VICTORIOUS (A Quantum Novel)(90)

“Oh, Flynn…”

Stella sings “Something Good” from The Sound of Music, and I absolutely melt into the arms of the man I love as his mother serenades us. It is, without a doubt, one of the most incredible moments of my life.

The entire evening is something out of a dream. I meet extended family—Max’s sister, Stella’s brother—Flynn’s cousins, family friends, a few of them celebrities, but nothing about this day is about celebrity. It’s about celebration and love and family and all the things that matter most in life. We enjoy a delicious meal, cut our cake and drink more champagne—headaches be damned.

After dinner, I tell Flynn I’ll be right back and get up to speak to Leah. “Come with me for a second.”

“Um, okay. What’s up?”

“You’ll see.”

I lead her over to the table where Marlowe is chatting with Flynn’s sisters. I introduce them all. “Marlowe, I want you to meet my roommate from New York, Leah. Leah, Marlowe.”

Though she is totally starstruck, Leah manages to shake hands with Marlowe.

“Great to meet you,” Marlowe says.

“Yes,” Leah says, trying not to stare. “Same here. Heard a lot about you from Nat.”

“All good, I hope.”

“All good.”

“So Marlowe desperately needs an Addie, and Leah needs a job. I thought you two might be able to help each other out.”

Leah stares at me, her mouth agape. “You… I…”

“She’s normally much more articulate,” I say to Marlowe, who is smiling broadly.

“How soon can you be here, Leah?”

“W-what? You can’t be serious. I’m a teacher, or I was a teacher. I don’t want to be a teacher, and oh my God, I’m babbling.”

“The job is yours if you want it. Natalie is right—I desperately need an Addie, and Addie could teach you everything you need to know about being an Addie. Will you consider it?”

“You don’t even know me.”

“I know Natalie, and if she says you’d be great, that’s all I need to hear. I’d want you to relocate out here, though, since most of my life happens here.”

“Move here. Work for Marlowe Sloane. Someone pinch me.”

I gently pinch her arm, making them both laugh.

“So that’s a yes?” Marlowe asks.

“Yes!” Leah’s eyes are dancing with delight. “A million times yes.”

“Excellent!” I’m pleased with my matchmaking and to know my best friend from New York will soon be living close by in Los Angeles.

As I dance with Max much later, Hayden dances with Addie, Marlowe with one of Flynn’s younger cousins, and Jasper with Flynn’s sister Ellie. Kristian and Emmett are standing by the side of the dance floor, a gaggle of women surrounding them. Flynn sways to the music with his nieces, India and Ivy, who giggle at his antics. He’s going to be such a wonderful father.

“His mother and I had nearly given up on hoping this day would ever come,” Max says softly, for my ears only. “Look at him with the kids. He’s so great with them, and they love him so much. We couldn’t bear to think of him missing out on having his own family, but it didn’t seem like it would happen. And then he met you, and well… We’re so happy for both of you.”

“Thank you, Max, and thank you for this unforgettable day. I told Flynn earlier that I wouldn’t have said we needed a big party, but I’m so glad we’ll have these memories. And I also want to thank you and Stella for the way you’ve opened your arms to me. You’ll never know how much that has meant to me.”

“You’ve got a great big new family who loves you and your sisters. This is your home now, and you’ll always be welcome here.”

With tears in my eyes, I hug my new father-in-law until my husband comes to claim me, making jokes about his dad moving in on his girl.

Flynn wraps his arms around me, and I sink into his embrace, overwhelmed by the emotional day and the weeks that preceded it.

“What do you say we get out of here, my love?”

“Ready to go home?”

“I’m ready to be alone with my wife.”

“Hopefully this wedding night will go a little better than the last one,” I say in a teasing tone.

“I have no complaints whatsoever about the first one.” With his hands on my face, he kisses me in that tender way that always disarms me. “Come on, let’s go.”