Back to Velicia and the triplets…
By the end of the night, their VIP booth was a mess of empty glasses, laughter, and tangled limbs. Cray was asleep sideways across the couch, Cole was singing along to some off-key karaoke while Velicia lay across Carl’s lap, half-drowsy and wholly content.
“You’re not regretting this yet?” she murmured to Carl.
His hand rested gently on her thigh, the tension gone from his face.
“No,” he said. “This… was a good night.”
“I needed this,” she whispered.
“We all did,” Cole agreed, sliding a water toward her.
Cray winked. “Told you. Best night of your pre-coronation life.”
She smiled, eyes drifting between them. “Next time, we will go to a karaoke bar.”
Carl’s soul visibly left his body.
Velicia smiled. “That’ll be for girls’ night.”
Cray—somehow st
