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She cocks an eyebrow and plucks some sort of hors d'oeuvre that a caterer is passing around. “Oh, I’m fine. You know.”
We haven’t had the chance to spend much time together over the past couple months. I’ve been getting the house put together. She’s been gearing up for the new restaurant opening. The guys have spent a fair bit of time together, all four are doing group therapy with Lisa Kinkaid before they embark upon the next chapter.
The wives have agreed to lay low so our men can work out their own dynamic for the time being.
Zoey disappears to her bedroom to feed Oliver. Alex and Jace arrive minutes later. We manage to say a brief hello before Alex joins Zoey to put Lena down for a bit. They’ve traveled twenty-four hours to be here, all of them look utterly exhausted.
While we wait for dinner to be served, Ty, Zane, Fee, Jace, Connor, and I make small talk for a while. It’s light. Fun. Chatting about Jace and Alex’s latest adventures. Fee’s new menu. Stories of our kids’ shenanigans. Ty fills us in on a couple of the foundation artists he’s producing.
We all turn around when Carter clinks a spoon on his glass. “Before we sit down to dinner, I just have something I want to say—”
“Wait, Carter.” Ty jumps up. “Zoey and Alex are in the back with the kids.”
Zoey appears holding Alex’s hand, they look like they’ve been crying. “No, we’re here. Go ahead.”
Carter gazes adoringly at Lianne. “Exactly two years ago, Ty stood here and proposed to Zoey in front of all of us but you, my love.”
“Best decision ever.” Ty embraces Zoey. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re all here with us this Christmas Eve. You’re all my family, and I love you.”
Carter bores a good-natured hole in Ty’s head. “Well don’t steal my thunder, son. I’ve got a little proposal to get through.”
I can’t help but squeal. I reach for Connor’s hand. How utterly delightful. It appears to be a surprise, Lianne’s face says it all.
“Lianne, you are the only woman I have ever loved. The only woman for me. You’ve been there for me throughout all of the hell I put you and Zane through. You’ve been my best friend and only lover for many years now. Life is short, babe. I’ve lived too long without you being officially my girl; will you marry me? Finally?” Carter dramatically sinks to one knee and thrusts a little black box toward her. Opens it to reveal a stunning diamond ring.
My gaze wanders to Zane and Fiona, who look as stunned as Lianne does. Clearly, they weren’t in on the proposal. Ty and Zoey, who obviously were in the “know,” gaze lovingly at the couple. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out which of Carter’s sons was given the heads-up.
Lianne accepts. of course. Everyone, except Fee and Zane, swarm around the happy couple. My phone buzzes. I’ve stopped feeling dread, but still. It’s Christmas Eve. Who would need to get a hold of me tonight?
Kris. That’s who.
We text back and forth. I hear Connor say my name, I hold a finger up to stall him, knowing he hates it when I don’t answer with words. I can feel his gruff gaze upon me, so I look up from my phone and wink.
This elicits the smile I love so much. I mouth, “I love you.”
“Aye,” he mouths back. Points between us, then goes to the playpen to check on the boys, who are fighting over some toy. Mia and Lena follow him. Connor is so amazing with children, I’m beginning to reconsider whether we should stop at two. For now, I feed the boys and put them down in Zoey’s bedroom so we can all eat dinner. Lucky for us, Tristan and Torin are great sleepers.
When I return, I sit next to Connor at the dinner table. “Who was on the phone?” Connor keeps his voice low and quiet.
“Kris.” I grip his wrist. “They changed the working title of the series to the official title, it’s calledWhy Choose.”
Connor raises an eyebrow. “Oh, aye?”
“Yep. Produced by Kris Blakely and Veronica Miller.” I grin.
He hugs me tightly. “Congratulations, my love. When does it air?”
“Drops on Valentine’s Day.”
Mia startles us by yelling, “Uncle Connor. Aunt Ronni. It’s not polite to whisper.”
“Aye, wee Mia.” Connor turns to her. “You’re undeniably dead-on. Should I share Aunt Ronni’s news with the group?”
“Yes.” She crinkles her nose just like her mom. Fee rolls her eyes and tucks her daughter’s hair behind her ear.
Zane laughs. Slings an arm around Ty. “Do share, miss television star.”
“Okay.” I stand and address the table. “If you all want to see my husband, your esteemed bass player, make his television debut as a shirtless hunk, we all have a date on Valentine’s Day. That’s when the series I produced drops. It’s getting such a great buzz, Netflix ordered seasons two and three.”
