Page 254 of Things We Hide from the Light
The muscles in Knox’s jaw and throat worked. “You’re everything I always wanted and never thought I deserved.”
Naomi’s broken sob was echoed by Lina and Sloane. I couldn’t take it anymore. I shifted and put my arm around Lina, pulling her into my side. The delicate blooms in her hair tickled my face like a caress.
Naomi looked up at Justice, who was brushing away a tear or two of his own, and grinned. “I always knew I’d get you to marry me somehow, Justice.”
With the I dos said,the tears dried, and the drinks served, there was nothing left to do but enjoy the day.
Waylay held court next to the creek with a huge slab of cake, her friends from the soccer team, and the dogs.
Lina was in the photo booth again with Sloane and Fi. The photographer was still frantically looking for Naomi and Knox, who had been suspiciously absent for the last twenty minutes or so. No one had the heart to tell her the bride and groom were probably getting it on somewhere in the house.
“Wanna push an old lady around the dance floor?” Liza J asked, appearing at my elbow when the band shifted into George Strait’s “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.” It was one of Mom’s favorites, which made it one of mine.
“I’d be honored,” I said, offering her my arm.
We found a spot on the dance floor surrounded by friends and family. I knew every single face here and recognized what a miracle that was. What a privilege it was not just to be part of this town but to serve it.
“So I’m just gonna get this out,” my grandmother announced. “I was thinkin’ during the ceremony when everyone else was bawling like a bunch of babies. If things had worked out differently, there wouldn’t have been a wedding today without you. If that Dilton asshole had better aim, we wouldn’t be standing here watching your brother marry a woman who’s so far out of his league he’d better never quit trying to earn her. You taught Knox how to be brave. To do the work. And I’m real damn proud of both of you.”
I was so taken aback I actually missed a step. Morgans didn’t talk about feelings, especially not to other Morgans. “Well, shit, Liza J.”
“Shut up. Not done yet. Your mom wasn’t yours to save, Nash. It was her time. Nothing you or anybody else could have done to stop it. She lived as big and loud and colorful as she could in the short time we had her. We were damn lucky to get those years with her. And I’m damn lucky to have the grandsons she made. I don’t know if you know this, but when she was little, your mama wanted to be a cop. Eventually, real life got in the way. But I know for sure Jayla’s up there tickled pink watching you serve and protect down here.”
For the second time that day, my eyes went cloudy.
“Mind if I cut in?” Wraith in his formal motorcycle leathers offered his hand to Liza J.
“Yeah, we’re definitely done here,” my grandmother announced. She danced away with the burly biker before I had the chance to say another word.
“You look like you could use a drink.” Lina came into my line of sight.
“How about a dance instead?” I reached out and pulled her into my arms.. “You look happy,” I observed, moving us to a quiet corner of the dance floor.
“I mean, you’d kind of have to be a heartless monster not to be happy today,” she said, swaying with me to the beat of the music. “I just got off the phone with Nolan’s ex-wife.”
“Oh, really?” I spun her out, then pulled her back to me.
She laughed. “She’s at the hospital with him. He’s gonna be fine. And I think there’s a possibility that they’re gonna be fine. Especially since he told her he’s moving to the private sector.”
“Lucian offered him a job. I still don’t know if he did it just to keep Nolan from dating Sloane.”
Lina took a fortifying breath before confessing, “He offered me one too.”
“Did he now?”
“It’s with his research team. It would mean a bigger paycheck. No time in the field. The only travel would be between where I live and DC once or twice a week.”
“Sounds like quite an opportunity,” I said.
Her eyes sparkled. “Naomi and Sloane also asked if I’d be interested in helping with their new venture.”
“Really? What are you gonna do?” I asked.
“I think I might take some time off first. I have a boyfriend I’d like to get to know better before I commit to another job.”
“A fiancé,” I corrected.
“No second thoughts yet?”
