Page 107 of Her Game Plan

He leans over as we walk, pressing a kiss into my temple. “I know, love.”

We walk into the crush in my parents’ entryway, finding them posted up close to the entry. “Dad, congratulations. You finally made it.”

“He sure took his time getting here, though, didn’t he?” Mom asks from his side, looking smart in a black dress with a white stripe around her waist. “And now it’s time for us to travel.”

We chat for a few more minutes before another of my father’s longtime friends and business associates joins our group, and Callan and I move on to find the kids.

Finally, we spot them in the kids’ play area, their Jack-and-Jill attire completely at odds with the way they’re currently hanging from Marlee like barnacles.

“Mom!” they both cry when they finally see me. I catch my son as he barrels at my legs headfirst, swooping him into my arms before leaning in to hug my daughter.

“Hello, my dears.” I kiss both heads. “Are you giving your cousin Marlee any trouble?”

“No!” they both chime.

We catch up about their day before I’m pulled into the foyer to talk to some of the new arrivals. Callan stays with me all night, easily talking with my father’s friends, past and potential partners of Langford, and others who have been part of my dad’s circles for years.

After the drinks have been flowing for long enough to put people in a good mood, Dad makes his way halfway up the steps before clinking his glass.

“Thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate my retirement.”

There’s a large cheer from the group, and Chris uses the distraction to sneak his way next to me. “His worst nightmare and his greatest love, combined into one,” he whispers. “Everyone is here for him, but it’s because he’s stepping down.” My twin fakes a shudder. “How will he bear it?”

When my father’s speech ends, the heat of the crowd starts to weigh on me, and I sneak out the back door, finding a moonlit spot to take a deep breath. My father has ensured his retirement, and the subsequent months galivanting around the globe with my mother will have no impact on the state of the company.

Whether that will be true of me or not, we shall see. I’ve grown a lot in the last few years, but that uncertain woman who never quite knew whether her success was due to her father or herself, she’s never quite gone.

Callan finds me outside a few minutes later and hands me a fresh glass of champagne. He raises it in a toast. “To finally having everything you could ever dream of.”

I clink my flute against his. “Turns out, all you need is an excellent game plan.”

He laughs, a sound that still makes my chest feel like it’s taking flight. “And a fake boyfriend to pull the whole thing together.”

Wrinkling my nose, I shrug. “Meh, I prefer my very real husband.”

He pulls me into a deep kiss, the taste of champagne strong as our tongues tangle there, on the porch.

My phone vibrates on the ledge next to me, and Callan breaks the kiss, pulling his own phone out of his pocket.

“Did you see this?” He lifts the phone to me. “I told you so!”

I snatch my phone and open the message from Addie, a wide smile blooming across my face at my friend’s good news. “You’re going to be insufferable about this, aren’t you?”

He nods enthusiastically. “Without a doubt.”

I shake my head. “Do you remember when they first got together? Truly crazy.”

“Pretty judgmental, considering your role in the whole Etsy witch saga,” Callan says, throwing his arm over my shoulder.

“You cannot blame me for that!” I argue as we walk back into the party.

Naya meets us by the door, Nan walking slowly behind her, a very excited Drew holding on to her walker as he talks her ear off.

Callan scoops our daughter into his arms, grabbing Drew in his other arm as he stops next to his grandmother. It’s a feat of strength and love that makes my ovaries ache for another child, another chance to tie my life more inextricably to the man I love. And as I watch Callan and our two children talk to the woman who raised the man I love, I think about how far we’ve come since the fateful day I announced I was dating a man I could barely stand to be around and laugh.

All part of my game plan, indeed.

It's not over for Charlotte and Callan!