“You were married.”
“That doesn't make me qualified.”
“You loved her.”
“Yes.”
“Do you still?”
Marcus looked at river.
“Yes.”
Serena nodded.
“Good.”
He turned.
“Good?”
“I don't want to be loved by someone who had to erase another person first.”
Something inside him shifted.
Serena continued.
“I’m not Catherine.”
“No.”
“I don't want to be.”
“I know.”
“I’m me.”
Marcus smiled.
“I’ve noticed.”
She looked at him.
“And you?”
“What?”
“You're not the man you were before she died.”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Why good?”
“Because I don't want a ghost either.”
Marcus swallowed.
That was the right answer.
Not comforting.
Right.
Serena touched his wrist.
The same gesture she had used in their first generated moment, though neither of them would have described it that way.
Her thumb moved once.
Marcus’s eyes dropped.
“Careful.”
She smiled.
“You said that before.”
“Still applies.”
“What happens if I don’t?”
Marcus leaned slightly closer.
“You might find out.”
Serena’s voice lowered.
“That sounds less innocent than your usual mechanic advice.”
“Maybe I’m tired of being innocent.”
She laughed softly.
Then kissed him.
Not rushed.
Not dramatic.
A slow adult kiss shaped by months of restraint.
Marcus’s hand came to her waist.
Serena shifted closer.
When they separated, her forehead remained against his.
“That took you long enough.”
Marcus smiled.
“You could have kissed me.”
“I’m a billionaire.”
“Exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re used to people doing things first.”
She stared.
Then laughed.
“You are unbelievably irritating.”
“You keep coming back.”
She kissed him again.
That time longer.
From behind them came Nora’s voice.
“Gross.”
They broke apart.
Nora stood six yards away holding ice cream.
Serena covered her face.
Marcus sighed.
“Nora.”
“What?”
She looked at Serena.
“Are you staying for dinner?”
Serena lowered hands.
Marcus looked at her too.
The question meant more than food.
Serena smiled.
“Yes.”
Nora nodded as if this were the correct administrative decision.
“Okay.”
They walked home together.
Not a fairy-tale ending.
Not yet.
Real life rarely finishes when two people kiss.
Serena still worked too much.
Marcus still disappeared emotionally when grief hit unexpectedly.
Nora tested boundaries.
Ashford Harbor faced lawsuits related to Grant.
Compass Fund had to rebuild its governance.
Reporters followed Serena.
Donors wanted access to Marcus.
He hated every second.
They argued.
Once Serena scheduled a reporter interview for Marcus without asking.
He canceled it.