Page 222 of Force Play
“So take me to bed.”
Ari slides off the counter and slips me into his arms, carrying me bridal-style to our bedroom.
I’m so happy to see him be himself out in the open. I know it’s only to his friends and family, but up until he told me, Cole was the only person he was out to. And that was for eightyears.
He’s becoming so much more confident in himself, and I love watching him just behim.
I’m so glad I get to see it from right by his side.
sixty-five
Lucia
“Areyoureadyforthis?” Ari asks after handing his keys to the valet driver.
We said we would announce our relationship at the Stars charity dinner, so we’re about to become a very popular topic of discussion. Ari’s playboy past is extremely well-known, so his showing up with an actual girlfriend is going to turn some heads.
I take hold of his hand as we start to walk inside. “More than ready.”
He kisses my cheek as we wait for an elevator car to take us up to the rooftop terrace, and we run into Cole and Rory while we wait.
“Hey!” Rory says happily. “You look fucking hot, Luc!”
My gown tonight is black and glittery with a sweetheart neckline, off-shoulder sleeves, and a high thigh slit. Ari’s eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw me earlier.
“You hitting on my girl, Rory?” Ari teases.
“You’re gonna have to get used to people hitting on her if she keeps looking like that, Morgan,” she laughs.
“You’re one to talk,” I say back. “Look at you tonight!”
Rory’s red dress is silk and hugs her curvy frame. The frame that Cole finally helped her embrace.
“She’s stunning,” Cole says, smiling down at his wife.
The elevator finally arrives, and the four of us step on and ride up to the roof. When it stops, Cole wraps his arm around Rory, and they step off ahead of us.
Ari takes my hand and squeezes. “Let’s do this, Spitfire.”
I smile at him brightly as we walk off the elevator hand in hand. We spot the rest of our friends over near the bar thanks to Liv’s bright metallic gold strapless dress. I’m not sure we could miss it.
“New York’s newest couple has finally arrived,” Lane chuckles, arm wrapped around Liv’s shoulders.
“This is the cutest thing ever,” Harlow sighs, the shimmery tulle of her light blue strapless dress catching off the string lights overhead.
“You think everything is cute, Lo,” Ella laughs. She rests her hands on her baby bump, surrounded by light pink fabric.
“Pink?” I eye her curiously. “You just had your anatomy scan. You trying to tell us something?”
Ella waves her hand at me dismissively, but Josh replies. “Baby is very healthy and active, but we didn’t find out the sex. We’re going to wait until they’re born.”
“You’re halfway through now, aren’t you?” Ari asks.
“Yes,” Ella smiles. “Halfway to meeting our little bean.”
Cole smirks over at his brother-in-law. “Any luck talking my sister into having kids soon, Fort?”
Knox tips his head back and laughs. “Working on it.”
