“Yeah,” Maya whispers with the softest expression.
“Fuck,” I murmur and kiss her tenderly. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
My eyes water with pure emotion. When it comes to my family, all I seem to do is cry. They’re my entire world, and I’m not afraid to show how much they mean to me.
“I love you,” I whisper as I hold her close. “I love you so much, Maya.”
“I know.” She beams up at me. “I love you, too.”
My forehead presses against hers, and we stay like this for a while. “Only one Thompson to go,” I say lightheartedly.
She chuckles softly. “It doesn’t matter when I become a Thompson. We’re a family regardless.”
“It does matter when you become a Thompson,” I say as my brows furrow an inch. “I want you to be a Thompson now. If you’d like to take my last name.”
Maya’s smile increases. “Of course I’d like to take your last name, but we can take our time, Finn. There’s no rush. This is the first step, and I’m enjoying life right now. We still have a month left of university, then we’re graduating and moving out. We’ve got a lot going on, and it doesn’t have to come at once.”
“You’re right. Thank you for doing this. It means everything to me.”
“You deserve this,” she says as I kiss Skye’s forehead.
“No, we deserve this.”
My eyes lock on Maya’s, and I know that everything is exactly how it’s meant to be.
“You helped me find home,” she says as she nuzzles her face into my chest. “I couldn’t imagine a life without you and Skye.”
I close my eyes with contentment. “Me neither, sunshine. This is home and always will be.”
EPILOGUE ONE
MAYA
FOUR YEARS LATER
“It’s time for bed, baby,” Finn says as Skye sits in his lap and wraps her arms around his neck.
Skye pouts at him with a shake of her head. “No,” she whines. “I don’t wanna go to bed.”
Finn sighs and strokes back her long blonde hair before tucking it behind her ears. “We’ve got a busy day tomorrow. We’re seeing Auntie Ivy and Uncle JJ, remember? You don’t want to be tired.”
“But—”
“No buts,” he says sternly. “Come on, I’ll read you a story.”
Skye tries to give him her puppy dog eyes, and regardless of how adorable she looks, Finn has worked hard not to give in every single time.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he huffs before picking her up effortlessly. “Pyjamas, teeth, and bed. You’re tired, sweetheart.”
“I’m not,” she protests, but even I can see her eyes growing heavy.
“Whatever you say.” Finn chuckles.
After getting her ready for bed, I lean on her door and listen as Finn reads from one of Skye’s favourite books. Finn loves getting into the story and uses all sorts of funny voices and accents, but Skye’s eyes are already falling closed.
I step forward when Finn shuts the book, and I press a kiss to her forehead. “Goodnight, Skye,” I whisper.
Finn turns off her light and pulls her door a little before we head back downstairs. “I thought she was going to fight me all night,” Finn exhales.
