91.5.
A win.
He doesn’t throw his hat or shoot his hands up in the air. The first thing he does is turn and look for me.
And I break out into a run, already halfway there.
I launch myself into his arms, and he catches me, spinning me around.
“You did it. You fucking did it!” I shout into his ear as he squeezes me.
“You told me it was for you, Jules. What choice did I have?”
The crowd fades away as he kisses me soundly. And like so many times before, it doesn’t matter who’s watching.
It’s only ever felt like it’s just the two of us.
EPILOGUE
Emmett
THIS YEAR, CHRISTMASis different. I’m not partying on a boat. I’m not on the road for work. I’m notrunning.
I’m with my family. Although they’ve all gone to bed for the night, Julia and I linger in the warm glow of the farmhouse where I grew up.
The anniversary of my parents’ death is a day I usually hide from. Tonight, I stand in the living room, slow dancing by a crackling fire with the woman of my dreams.
Her arms drape around my neck, mine gripping her waist. We sway wordlessly, and I’m certain that I’m more content than I’ve ever been in my life. More peaceful than I knew possible.
It wasn’t until Julia that I recognized the constant state of anguish that I’d lived with. Every moment, every day. The self-loathing. The feeling of being a burden.
In the past two years, Julia’s steadfast love has all but erased it.
“This was a pretty good Christmas,” she murmurs, hips swinging gently, giving me ideas that are definitely inappropriate for the moment.
“I think it might be one of the best I can remember,” I say, trailing my hand up and down her spine. She’s wearing a baggy, loose-knit sweater that’s all too easy to slip my palm beneath.
“You know, one time,” she murmurs, “when they were filming the show…”
I stiffen. Mentions of filming the show still have that effect on me.
“I slowed down on my way off the property because I could see your oma and opa doing exactly what we’re doing.”
“Foreplay?” I ask with a quirked brow that only gets me a scoff and an eye roll.
“No, dancing. Just like this. The yellow light of the house shone out onto the driveway, and I could mostly just see their silhouettes. But also, the look on your opa’s face. Pure adoration.”
“Doll, that was definitely foreplay.”
She slaps me on the shoulder with a light laugh. “Stop ruining my story by being horny.”
I groan. “I can’t help it. Have you seen yourself? I’m permanently horny when I’m around you. You don’t even need thorns in your ass. It’s boner time, all the time.”
She laughs again, shaking her head in mock exasperation.
“What I’m saying is I love their love.”
“It’s a special one, I agree. One of the best relationships I’ve ever seen.”
