I stepped into his face. “She grabbed my junk, dude.”

He stepped right back into mine and snarled, “Awesome. Now, say yes so she’ll be grabbing mine tonight.”

I backed away, shaking my head and pinching the bridge of my nose. I couldn’t believe that I was going to agree to this. “Just make sure she keeps her mouth shut, yeah? Levee and I aren’t telling people we’re together yet.”

“Not a problem. I had her sign a nondisclosure agreement.” He smiled proudly.

I arched an eyebrow, incredulous. “Who the fuck are you? Christian Grey?”

He curled his lip in disgust. “Who the fuck are you? A post-menopausal woman? Why do you know anything about Christian Grey?

I screwed my lips tight. No fucking way was I telling him that that was the movie Levee and I had watched together. So, instead, I sighed and said, “Yes. Bring Jen.”

His hand shot up in the air in victory. “My dick appreciates this. A lot.” He patted my shoulder enthusiastically.

Just then, the door opened and my mom came walking in carrying a dish full of pasta salad with Jen following behind her. “Ryan, honey, I think you forgot someone outside.”

Tossing his arm around Jen’s shoulders, he replied, “Of course not, Mrs. Rivers. How could I forget about a woman this beautiful?” He glanced down at Jen and spoke in the most ridiculous baby voice I had ever heard. “Sorry, baby. Sam and I had some business to talk about.”

How that woman didn’t roll her eyes, I’d never know, because mine threatened to roll out of my head.

Ten minutes later, everyone had arrived, and we began our ascent to Levee’s place.

I knew that something was wrong the moment we arrived.

“Dear God,” I breathed as I took in the sight in front of me.

“Wow,” “Shit,” “No way,” and “Holy cow” all echoed behind me.

It had been just over six hours since I’d dropped Levee off, and somehow, during that time, her yard had been transformed into weird combination of an extravagant white wedding mixed with the state fair—complete with a small Ferris wheel and every carnival game imaginable. Pearl-colored balloons decorated the corners of each booth, while large, pink floral arrangements covered all eight of the tables under the huge, white canopy.

My mom elbowed me in the ribs. “Perhaps I should have brought something a little fancier than pasta salad…and maybe worn a cocktail dress.” She lifted her chin to a man in a tux pushing open the front door for us.

“I think our idea of a get-together might be a little different than Levee’s,” I replied.

“You think?” Meg snapped. “I’m in jeans!”

“Levee!” Morgan cried when she suddenly appeared in the doorway looking every bit like the A-list celebrity she was—perfectly styled hair, tight, white dress, designer heels, a face full of makeup, and the fakest smile I’d ever seen that woman wear.

I started laughing as her eyes found mine.

“Give me a second,” I told the group as I headed in her direction.

“Hi,” she squeaked when I wrapped her in a tight hug, lifting her off her feet.

Setting her back on the ground, I asked, “What did you do?”

Her eyes flashed away. “Well, I burnt the cake I was trying to make, and then I got nervous, so I called a party planner, and I…well, I may have gone a bit overboard.”

Henry walked up behind her. “A bit?”

“Shut up and go hit on one of the waiters,” she barked before shyly looking back up at me.

Cupping my hand to my ear, I asked for clarification, “One of the waiters?”

Henry lifted his hand and wiggled four fingers, quickly extending it for a shake when Levee turned to glare at him.

I reached out and took his hand. “What’s up, man?”

“You know, just drinking your girlfriend’s Cristal and trying to convince her that red shoes would’ve looked better with that dress. But what do I know?” He shrugged, tipping a champagne glass to his lips.

My eyes once again found Levee’s. “Cristal?”

She huffed. “I already said I overdid it. Don’t give me shit. I was nervous, and that party planner was wicked pushy. I told her kids were coming, and before I knew what happened, carnies were setting up.”

I grabbed the back of her neck and bent to touch my lips to hers. “I’m not going to give you shit. It’s really nice. Completely unnecessary. But sweet nonetheless. Is there cake?”

Her body melted as she wrapped her arms around my neck. “Red velvet and chocolate.”

“Good! Morgan’s birthday is next week. I’m telling her this is her party. Save Meg and Ty some cash.” I winked. Releasing her, I tossed my arms out to my sides and spun to face my family. “Happy birthday, Morgan!”

Her eyes lit as she threw her hands over her mouth.

As if on cue, Henry bustled out the door. “Wait. Morgan’s here?”

At the sight of him, Morgan burst into tears.

Meg and Ty laughed.

My mom clutched her heart.

Jen’s cheeks pinked as she gasped.

Ryan looked down at her and cursed, shooting an angry glare in Henry’s direction.

Levee’s arm looped around my waist.

And I smiled for what felt like the very first time.

“AND HERE IS Sam at four. We went for ‘All Night Long’ Lionel that year. I think it turned out pretty great,” Sam’s mom said as she turned the page of a huge photo album.

For over an hour, the two of us had sat at one of the corner tables flipping through page after page of Sam’s childhood. There were numerous pictures of Anne and Sam’s dad too. It was easy to see where Sam got his good looks, but after talking to his mom, it was easy to see how he’d turned out to be such an amazing man as well.

“All right. Enough is enough,” Sam said as he strolled up beside us with a beer in one hand and a gift bag in his other.

“Whatcha got there, hot stuff?” I asked as he placed the gift bag in front of me.

“Well, I figured we should show Mom our photo album too?” He tossed me a mischievous grin.

“We have a photo album?” I asked.

“Yep,” he answered as his smile grew. “Hey, Henry. Wanna see how Levee and I met?”

I immediately pushed to my feet as my eyes nervously flashed down to his mom. I did not want her to know how Sam and I had met. Hell, I wished Sam didn’t even remember how we’d met.

“Umm, maybe we shouldn’t do this here?”

Looping an arm around my waist, he tugged me against his chest and whispered, “It’s not what you think.”

I swallowed hard and searched his eyes, finding them dancing with humor. “Okay,” I breathed, sitting back down as everyone gathered around us.

After reaching into the bag, I pulled out a rectangular book. It was the shape of a license plate, and on the front, in an airbrushed font, was Sam & Levee 4-eva.

I started laughing, but as I opened the book, my vision began to swim.

Yeah, Sam had been busy.

Once upon a time… was written in script across the top of the page. The image was one of Sam’s composites where he’d cropped us together. And, for once, I wasn’t falling on my face. We appeared to be on a street corner, and Sam was sitting on the ground in filthy clothes, holding a cup for change, with Sampson sleeping at his side. His mouth was hanging open in awe as he looked up at me.

For me, he had used a still from one of my music videos where I was dressed from head to toe like the princess America viewed me as. My expression was fierce, and my curls were blown back away from my face while my leg peeked from the high slit in my sexy version of a ball gown.

“Oh my God,” I laughed.