Say It's Forever (Redemption Hills #2)(44)

A silent groan clamored in my chest when I saw Jud was seated directly across from me.

I glanced to the left at Tessa who tried to hide her smile as she started passing out hand-painted signs that had different sayings of congratulations on them.

Definitely a set up.

I peeked back at Jud.

Without shame, those darkened eyes raked over me. Hot coals that flashed with greed and something else I’d be a fool to diagnose.

Because that tension pulled and yanked and tumbled through my rattled spirit.

It felt as if it called out to the broken pieces. The pieces that had come to life under his touch—under his care—pieces I refused to let him shatter.





Dinner was amazing.

The table was full of Eden and Trent’s friends and family who were there to share their joy.

Eden had been shocked, tears springing to her eyes when she’d come in to her surprise.

Her new fiancé continually pressed kisses to her cheek, her temple, her knuckles, her mouth.

Love poured from them.

I was thankful to be a part of it, but I couldn’t stop the waves of unease that kept rustling through.

I didn’t do this.

I hid.

I lurked and concealed.

I existed along the fringes.

I didn’t step out to become a part of something big and beautiful this way, but I was having a harder and harder time pretending like I didn’t want to be there.

Eden’s father, Gary, sat to the right of me, the man so warm and genuine as he’d chatted with me throughout the meal and made me feel as if my daughter and I were a part of this tightly knit crowd.

The entire time, Jud kept peering at me from over the table. Watching me as if I mattered. As if something inside him had shifted and taken new shape during the two hours that had passed.

When I looked up and he pinned me with the severity of that gaze again, I set my napkin next to my empty plate, pushed my chair back, and stood. “Excuse me for a moment.”

Gary looked up at me in worry. “Everything okay?”

I sent him a feigned smile. “I just need to get another drink.”

He grinned and winked toward Juni. “I’ll hold the fort down while you’re away.”

Gratefulness spread through my veins, and I gave him a little nod as I moved to the bar set up on the far side of the room. I ordered another glass of champagne. I was going to need it to make it through the night.

Because I felt myself getting closer to an invisible barrier my heart kept trying to break through.

I accepted the flute then jumped when I felt the hand on my elbow. I whipped around to Eden who stood there wearing one of her soft smiles.

“Eden. Hi.”

“Hey, Salem. I had to sneak over here so I could tell you how happy I am that you’re here. That you and Juni came to share this night with us.”

An unsure breath crept free. “I wasn’t sure we should come.”

Her smile deepened. “I hope there’s no question now…that you belong here.”

My chest pressed full, and I thought to deny it, to act as if this little family across the street hadn’t already marked themselves on my heart, but the confession bled out. “And you have no idea what that means to me.”

“I think I might.”

Tears burned in my eyes, and I stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. “I realize I don’t know you that well, but I do know you and Trent belong together, and I’m so grateful to get to witness it.”

“I still can’t believe it. I feel like I’m floating. I feel like the luckiest woman alive,” she admitted when I stepped back.

“I think you might be.”

She gazed at me with the gentle smile she always wore, though her attention kept peeking over my shoulder to the force I suddenly felt pressing in from behind.

Commanding and potent.

She squeezed my hand again, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “I think sometimes we stumble upon it when we least expect it.”

She angled her head toward Jud and moved his way, and I swiveled just in time to see the emotion crest on Jud’s face. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he curled his arms around her shoulders, holding her head against his chest.

I was sure it was meant only for her, but I could hear him mumble the words, “Thank you for seeing him for who he is and not what he’s done.”

She mumbled into his chest, “I couldn’t have seen anything else.”

Energy pulsed through the air. I tried to look away, tried to remind myself it was none of my business, that Jud and Eden were sharing a private moment, but I felt like I was snared.

Held as he looked at me in remorse from over her shoulder. I fumbled back, only I bumped into another body. I whirled around and another set of big hands shot out to catch me.

“Logan. Hi.”

I’d quickly been introduced by Tessa to the third Lawson brother before the party had started. He was as handsome as his two brothers, but different, as if he held all his intimidation in the lines of his arrogance.

He smiled down at me with these sparking emerald eyes, a tease and something wicked in their depths. “We didn’t get a chance to talk, so I thought I’d come over here and remedy that.”

Jud suddenly was at his side, smacking Logan on the back of the head.