Haven Bound

40. Chelsea

40

Chelsea

Yesterday was exactly what I needed. Between laser tag and the evening we spent down at the beach, I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the insanity that I’m sure today is going to bring.

Hailey loaned me one of the Elysian’s catering vans to transport everything to their parent’s home for the Legion’s barbecue. I’m not sure why, but for some reason, the idea of being at a casual party where the guests are primarily professional hitmen has me feeling a little on edge. I’m thankful that Quinn is meeting me at Buttersweet so that I won’t be arriving by myself.

Austin offered to help get everything loaded up at the bakery, but something last minute came up at the hotel that pulled him away. He promised to be at Will and Lara’s in time to help Quinn and I get everything set up. Not that we need his help. We’ve set up dessert tables for many events before, and his parents are practically my second family. Still, knowing that he’ll be there helps calm my nerves.

Quinn is standing outside the back bakery entrance when I arrive. Her eyes are glued to her phone screen as her fingers type out a message, a wide smile radiating across her face. Her long blonde hair is curled and pulled up with a claw clip, and she’s wearing a navy blue knee-length sundress scattered with white and yellow flowers paired with navy blue Converse.

We clearly had the same idea. Even though Austin assured me that it’ll be laid back event, we’re both showing up with the idea of looking casual but professional.

I decided to wear an emerald green dress that hits just above my knees with thin straps. While the dress is a solid color, the bodice’s fabric is ruched, which adds a touch of detail while also being a little more flattering on my body type. I decided to coordinate the dress with a pair of black wedge sandals with a strap that wraps around my ankle, putting me just about eye-level with Austin’s six-foot-three frame. The dark green dress makes my hair appear even more vibrant, the various natural amber and copper tones contrasting against the color.

“Who’s got you smiling like that?” I tease, unlocking and opening the door to the kitchen space.

Quinn’s cheeks flush as she slips her phone into her small cross-body purse. “Just someone I’ve been talking to,” she answers, shrugging her shoulder like it’s no big deal.

“Anybody I know?” I ask, opening the refrigerator that holds finished packaged orders and pulling out the filled dessert boxes.

“Actually, it’s—” Her phone chimes to alert a new text notification that has her digging her phone back out. “I’m sorry, let me just tell him that I’m busy,” she says. Her fingers fly across her phone screen as she types out a text, a soft smile on her face. Once she’s finished and her phone is tucked away, she tosses her purse onto the counter. We work on getting the boxes loaded into the van though the question of who she was texting with is something I’ll be bringing up again later.

As many times as I’ve been to the Anders’ family home, you would think that I’d be used to the size of the place. Not that it’s a mansion or anything, but it’s definitely larger than any house I’ve ever lived in. After pulling through the wrought-iron gates and driving down the long gravel driveway, we arrive at the white two-story home with dark wooden French entry doors. The home sits on a spacious piece of property that overlooks a private beach. The land around the home is surrounded by a trimmed grass lawn with large shade trees scattered around. The back of the yard has been fully designed with hosting in mind and even has a stone courtyard and firepit.

Quinn and I are some of the first to arrive, and we’re greeted by Lara Anders as we pull up to the front of the home.

“Chelsea! It’s so good to see you.” Lara throws her arms around me the moment I step out of the catering van, a bright genuine smile spreading across her face as she pulls me into a hug.

“It’s really good to see you too, Lara. Is Austin here yet?” I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and turn to find Austin walking down the few steps that lead down from the French entry doors as the words leave my mouth.

“Hey there, gorgeous.” Austin takes my hand and pulls me into his arms, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. His palm brushes along my lower back when we pull apart. He steps around me to open up the back of the van. Quinn doesn’t hesitate to step in and start helping me carry dessert boxes into the house .

I turn to Lara to say something, to explain why Austin just kissed me, but I don’t get the chance. She’s smiling wider than before, if that’s even possible, and pulls me into another hug.

“Austin told me you two finally figured it out. I’m so happy for you both, Chelsea.” Her words have a few tears prickling at the back of my eyes. Lara has always felt like another mom to me, especially when my own wasn’t able to be. The Anders house often felt like a home away from home, and now that Austin and I are together, that’s even more true.

“Thanks, Lara. I’m really happy, too.” She gives me one more smile before she pats my shoulder and grabs one of the dessert boxes, carrying it into the house.

With Austin and Lara’s help, we’re able to get everything into the house in only a couple of trips. Tables and chairs are being set up outside for the guests, but all of the food and drinks are being kept inside. There’s even a special table just for the desserts, which Quinn and I quickly set up with various cake plates and trays, each one displaying a different dessert.

Strong hands grip my waist as I unload the final box of cookies, and I lean back into Austin’s chest as he lowers his mouth to my ear, his warm breath sending goosebumps down my spine. “Are you ready to meet some people?” My stomach drops with his question, anxious energy coursing through me as I nod.

He takes my hand in his and laces our fingers together, leading me out onto the lawn where several groups of people are already mingling. As though he can sense how nervous I am to meet the people he considers coworkers, Austin gives my hand a gentle squeeze and leads us over to one of the smaller groups where three men and one woman are standing in a semi-circle.

They all turn their heads in our direction as we approach, a few of them raising their plastic red cups in greeting while others chime in with “Hey, Ace!” and greet each other with the classically ridiculous fist-bump before turning their gazes toward me.

Austin pulls me to his side, his hand slipping out of mine so that his arm can wrap around my waist as he says, “This is my girlfriend, Chelsea.” He doesn’t look at them as he introduces me. Instead, his head tilts in my direction, his eyes gazing down at me as I shake hands with the men who introduce themselves as Shadow, Ghost, and Blaze.

The woman laughs and shakes her head, extending her hand to me. “Ignore them. They think their nicknames make them sound cooler than they actually are. I’m Amy,” she says, shaking my hand. She has shoulder-length wavy brown hair, honey eyes, and freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say with a smile. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t to feel instantly this comfortable.

“Austin has told us so much about you,” she says, and I feel Austin’s hand squeezing my hip at her comment.

“You have?” I look up into his deep ocean-blue eyes and find nothing but love shining back at me as his lips tug into a smile.

“Don’t even try to deny it,” says the guy who introduced himself as Shadow, pointing a finger in Austin’s direction with a drink still in hand.

“I wasn’t going to.” Austin leans down and closes the distance between us, taking my lips with his and bringing a hand up to cup the side of my face. He brushes his nose along mine when he breaks the kiss and whispers, “Can I show you something?”

A chorus of cheers and wolf whistles surrounds us, but the noise fades into the background. I nod and slip my hand into his, our fingers instantly twining together. He pulls me away from the group and back towards the house.

I’ve never felt as loved and cherished as I do when I’m with Austin.

The way he looks at me, kisses me, and everything in between, has me feeling like I’m in a permanent state of bliss. But it’s in the moments like this when I’m reminded of how different our lives truly are, how different they’ve always been, that brings those old feelings of not belonging creeping back to the surface.

Every person here except for Quinn and I—and Ethan, if he’s here too—has a life that quite literally revolves around assassination. Their livelihood and careers center around ridding the world of the people who don’t deserve to be here. Meanwhile, I’m someone who’s been a victim of abuse at the hands of multiple men since childhood. I expected to feel nervous and intimidated around all of these people, but so far the only thing I’ve felt is safe.