A Summer to Remember(72)

“Have you ever had a homosexual experience?”

“Most men have though they would be loath to admit it but it’s true. I have had my fair share…I went to an all-boys boarding school until I graduated and went to university so I am not as prim and proper as I look. It’s no big deal. I could probably have found a nice guy to fall for and be very happy but I fell in love with you so long ago, no one could ever take your place—male or female.”

I don’t know why his words brought tears to my eyes but I clung to him and tried to stop the waterworks before they overwhelmed me. “I love you too, baby. Longer than I care to remember. I looked forward to summer vacations because I knew you would spend at least a few weeks with Jude. It was pure bliss for me.”

We were both silent for a long time and I was on the edge of some much needed rest when Paul inquired, “So, that is a yes then? To marriage I mean?”

“You bet your ass it’s a yes!”





September



Las Vegas





Chapter Twenty-Five



“So, you’re really happy here?”

I looked over at Savannah who had cornered me in the kitchen as I checked on the caterers. All of our family and friends, including the members of both bands—Scarlet Fever and Winter’s Regret—were in attendance to see our mini-mansion we’d purchased in the Summerlin community in Las Vegas.

We had a large backyard, a beautiful pool with midnight blue tiles which was lit up by pool lights. There were guests everywhere and as long as the food and the booze continued unabated, the party would be a success.

“Yes, of course, why would you ask that now?” I inquired as I sampled a deviled egg which were topped with Beluga caviar.

“Well, I mean…you know what happened between Jude and I…how are you so sure he won’t trade you in for a model with all her working parts? There are just so many gorgeous women out here.”

The “working parts” phrase bothered me to no end because apparently, I wasn’t so broken after all. I was, miraculously, six weeks pregnant and to top it all off, Paul and I were in the middle of a private adoption with a poor Creole woman from New Orleans who had been gang-raped in a rough part of town. The rapists were of all races, including black, Hispanic and white so she had no idea who the father of her child was but her story swayed Paul and I enough to want to adopt her baby.

We had a guest house which she’d occupied for the past two weeks and at thirty-seven weeks, she could go into labor within the next few weeks.

“Savannah, Paul and I are adopting a child together yet we haven’t set a date for our wedding. I am pretty sure we know what we’re doing.”

“Yeah, about that. Why didn’t you just tell the adoption agency you wanted a white baby?”

“There is a year-long wait for a white baby and neither Paul nor I cared about that. We just wanted a child to cement our relationship—”

“Yeah but you’re only twenty-four. You should be out partying and living it up. Don’t you think the two of you are too young for children?”

I set my fluted glass of sparkling cider down and faced my bitter best friend. “Listen, I get it—my brother acted like a piece of shit toward you and he ended it really badly with you but don’t you ever think that gives you the right to tell me how to live my life. I love Paul and Paul loves me. I would have been a mother anyway or did you forget about the abortion I had over two years ago?”

Savannah bit her lip and crossed her arms against her breasts possessively. “Sorry. I suppose I am a bit out of order here. I just miss you and I can’t believe I have to endure a six hour flight to see my best friend.”

“Autumn is still back there so you’re not alone.”

“Yeah but you’re here and Talia is…well, all over the goddamn world with Winter’s Regret.”

I smiled slightly and patted Savannah’s left shoulder. “I really should mingle. I am the hostess after all but we’ll talk more later, okay?”

Before she could answer, I strolled away and joined Talia who was in a group surrounded by several members of Scarlet Fever. They talked animatedly and I touched her shoulder before I inquired, “Is everyone having a good time?”

“This party is great,” Grant replied, “especially when you think about all the stuffed shirts around here rubbing elbows with scallywags like us.”