Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Moisture bleared my sight, joy and sorrow clutching my chest. “He haunted my dreams, too.”
She moved across the room so she could reach out and touch my cheek. “It’s only a nightmare if it ends bad. You just make sure that doesn’t happen.”
We both jumped when the door suddenly banged open and a disorder spilled in.
“Pivot!” Jud shouted, the man cracking up as if it were the funniest thing he’d ever said as he and Logan attempted to wrangle an enormous tree through the door.
“Idiot.” Logan shook his head, but he was wearing the biggest grin I’d ever seen as he struggled to squeeze the giant fir through.
Joy poured from it.
Real, true joy.
“That’s my line, man, my line,” Jud grunted. “And you are the one who begged for your big brother to come and do the heavy lifting. You’d better watch yourself or I’ll knock you flat. You don’t want to go and embarrass yourself in front of your lady now, do you?”
It was all a razzing.
Logan rolled his eyes. “Dude, I just helped you get your tree into your place half an hour ago. Who was begging who?”
I took the chaos in, and the air hitched in my throat when Logan’s gaze turned to tangle with mine.
As his smile turned slow.
Sweet.
“Merry Christmas, baby. I got us a tree.”
He and Jud propped it up near the fireplace.
I nearly dropped to my knees.
“Of course, this asshole right here had to have the biggest one. Surprised it fits.” Jud gestured at Logan, but it was pure affection.
“What do you think?” Logan stretched out his arms.
My heart swelled.
So big.
An outpouring of devotion.
“I think you’re the best thing I’ve ever seen.” I couldn’t keep it in. This feeling that swept through me like a warm, spring breeze. Something that promised better things were to come.
Jud chuckled a rough sound, and he tossed an aimless punch in Logan’s direction as he passed. “Last thing this guy needs is any more ammo for his ego. Head’s already bigger than that tree. Puff him up any more, and he’s the one who’s not gonna fit through the doorway.”
Jud was all burly stride and easy smiles as he came our way. He acted like my presence was normal.
Required.
He dipped in and pressed a kiss to Gretchen’s cheek before he reached out and wrapped his massive arms around me.
A gush of surprise left me when he hugged me tight.
He lifted me off the floor and whispered in my ear so no one else could hear, “Love him. Love him right. Love him whole. Because he fucking loves you with everything he’s got, and he’s willing to give it all.”
Then Jud set me back on my feet, turned, and walked out.
THIRTY-THREE
LOGAN
It was crazy, what life did. The way you could be moving along with the day to day, living each one because that’s really all you could do. Your lot had already been cast, for good or bad or whatever it was worth. Mistakes had already been made that you had to live with, and you did the best with what you’d been given.
Even when it sucked.
I glanced at Aster where she sat in the passenger seat of my car as I drove in the direction of Eden and Trent’s place. I squeezed her hand, and she sent me this adoring smile that sailed through my spirit like eternity.
And I knew, sometimes fate took favor on you, scooped up the dice you’d rolled, and tossed you a pair of snake eyes for the fucking win.
Contentment lapped in the bare space between us, peace and joy wrapping us in a blanket of comfort as we drove into the quaint neighborhood to celebrate Christmas Eve with my family.
Night had fallen, and the houses were decked out in lights, decorations glowing from porches, families tucked inside the warmth of the walls.
And I wanted to keep it. Wanted it with every part of me. To make it ours.
I pulled to a stop at the curb in front of Eden’s house and killed the engine. Silence descended. The only sound was our deep, rasping breaths as our attention hooked on the huge window that fronted the house.
The drapes were open, and my family was inside. Eden laughed at something Jud said to her, and Trent held her from behind, Baby Kate in my sister-in-law’s arms. Salem walked through, holding Juni, and the two of them stopped to look at an ornament on the tree.
Gage appeared below them, his caramel hair bouncing when he jumped and pointed.
It was this perfect picture that sent my heart angling in a direction I’d spent the last seven years convincing myself that it couldn’t go.
“Do you want that, Aster?” I realized it was close to a plea. “Children? Family? A home?”
I knew my saying it was ripping a wound wide open.