Page 137 of The Replay

"Cora knows we're not expecting preferential treatment from her," I say. "As long as she does, we'll figure it out. Don't think it's up to you to decide what she and I do about this."

"Mariana…" my dad tries.

Dom squeezes my hand in silent support. I return it, and continue before my dad can add more.

"Don't, Dad." I keep my voice gentle but assertive. "You've always said that our world is so small we have to expect overlaps like this. Why is that okay when it's our family trying to get all my brothers playing for your team, but not when Cora might have to make decisions about Dom? You've always said that it's about transparency and ethics, and the rest is letting people think what they will, because we will always have our honor."

Despite their manners— how tightly they hold themselves together— they're stunned. It's a small sign, but it's there in the way their eyes widen. I let it make me strong. I've surprised them. I've never talked to them like this.

I press my lips together. "Cora and I act with integrity. So does Dom. Shouldn't that be enough?"

Dad frowns. His light-blue eyes study me carefully.

"Is it enough? Is this life what you really want?" Dad's tone is insistent. "To couple your goals to Dom's and leave the charity behind? Because we have never heard you so much as imply something like this."

"I'm sorry, Mom, Dad—" I lift my chin and gulp— "But you haven't heard what I really want because you never asked."

This time, they jerk back at my words.

I don't let it stop me. "I'm not free from fault, because I didn't ask myself those things either. Not outside of the rules you gave me. You said I'd find success and happiness within the biggest goals I could have for my career and, hey— those goals are still there. But if I went to England to make it happen more than six years ago, hell, if I married Henry at all, it was because that's howlife unfolded before me when I followed your instructions. When I sought to make you happy."

I step closer to Dom, until he automatically surrounds me with an arm and our sides touch from my shoulders down. I burrow into him. A tender ache bursts in my chest. Not because of the conversation that's been waiting for years to happen, but because we're having to lay everything out in the open, when we were meant to whisper it to each other in a quiet moment. And yet, budding gratitude unfolds in my chest. Despite everything, we're finding ourselves here. Together.

"Mariana…" Dad tries again.

"Let me finish." I shake my head. "It's true I said Seattle was but a pit stop to prepare me— to convince you— that I had what it takes to run the charity with Maisie. You know what I found? That my real happiness is in the life I can make with Dom. With his friends, who have given me a sense of community I have never had before. And after everything Dom and I have gone through the past few months, well…"

I stare at the man by my side, who studies me with so much patience and affection in his eyes, I'm tempted to say nothing else. To just take his hand and go find a place of our own. To escape this party and start the rest of our lives this very second.

But these words matter. We need them, to make our life everything we want. To come to terms with where we'll start.

I gaze up at Dom while I speak to my parents. "I've come to realize that a life with Dom is at the core of everything else."

His eyes shine with joy and pride. I ask him for a kiss. He smiles and drops his lips to mine for a moment.

My parents watch with wide-open eyes. They track every move, hear every word, but they don't seem to be making sense of it all.

"And the family charity?" Dad's eyes remain on me. "And Maisie? The family has always been your mother's and my focus. I thought you understood that."

Mom adds more before I can answer him. "I thought you knew our intention has always been to push you and your siblings for the best life you can aim for. We know what you're capable of. We've sacrificed plenty to make sure you have everything. More than anything your dad and I had when we started."

My hands shake, but I hide them in my dress. Dom pulls me tighter. He hears it too— the way my parents remind me I can't waste the million opportunities I've been afforded.

A year ago, I would have folded. Not today.

"I'm going to go far, Mom. Dad." I search for signs on their faces. "Just not in the way you expected. I'm going to go for a life with Dom, and I'm going to continue my career here with the Strike if Selena will have me, and I'll figure everything else with Maisie, too. Who knows, maybe taking the charity international means bringing it here to the US. I'll have time to figure it out."

My parents have the decency to actually consider my words. Or maybe they're holding back because we have some privacy, but not enough. And we definitely don't have time. Much longer, and people will start noticing we're not around.

"If that means success to you—" my dad says— "If that will make you happy—"

Dom's voice comes out firm. Deep. Ringing with the conviction he promised me.

"I'm proud of everything I've achieved, James. Just like you are. I no longer feel I don't have enough to offer Mariana. I hope that with time you'll see that what you consider to be small dreams is everything I've always wanted. Shouldn't that be the real measure of success? Because I believe in that for Mariana and me. We'll be happy. And I hope you're around to see it."

Mom's eyes turn sad. "We have done a poor job, if we haven't made it clear that your happiness is all we really wanted."

Someone laughs nearby, and I study the party through the floral arrangement. I've forgotten the event for too long.