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“Lindy and I signed contracts today, and I gave my aunt my notice. I’ll be done working for them in two weeks,” she tells me softly.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, baby. Are you going to design your own wedding dress?”
“Of course. I always wanted to be a late June bride.” She beams, and I feel like the Grinch. My heart grows ten times its size.
“Late June? That’s specific.”
“Can’t get married until your season is over. And I think you’re going all the way this year.” She tips her head back and ghosts her lips over mine. “I can’t wait to call you my husband.”
“Love you, baby.”
“Forever, Cross. No more running.”
Let’s hope she still feels that way after tonight.
Everly
Iknock on the door of my parents’ house, then walk in with the kids, calling out, “Hello...”
“Hello,” Kerrigan mimics me in her tiny voice, and I hold back my laugh. She’s certainly coming out of her shell, one baby step at a time, and I’m loving watching her do it. “Evie, are there cupcakes?”
“Did somebody say cupcakes?” Mom asks as she scoops Kerrigan up in a hug. “Why yes, little miss. There are cupcakes. I stopped by Miss Amelia’s shop today and got a whole box for you to pick from. Do you want to see?”
Kerrigan nods her head excitedly and takes Mom’s hand without looking for permission, and I think a tiny piece of my heart cracks.
I walk into the family room to drop all the kids’ stuff and stop and stare.
I think Target may have thrown up at my parents’ house.
“What’s all this?” I ask Dad, who’s already watching TV with Uncle Tommy.
“We’re brushing up on hockey, Evie. I know college hockey for the boys. But I need to know pro hockey for Cross, if he’s going to be family.”
I push down the overwhelming emotion sitting on my chest and move around the couch to kiss my uncle. “This is why you’re my favorite, Uncle Tommy.”
“Do you know Cross has been the top scorer for the Revolution for the past two years? He beat Jace Kingston, who held the record for five years before Cross took it from him.”
“No,” I laugh. “I didn’t know that.”
“Well then, we can both learn hockey together,” Tommy adds, and I smile when I realize he’s wearing Cross’s jersey. He’s always been a die-hard Kings football fan. And when my uncles played for Kroydon U, he was the biggest college fan there ever was. But seeing him go all-in for the Revolution becauseCross... because my future husband is on the team. Okay, yeah. It does squishy, melty things to my heart.
“How’s my little buddy doing?” Dad asks as he unbuckles Jax from the car seat carrier.
Jack looks at Dad with big blue eyes and a tiny, trembling lip. “He’s gonna cry, Dad.”
“Nah, he loves me. We’re buds,” Dad swears just before Jax opens his mouth and screams. “Okay, buddy. Let’s see what Belles got for you because she basically bought out the baby section of Target. There’s got to be something here to make you happy.”
“Did you put all this together?” I ask, and Tommy laughs.
“Nope. Your mom hired a task rabbit guy to do it, and your dad’s pissed.”
Okay, that makes me laugh and Dad grumble.
“I could have done it myself,” he says under his breath.
Mom walks in with a tray of snacks and Kerrigan at her side with a plate of cookies. “Sure you could have, Dec. But this was faster.” Then she lowers her voice and adds, “And with way less bitching.”
She and Kerrigan put the plates on the coffee table, then Mom turns her to see the wall of pink that I’m pretty sure didn’t come from Target. “Mom?” I question as Kerrigan makes her way over to a pink kitchen set.
