Page 76 of Worth the Fight

“I’ve missed you so much,” she whispers.

“I missed you, too.” I mumble, my throat burning. I cling to her for another second before we pull back. “I’m so happy to be here with everyone.”

She rests her hands on my shoulders, calling over to Lukas. “Carry in her things, will you?” She doesn’t wait for his response as she guides me into the house.

I slip my boots off on the worn rug on the entryway, looking around to find the inside hasn’t changed much over the years. The same photos of the kids line the walls. The same creaks sound from the floorboards as we move around. The same smell of something sweet baking. The same laughter from the siblings sounds from down the hall.

Except now, when I peek over into the living room, there’s a giant balloon arch that fills one wall, and a glittery sign that says “wild one” with a lion sitting underneath.

Presents are stacked in one corner, next to a giant black gorilla with a red bow around its neck. A table is set up in the back, with stacks of cups and plates, an empty punch bowl, and trivets and stands which will soon hold an exaggerated amount of food and snacks, if I know Lukas’s family.

“Can I get you anything to eat, sweetheart?” Lukas’s mom asks, taking my coat from me and hanging it on an old hook.

“No, thank you. I can wait until the party to eat with everyone.”

“She’s too nice to ask, Ma, but she needs coffee,” Lukas adds, sliding my suitcase to the side and shutting the door behind him.

I playfully roll my eyes at him, but his mom just squeezes my hand. “I’ll get a fresh pot brewed right away.”

She scurries down the hall to the kitchen, and I turn to face Lukas. He stares down at me, a nearly devilish smile on his face as he strips off his thick coat, hanging it next to mine. God, I love seeing him here in his element. He looks good on the streets of Paris and in my apartment, but this, this is where he feels like home.

“Quit looking at me like that,” I whisper, making sure no one can hear.

“Then quit being so pretty,” he teases, and I playfully shove his chest. His hand darts out to snag my wrist, using his grip to pull me toward him for a kiss.

He goes to pull away, but I step into him, chasing his kiss with another. “How much time do we have before the party?” I whisper against his cheek.

He winks at me with a hand brushing along my back to spin me toward the kitchen. “Not enough time for what I’d like to do to you.”

We talk in tandem down the hall, and another yawn leaves me as soon as I smell the freshly ground coffee. Lukas chuckles at that. “Let’s get you some caffeine, pretty girl.”

CHAPTER 37

Magnolia

The party is in full swing. Snacks have been made, punch has been poured, and the living room is filled with everyone I love. Candi and Rick arrived with Ivy a couple hours ago, and she screamed with delight when she saw the giant gorilla sitting in the corner.

Ivy isn’t quite walking on her own yet, but she’s strong enough to pull herself up to stand and uses the furniture, walls, and whoever is near to guide herself around the room. Since she learned to do that, she hasn’t wanted to sit still, and it isn’t long before she beelined for the pile of presents in the corner, grabby hands wanting to tear into the paper to see what’s inside.

Nana arrived with my parents, and Lukas made sure to park himself next to her, waiting on her every need. She’s been doing well since her surgery, and she’s moving around without a walker. Lukas knows as well as I do that she doesn’t truly need him to wait on her hand and foot, but we both also know how much he loves it.

With a fresh cup of coffee in hand, I lean against the doorframe, taking in the people who came to celebrate such a sweet girl.

Holly waves her hand in the air to catch my attention, and when I look over, she scoots to the side of the couch, ushering for me to come sit next to her.

With soft steps, I carefully maneuver around the mound of presents, careful not to step on any fingers or toes as I make my way to the couch. Curling my feet underneath me, I relax next to Holly, her own cup of coffee in hand.

“How are you holding up?” she asks, gesturing to my third refill.

“I think the excitement is helping keep me awake, but once the party dies down and the sugar rush from the cake disappears, I’m going to need to sneak away for a nap.”

She nods in agreement before glancing across the room, her eyes following Grayson.

He’s already watching her, his normally unreadable expression a little softer this time. And when he thinks no one is watching, he winks at her, her corresponding smile almost making me blush as well.

“How is wedding planning going?”

Her eyes dart to face me. “Going well. We’re getting married here at the farm, actually, this coming fall. We hope you can make it.”