Your aunt is insane.” Arlo laughs after closing and locking the door.

“It’s probably all the coke she did in the eighties.” I flip my palm up.

Hota doubles over with laughter.

Arlo scoops me into his arms and heads for the stairs while Hota trails us.

“Wait!” I toss my hand up and point toward the living room.

“We’ve been waiting all evening,” Hota reminds.

“Please.” I point again. “There’s one more thing.”

Arlo’s head cocks to the side. His gaze narrows on me and then shifts to Hota. “What is it?”

“Put me down, and I’ll show you.” I smile.

He groans but sets me on my feet.

“To the loveseat, the both of you.” I shoo them that way.

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