My god, Vault is a fucking idiot sometimes. “No, dipshit. I fell in love with her because I realized how we all were around her. She’s literally our safe, happy home.”
Which isn’t something any of us really knew about growing up.
“I’m yourhome?” She clutches her heart. “That’s so… that’s really… I’m out of words, guys. Wow.”
Stealing a kiss from her, I drop my big fat tbr pile on the counter to pay.
Life is good.
“Noveling always makes me ravenous,” I say, after we get back to the car. We opted for one of the Monarch’s fancy sedans instead of riding our bikes together. It’s hot as balls out and I like us all being in a closed space. Maybe later we can fight over who gets Sophie as their backpack and go for a midnight ride, but for now… this works best.
A half hour later, we pull up to the front of my club.
I roll my shoulders back and open the door for Sophie, but she lets Vault get her out this time.
Oh right, we’re taking turns as a team to spoil our girl.
I unlock the Vinyl Club, and we head straight back to the storage room, down the steps, and through the purple double doors.
One flick of the switch and the lights turn on.
I love the expressions on their faces when they see what I’ve done.
“Oh my god, Knox!” Soph spins around, taking in my hard work. “This isincredible.”
I think Vault is glitching.
Two thousand flowers cover the floor. Doublethat are strung from the ceiling. Electric candles light the area, so nothing burns down.
“We tried to do this once before.” Vault’s playful smile hits me in the heart.
Yeah. We did, but Sophie didn’t make it over to my house to see any of it. And this is wayyyy more extravagant. I wink at him. “It’s nice to have a do-over, right?”
“A second chance,” Sophie teases, knowing what she’s insinuating.
“That’s always been my favorite trope.”
Vault laughs, and it’s real. It’s deep. He’s got these creases on the side of his eyes and more around his mouth. I want to kiss every single one of them.
“Hang on.” Digging the remote out of my pocket, I hit play and…
The beat starts slow. It’s unmistakable.
Vault’s smile falls as he listens to it. We lock gazes and Sophie sways to the side of us. “Ilovethis one.”
Work Song by Hozier brings him and I closer together.
“I knew you’d come back to me,” I say, taking his hand in mine, and wrapping my other around his waist, right over the sound waves he has tattooed back there.
We sway together for the beginning of it, then Sophie cuts in and takes him away, so naturally, by the end of the song, I steal her from him.
“I fucking love you so much,” he says.
“We love you too,” Soph and I respond at the same time.
Before our emotions get a little too ahead of us, I snap out of it and turn the volume down on the nextbanger. “Time to eat.”
Retrieving lunch from the back, I present it with a little flair at our booth.