Page 107 of Twisted Liars
I shook my head and laughed as she turned away and headed toward the cake table. Amerie excused herself from the conversation a moment later and joined me on the other side of the room.
“Is it just me, or are those two totally into each other?” she whispered. “I was talking to Teddy, and then suddenly I became a third wheel as soon as Piper came over.”
“I may have set them up,” I said, lips curving in a devious smirk. “Sort of, anyway.”
“Wow. Jensen the matchmaker.” Amerie’s brows rose. “Here I was thinking you were going to be an FBI agent.”
“The matchmaking is just a side gig.” I grinned and slung an arm around her shoulder. “Thanks for this party, by the way. It’s amazing.”
Her cheeks flushed. “It’s nice, isn’t it? Having everyone here.”
“Yeah, it’s great.” I dipped my chin to the right. “I see Clara found Addy and Eric. I’m guessing they’re learning all about pirates right now?”
“They sure are,” Amerie said with a snicker.
I rubbed her back, still gazing at our daughter. “Even though she’s dreaming of sailing the high seas and looting places for treasure, I think we’ve done pretty well with her. Right?”
Amerie turned her head to look up at me, eyes glimmering with affection. “We have. She’s the best kid ever,” she said. “I guess it helps that she has the best dad.”
“And the best mom.” I leaned down to kiss her on the forehead.
Amerie smiled. “Who would’ve thought things would turn out this way?” she said, slowly shaking her head. “Something so good coming out of something so bad.”
I nodded my agreement. Our love had a rough start, but now it was a fundamental truth cemented into our existence. As long as we were alive, it would endure and flourish.
“I guess it was meant to be,” I said, leaning in to tuck her hair behind her ear.
“Fate, huh? Like one of those werewolf books Piper keeps recommending to us?” she said with an impish grin.
“Yeah, that’s it. Minus the wolves.” I grinned back at her. “Fate made you mine.”
“Want to make me yours again?” she asked, eyes still glimmering with mischievous light and affection.
I raised a brow. “Right now?”
“Yes.” Amerie paused and cast her eyes around the room. “On second thought… maybe we should wait until our guests are gone.”
I laughed and encircled my arms around her waist. “Probably a good idea.”
“Well, at least I can still do this in front of everyone,” Amerie said, standing up on her tiptoes. She pressed her lips to my mouth, and with that searing kiss, the room around us seemed to melt away, leaving only the love we shared and the happiness that would be ours for the rest of our lives.
Back in my high school days, I used to think of Amerie as the girl of my worst dreams. Now I knew she was actually my true dream girl all along… and I’d never been so damn glad to be wrong.
THE END