“I’ve heard so much about you,” Avi says, pulling out from my arm so she can hug Joss.
“What about me?” Wes interrupts, finally having extricated himself from the headlock Breck had him in. “Haven’t you heard about me? All good things, I’m sure.”
Avi’s melodic laugh breaks out as he pulls her from Joss and hugs her just as fiercely as he did his sister.
“I have—” She continues to laugh. “Mostly good things at least.”
Wes’s bark of laughter echoes off the high ceilings of the living room. He steps back only to have his gaze land on Nox, who looks a little unsure of the dynamics of this group, and then it jumps to me. Taking the two of us in.
“Damn, that is uncanny,” Wes says.
“Wes,” Rory chides at the same time Willow yells, “Swear jar!”
He instantly reaches for his wallet and hands her a twenty.
“Keep the change, I’m sure I’ll owe you at least that much by the end of the night. Seriously though, who’s going to introduce me to the best-looking guy here… And no, I don’t mean you, Jamie.”
I can see Joss restraining herself from rolling her eyes and I think Rory wants to hit him upside the head.
“This is our son, Lennox—or Nox,” I say, my chest overflowing with the pride I feel to be able to call him such. To be able to claim this amazing kid in front of my best friend and her family, a family I’ve considered my own for a long time. Avi and Nox are just the newest and most important—at least to me—members of it.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Nox. I’m Wes, or Uncle Wes, if you’d like.”
Nox extends his hand and nods. “Willow told me I should call you Wessy.” He doesn’t even crack a smile when he says this, totally deadpan, and the whole group erupts into hysterics around him.Wes most of all, having to forego the handshake to brace himself on his knees and catch his breath.
When he glances up, it’s with a glare at Willow. “You,” he says.
She points at herself with a look of innocence. “Me?”
He shakes his head and finally stands as the rest of us pull ourselves together. Rory offers Willow a high five, wiping tears of mirth from below her eyes. “That was amazing, oh my god.” Wessy is Rory’s nickname of choice for her brother—much to his chagrin.
“Yeah, yeah, everyone make jokes at my expense,” he says, then turns his attention back to Nox. “I like you.” Then, without preamble, he pulls him into a side hug and ruffles his blond hair, like they’re best buds.
Nox’s smile is infectious, growing wide just like mine, his green eyes alight… just like mine.
I watch my two families collide, and instead of any friction or dissonance, they meld perfectly, with ease.
A little while later, with food in our bellies and drinks in our hands, we sit around the large sectional in the middle of the living room while the sounds of Willow and Nox playing foosball from the next room over carry toward us. That was a new addition to the condo when Breck and Rory moved in, though most of the decor is the same as when I left it.
Because this is my house. Technically. At least for a few more weeks.
We have a week until Breck and Rory’s wedding. Then while they go on their honeymoon to Canada, Avi, Nox, and I will stay here with Willow. In that time, I’ll go through everything I left behind and figure out what I want to take home to Skye with me and whatI want to part with, and when they get back, we sign the papers that will make this condo theirs.
“How did your meetings go with your agent and publisher?” Rory asks, drawing me back to the group around me. “Was Aileen beside herself with pride?”
My grin widens. “They went great. It was good to meet with them in person to go over everything seeing as that won’t be easy to do going forward. And Gran… well, she won them over with all her charms.”
“If they had even an ounce of doubt about this story, she would’ve been the one to seal the deal, but they don’t,” Avi says, winding her arms around me on the couch as she snuggles closer. “You should’ve seen how excited they were about this new direction.” She lowers her voice and attempts an American accent that I think is supposed to sound like Brent. “‘The great Jameson L. Murray—from epic adventure to epic love stories—he can do it all.’” She laughs good-naturedly and returns to her normal voice. “I mean, hecando it all, but it’s funny to see the way they fawn over him.”
“I can’t blame them, I’m dying to get my hands on this book myself,” Rory says, giving me a very pointed look.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t ruin your wedding present for yourself…”
“Wait, seriously? Do I get to read it on my honeymoon?” She’s so excited, and I love the way she’s always supported me in my career.
“Thanks a lot, mate,” Breck says on a sigh. “Now I’ll be competing with your book for her attention the whole time.”
Rory gives him a playful shove and he grabs her hand and brings it to his lips.
