Page 88 of One Wild Wish

“The Tease of Monte Cristo,” I said, instigating my name game.

His body shook with a light laugh. “Raging Tease.”

“The Lord of the Tease.”

“Raiders of the Lost Tease.”

“That one sounds like a porno,” I said. “Actually, they all do. Which gives me another idea for our weekend…”

He nipped my shoulder, my body cocooned in his. We both sighed.

Eventually, he shifted backward and flipped me around, facing him. “My parents want to meet your mother, asked what weekend was good.”

Wow. A daunting prospect, but not surprising. We’d been living together three months, which made the progression natural. Still, the monumental event felt big, and sad. Every milestone in my brother and my lives would be celebrated without our father. Dad wouldn’t witness the birth of his first grandchild, wouldn’t be there for my graduation day. He wouldn’t meet Jimmy or his parents. Not in the flesh, at least.

He was watching us, somehow. Of that I was sure. “If it’s at my mother’s place, she’ll serve her onion dip and Stanley will accost your father.”

Jimmy chuckled. “Then it has to be there. But don’t warn my folks about the dip. Watching them choke it down will be priceless.”

“You’re awful, but thank you.”

“For what?”

“For showing up in that bar and asking to buy me a drink.”

“Thanks for screaming pussy. Which is something you should do more often. Actually, we haven’t been out drinking in a while. Might be time to get you liquored up. I’ll pop some popcorn and watch you embarrass yourself.”

“You really are the sweetest boyfriend.”

He smiled at my sarcasm, and I kissed his nose.

“I wasn’t going for sweet, Sunshine. I’m the wild one, remember?” He lay down and pulled me with him, pressing my head to his chest.

Th-thump, th-thumpwent his heart. Mine trotted in time.

Our parents meeting might mean a ring was on its way. Scary and exciting—my life moving forward at a steady pace. A life I barely recognized. We were living in Napa Valley, and I was finally following my dreams. I returned to the city often to see Cora and her growing belly, my brother waiting on her hand and foot. Even my mother had an admirer.

And my life in the valley was a breath of fresh air. Jimmy had taken his rightful place at his family’s winery, working alongside his brother, while still following his dreams and spearheading a new Napa festival. He woke up driven, ready for each day, taking pride in his accomplishments.

I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

I wasn’t sure where Gwen and Ainsley were with their birthday wishes. They knew Vesper had closed down. Unlike me, they weren’t under the misguided impression that magic had touched our resolutions. But I was thankful for the silly assumption. Without that push, my life wouldn’t be opening like a fine wine, depth and character building. All it had taken was a little courage, belief in the impossible, and one very bad boy.