Page 131 of Ashes
I lifted my legs and draped them over his lap, earning me a kiss on the top of my head before we both faced the screen again, watching Cynara pop her winning bottle and spraying the sparkling wine onto the other two winners.
We were all in Jamal’s and my living room for our monthly gatherings. We’d started these about two months ago, alternating between here and Kenna and Shareef’s new place they’d bought after finding out they were becoming parents.
To my luck, this month’s get-together just happened to be on race day, which meant more time for me to convert them into F1 lovers. They’d even agreed—okay, I’d forced them—to wear Matrix Motorsports for the race later today.
The doorbell suddenly rang as the post-race interviews started. Kai got up and headed out of the living room and to the front door.
When he opened it, Esra rushed inside with a brown box in one hand while brushing off the snow from her brown hair that was tied in a low bun with the other. Kai quickly closed the door once she was inside to avoid the frigid November air.
“God, I’msosorry I’m late,” she huffed out, bending down to take off her high-heeled boots with one hand while balancing the box in the other. “I was supposed to leave work an hour ago, but as usual, Mr. Asshole delayed my plans.”
She successfully removed one boot, but when she reached for the other, she almost fell. Kai helped her stay upright and offered to grab the box from her. She tilted her head up and gave him a small smile before handing it to him.
He walked back into the living room and placed the pastry-filled box on the table among the other food and beverages we’d laid out.
Esra followed shortly after, her coat draped on her forearm. “So,” she started, draping her trench coat on the backrest and settling on the armchair next to where Kai was seated since Valentina was occupying the one on the opposite side. “What did I miss?”
“Oh, nothing,” Kai drawled, twisting to look at Esra. “Just Sienna almost knocking me over.”
Esra reached for the box and Kai grabbed it to bring it closer to her. Their hands briefly brushed and Kai blushed, quickly pulling back after Esra grabbed a croissant from the box.
Out of curiosity, I cast a glance over at where Valentina was sitting, only to find her scowling at Esra and sipping on her red wine to hide it.
Esra settled back in her seat, tucking her feet under her. “She got too eager again when her favorite won?” She took a bite, her mischievous eyes locking with mine.
Knowing what she was about to say because shelovedto tell the story, I gave her a warning look. “Esra, you better n?—”
She ignored me and averted her gaze, focusing her attention back on Kai. “Did she ever tell you that one time she gave me a black eye because I stood too close to her when Isaiah King won his first championship?”
I stared at her in disbelief. “It was an accident and I have apologized many times,” I grumbled.
Esra just laughed, flakes of croissant spilling out of her mouth. She pressed her palm to her mouth, muttering sorrys as she swallowed. “Yes, but I still had to sport a black eye for a week at school.”
I cocked my head to the side and pinned her with a glare, my finger pointing at her. “It led to Max asking you out because he felt bad and wanted to make you feel better. Whom might I remind you, you spent the majority of your senior year in college crushing on.”
She held her palms up, admitting defeat. “Touché.”
Esra and Kai shared more stories about myburst of enjoymentwhen it came to Formula One, Kenna interjecting here and there, and I watched their conversation with amusement.
A sense of happiness washed over me as I watched my friends blend so well with Jamal’s.
Like my husband knew exactly what I was thinking, he bent down and whispered in my ear, “I love you.”
My gaze met his and I gripped his chin, his dark stubble rough under my fingertips. I tugged him closer to press a kiss on his lips. “Jamais plus que moi.” His eyes filled withan abundance of emotions as I pressed another kiss to his lips.
It had been five months since Jamal and I had remarried. A week after I’d refused to sign his ridiculous divorce papers, he’d proposed with the ring I thought I’d lost when Mateo removed it from my finger.
Our second wedding had been an intimate ceremony on the beach along the coast of Sardenya and this time there were no unannounced interruptions. Most importantly, this time we were surrounded by the people we loved.
Our friends and Jamal’s uncle, Noah, were in attendance. My sisters had shown up, but I’d asked my parents not to come. Our relationship was still strained and although guilt had gnawed at my insides announcing to them that they weren’t invited, I knew it was for the best.
I’d spent my life dousing my happiness for the comfort of others, but this time, for what was meant to be one of the happiest days of my life, I wanted to put myself first despite how others, my parents in this case, would feel.
Maybe one day I’d let them back in and work toward having a relationship with them, but for now, I wanted to break the vicious cycle I’d found myself in constantly.
For now, I’d enjoy the company of people who didn’t only seem to care for me if I had something to give back to them. People who cared for whoIwas.
As I looked around the room that was filled with people I loved—yes, even Valentina—my heart filled with warmth.
