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Gavin is going to be my husband. I have no doubt that he and I are going to build a beautiful life together. A life bursting with love, laugher, and family. He cradles the back of my head and kisses my neck, sending tingles down my spine. I know there are a million steps between saying yes and saying I do, yet I feel as though I’ve already taken my first step down the aisle.
But before I become Gavin’s wife, I want to enjoy being his student for a little while longer.
“I just have one question, Professor Dunn.”
His chuckle resonates in my chest. “What’s that, Alexis Kelley?”
“Does marrying you count toward the final, or extra credit?”
Epilogue
Alexis
Four years later...
Olivia’s feet pound the hardwood as she races into my parents’ kitchen. I glance up from the cucumber I’m slicing for tonight’s salad.
“No running, please,” Erica calls to her daughter.
“But grandpa’s chasing me.” Olivia squeals with delight as my dad appears in the doorway.
“I’m gonna get’cha,” he says, wiggling his fingers.
“Don’t get me, Grandpa!” Olivia scampers off in a flurry of giggles and wild curls.
Mom shakes her head and shoots my dad a knowing smile. “Honey, can you please refrain from chasing our granddaughter through the room with all the sharp knives?”
“Yeah, Dad,” Erica says. “Go back to chasing her through the room where you keep the antique swords. I swear, it’s a miracle Alexis and I made it to adulthood with all our fingers and toes. This house is a death trap.”
“Yet somehow, you survived.” Dad kisses Erica on the cheek and then pats my shoulder. “How much longer until we sit down to eat?”
“Not long.” I scrape the cucumbers onto the bed of greens in the salad bowl. “Should only be another few minutes—”
“Daddy and Uncle Gav are back with the tree,” Olivia yells from the living room.
I wipe my hands on a dish towel. “I’ll get the door.”
“Don’t you dare,” Mom says. She motions for me to take over mashing the potatoes. “Dr. Gupta gave you strict orders to take it easy.”
“But I feel fine.” I rub my massive belly and whisper, “We’re fine, aren’t we guys?”
The twins can’t respond with words yet, but I sense their affirmation in the way they swim over each other to headbutt my internal organs.
“Appreciate these moments, Alexis.” Erica grins. “You’ll miss being fussed over when you’re drenched in spit up at three in the morning.”
I chuckle, recalling the nights I stayed up late texting my sister while she was awake with Livvy.
My mom leaves to go open the front door. I hear the sound of my husband’s grunting, followed by the scrape-slide of what I assume is a ginormous evergreen being dragged through the foyer.
“Careful, Livvy,” Gavin says. “You don’t want to get run over before Christmas.”
“Santa won’t know who to deliver your presents to,” my father adds.
Olivia screams and runs back to the kitchen to hide behind my dress. “Auntie Lexis, don’t let ‘em run me over.”
“Nobody’s getting run over on my watch.” I add butter, sour cream, and a few pinches of salt to the mashed potatoes, keeping my ear tuned to the commotion coming from the living room.
Olivia said she wanted a big tree, and judging by the sounds of struggle, I’m willing to bet her dad and uncle delivered.
