Chapter 49

" Y ou brought wine!" Sophie cheered when she opened the door to her apartment, throwing her arms wide.

I accepted the warm hug she offered, closing my eyes. Sophie beamed when she pulled away and took the two bottles of wine from me, motioning us inside. I reached back to take Simon's hand, pulling him inside Sophie's bustling apartment. He fell into step beside me and closed the door behind us.

Everyone was already here.

Willa and Holland were head to head in a ping-pong video game, laughing as they tossed their arms wildly. Holland paused to wave in greeting—long enough for Willa to slam the digital ball across the table. Holland leaped for it with a yelp, but it hit the ground. There were cheers on the screen and in the room. Willa danced in triumph.

On the couch, Willa's boyfriend, Wren, sat with a cup of tea. He watched every move Willa made, his light green eyes glittering with joy. He waved hello to me and Simon, but didn't really look away from the dancing girl in front of him. Willa tossed herself into his lap, kissing him joyfully.

Addie stepped inside from the balcony. The smile on her face when she saw me made my heart ache. It was so genuine that I couldn't believe I ever thought she wouldn't want me here.

In the kitchen, Sophie pulled down seven wine glasses and a rocks glass. She put the bottles of wine I'd brought in the fridge, pulling out another two that were already cold.

"Since I'm not sure who you have and haven't met," Sophie said, approaching Simon and holding out her hand for him to take. "I'm Sophie." She introduced herself, then motioned around the room and pointed out everyone else. "That's Addie, Holland, Willa, Wren, and Eliza." Everyone waved at Simon when she said their names.

Eliza lingered in the corner of the kitchen. Sophie reached for her when she poured her whiskey. The nervous look in her eyes faded when Sophie smiled.

I wanted to hate her for what she'd done to my sister. I was sure a part of me always would.

But she was a part of this family as much as I was now.

This family.

I shook my head to myself, taking in this life my sister had built. She came to Paris heartbroken and alone, and ended up with a group of eight vampires that was more like a family than most of us had ever known. She fell in love and gained a best friend, and then that best friend fell in love too. Then, two sisters followed their siblings and brought along the people they loved.

Somehow, we all ended up together, playing video games and… arm wrestling, apparently. I laughed when Willa leaped from the couch to challenge Eliza to one.

I'd been in Paris for a little over two months, and so many things were still up in the air. I was still deciding what I wanted to do for work; I'd even been considering going back to school—for astronomy. After all, I had all the time in the world.

For the time being, I was content to live with Simon in his Paris apartment, though we'd been visiting smaller French towns to see which ones had the best stargazing.

"Indy, can we talk?" Addie called from across the room.

I glanced at Simon. He smiled and kissed my temple. "Go, I'll help Sophie with the wine."

"Aw, you're sweet," Sophie giggled, waving her hand at Simon.

I crossed the room, careful to walk behind Willa and Holland's video game rematch. Addie pulled me out onto the balcony with a wide smile, closing the doors behind us.

"Everything okay?" I asked. Addie threw her arms around me. I jerked in surprise, returning her hug carefully. When she looked at me again, red tears welled in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

Instead of answering, my sister held up her left hand, where a beautiful, glittering diamond ring sat on her ring finger. A screech of joy rose in my throat. I snatched her hand, staring down at it. Addie joined me in squealing, hugging me again in joy.

"When?" I asked.

"Yesterday, at Versailles." A red tear dripped down Addie's face.

I brushed it away with my sleeve. "You're going to ruin your makeup."

"Wouldn't be the first time in the last two days," Addie laughed, blinking away more tears.

I hugged her tight. "I'm so fucking happy for you."

"What are we yelling about?" Willa called from inside.

I motioned to the others in the house, keeping my voice low. "Do they know?"

Addie shook her head, her eyes soft. "I wanted to tell you first. You're my sister."

Now, it was my turn to cry. We both laughed when Addie helped me wipe my tears without ruining my makeup.

"Hey!" Sophie yelled. "No secret groups!"

Addie beamed and pushed the door open, hiding her hands behind her back as she stepped inside. "I have news," she squeaked.

"Pause the game!" Willa demanded.

The way Holland looked at Addie took my breath away—like she was the sun, the moon, and all his stars. I glanced across the room to Simon in the kitchen with Eliza, and my heart ached. He smiled at me, raising his glass of wine.

Addie shuffled into the middle of the room, shooting Holland a wink before holding her left hand high in the air. "We're getting married!"

Sophie and Willa screamed and threw themselves into Addie's arms in delight. On the way, Sophie grabbed me and pulled me into their hysterical circle. Holland and Wren hugged, and I watched in shock as Holland shook Eliza's hand. His smile never wavered.

I'd never seen Addie so happy before. She practically glowed as she screamed and hugged and screamed some more. Willa gripped her left hand in joy, and we all yelled over how stunning the diamond ring was.

"Fuck, I knew he was loaded, but goddamn!" Willa teased.

Addie stuck her tongue out teasingly.

Sophie and Simon passed wine glasses out to everyone, and I stepped to the side to stand with him once I had mine.

"Wait!" Willa tossed her arms wide. "Before we cheers to love, or whatever, who's your maid of honor?"

Addie laughed and her eyes found mine. My heart swelled in my chest. "It's always been Indy."

"Fuck," I swore, turning to wipe another tear.

"Okay, I'll fight you later," Willa said teasingly. "Let's cheers."

Addie and Holland stood in the middle of the room. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her temple.

Sophie raised her glass. "To Addie and Holland, and a thousand lifetimes of love."

We all lifted our glasses, clinking them against each other.

"And to an eternity with the ones we love the most," Addie added, watching me.

Everyone cheered again, sipping our wine.

I turned to Simon as he lowered his mouth to mine in a delicate kiss. I grinned up at him.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," I replied.

"For eternity?" he asked, his lips brushing mine.

I shrugged and beamed at him. "We'll see."

Wrapped in the man I loved's arms, I looked around the room at the people I would spend forever with. It didn't matter how much each of them hurt; every choice I made to get here was the right one.