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Suddenly, the clubhouse door bursts open, and Bellamy practically skips through, wearing the biggest smile with Remi trailing behind her.
"Hey!" I greet them. "How was your day?"
Bellamy tosses her book bag on the sofa. "The best!"
Blake visibly relaxes, and I toss him anI told you solook. "Well, I want to hear all about it." I plop down on the sofa beside her.
"Yeah, Bellamy," Remi sing songs. "Tell them about Preston."
Blake jumps in. "Who the fuck is Preston?"
"A boy from school," Bellamy tells her brother.
"Oh my god!" I squeal. "You met a boy?" I ignore Blake and the tiny vein in his forehead that looks like it's about to burst.
"Not just any boy," Remi chimes in. "Preston is Captain of the football team. Every girl at school wants to be with him, but he asked Bellamy to sit with him at lunch."
"Really?" I say with a breathy sigh.
"Wait a fuckin' minute." Blake tries to cut in again but fails to be acknowledged.
Bellamy blushes. "He's so cute, Ember. And he was so sweet. After lunch, he met me outside all my classes so he could carry my backpack."
"Did you all hear me?" Blake grumbles. "I don't want any fuckwad carryin' my sister's book bag or sittin' with her at lunch."
"Come on, you guys." I grab Bellamy's hand. "Let's get some ice cream, and you can finish telling me about Preston."
"Okay!" Bellamy and Remi say in unison. The three of us skip to the kitchen, leaving a disgruntled big brother behind.
"Hey! I'm not done talkin' about this!"
* * *
The next day, the entire family is at the clubhouse, celebrating the opening of Alba and Leah's bookstore, which was a huge success. True to my word, I made my first public debut as Ellise Brooks. I was a bundle of nerves leading up to the event and didn't think anyone would show up to meet me, but by the time the store opened, a line of people wrapped around the block. I signed so many books today that I thought my fingers would fall off. The local community center knitting club, which consists of about a dozen elderly women, also has its own little book club. And their latest book series they were reading and discussing was none-other than yours truly. Who would have thought? Then we had our long-time Polson residents, who were shocked to find out they had a real-life romance author living in their town. I'll admit it felt good being gushed over.
A pair of arms wrap around me from behind, bringing me out of my wandering thoughts, and I breathe in Blake's familiar scent. "What ya thinkin' about, baby?"
My body melts against his as I take in our family milling around the yard and the kids playing in the pool. "I was thinking about how perfect today has been."
Blake kisses the spot below my ear. "I'm proud of you, Vita Mia."
Tipping my head back, I peer up at Blake through my lashes. "Why do you call me Vita Mia?"
"My mother used to call me Vita Mia. It meansmy life."
"Blake," I say with a hushed breath.
"You are my life, Ember. Always."
"I love you," I tell him.
"I love you too, baby."
It's late afternoon and I'm sitting on the edge of the new swimming pool Jake had installed last summer. The children spent months relentlessly begging him for one and in true Jake fashion when it comes to the kids, he caved. I'm watching Bellamy play Marco Polo with Breanna and Jake, Logan and Bella's two kids, when the sound of two men arguing across the yard catches my attention.
"Your ribs can kiss my ribs' ass." Quinn takes a stance against Reid.
"You wish, motherfucker. Nobody wants that dried-up shit you call barbeque," Reid counters.
