Starter Wife (The Jilted Wives Club Book 1) by Bethany Lopez (a court of thorns and roses ebook free TXT) 📕

“Silas and Stella are just lovely,” Ma said as if she’d known them for years rather than only meeting them once. “They will fit in perfectly and everyone will get along. You’ll see.”

“Yeah, you worry too much, Luc,” Vanni said with a teasing grin.

“Stuff it,” was my retort.

“Okay, that’s it, if you aren’t helping cook, get out of my kitchen,” Ma ordered.

Everyone but Vanni and Sara shuffled out, well, except Peter and Paul, who ran out as if ghosts were chasing them.

Whitney was on the way with Stella and Silas, and I was confident this family dinner would be more in line with what I’d envisioned for the first one, although I was not putting any pressure on the day this time.

Whatever happened, would happen, and no matter my expectations, there wasn’t anything I could do about it but let things play out.

Since our big make-up event, which was what I liked to call it, we’d only spent one night apart. If she had the kids, we were at her place, and if they were with Marcus, we were at mine. Things had been going great. Better than great. Amazing.

I’d never imagined a relationship could be so good.

We occasionally saw each other at work, or met up for lunch, but mostly our jobs were separate, so it wasn’t like we were in each other’s pockets constantly.

I’d even met Marcus and Crystal, who were nice enough for people we’d only see when Stella and Si had something going on, and I didn’t really have to invest too much time in. I’d be cordial, without being overly friendly. Although I was grateful for him for being such an ass and giving me the opportunity to find Whitney, I still couldn’t forget how the two came to be together and who they hurt in the process.

Not just Whit, but her kids, who I was growing closer to more and more each day.

“Son, they’re here,” my father called out, so I hurried down the hall and to the front door.

When I opened it, they were already piling out of Whitney’s car and she was bent over as she retrieved something from inside.

I took the moment to enjoy the sight of her perfectly rounded ass in the slim-fitting jeans she was wearing, before I remembered myself and turned my attention to Si, who was ambling toward me.

“Hey, man, how’s it going?” I asked as he drew closer. “You finish that science project?”

Silas rolled his eyes but shot me a grin and said, “Yup. All done.”

“Cool.”

When I looked back at Whit, she was balancing a covered dish and trying to hold onto her purse as she shut the door.

“Here, let me help,” I called as I jogged toward her.

“Thanks,” she said, flashing me my favorite smile.

It was the one that said, I know you intimately and I’d like to get to know you again.

It had only recently made an appearance but was currently giving me life.

“Whatchya got in here?” I asked, taking the dish.

“It’s a lemon Bundt cake.”

“Mm, sounds delicious.”

“Your mom told me not to bring anything, but I didn’t feel right showing up empty-handed.”

“She’s gonna love it,” I assured her, then yelled out, “You can just walk in,” to Stella and Si, who were waiting by the front door.

We followed them inside to a flurry of movement and sound as everyone convened in the den to meet Whitney’s kids.

Ma was hugging them both and doing the introductions, while Whitney took Sky out of Char’s arms and cooed down at her as Sky’s little arms flailed in the air.

I stood back, holding the Bundt cake and smiling to myself as I watched all the people I loved the most interact in what I hoped was the first of many, many Sunday family dinners.

The love that filled me was more invigorating than any amount of adrenaline and I took a moment to thank my lucky stars I’d noticed Whitney at Campanella’s that night and had the fortitude to put myself in her path.

Sure, we would have met when she started at the office the next week, but I probably wouldn’t have gone after her the way I had, as a new employee in our firm, without knowing about that initial spark.

I caught Whit’s eye across the room and shot her a wink. When she mouthed, love you, back in response, I knew everything was right in my world.

Epilogue

“To Whitney. A badass woman, mother, and accountant, who grabbed love by the balls and made it her bitch,” Margo said, raising her glass of Cabernet.

“Yes,” Summer agreed with enthusiasm. “To the woman who was scarred by love when we met her, but had the foresight to give the sexy, charming, affable, Luca a chance, and ended up happier than she’s ever been.”

“Here, here,” I said, lifting my glass to join theirs in the toast. “I never would have made it without the two of you, I swear, so I want to toast you as well. Two beautiful, strong, funny women who not only helped me to trust in my heart again, but to believe in the power of true female friendships.”

“We’re awesome,” Summer said happily.

“Hell, yeah, we are,” Margo agreed, looking more relaxed than I’d ever seen her.

We were currently downtown at a wine bar, sharing a charcuterie board and sampling flights of wine.

“All right, now that I am in love and getting sex on the regular…”

“Braggart,” Summer said, jokingly narrowing her eyes at me.

I laughed and asked, “Who are we going to focus on next? Who wants to be happy and sexed up?”

“Oh, me!” Summer exclaimed, sitting up in her seat and bouncing with her hand raised.

“Yeah, her,” Margo agreed, thrusting her nearly empty glass at Summer.

“Okay, so … you’re doing the app thing again, and Margo has agreed to take you out on her missions to pick up some strange, but maybe we could set you up, too. I can think of a couple guys who may be a good