Page 67 of Second Down Scrooge

“Did you just saycookie?” I ask.

“Cookie!” Mia says again.

“Oh my gosh, she saidcookie!” I squeal, and Austin picks her up and twirls her around.

“I think she deserves a cookie since she asked for one,” he says, and he carries her out toward the counter so she can pick one out.

“So the holidays are over now. Are you ready to move in with him?” Ava asks, nodding toward his retreating figure.

“I’m ready. And I need to talk to you about something else.”

“Uh oh. This looks serious.” She perches on the edge of her desk. “What’s going on?”

“Um…I’m not sure how to say this.” I stand in place and fidget with my ring, twisting it around for a few beats before I glance up and find her watching me carefully.

“Are you leaving me?” she asks. “Because I can take it if you are. I knew this wouldn’t last forever.”

“No! No. Except…” I trail off. “Yes. Kind of. Not permanently. I don’t know.”

“Spit it out, Kaplan,” she demands.

I clear my throat. “I need to cut back hours. Significantly. I’m going to start a wreath business, but I don’t want to give up what we have here, so I can still help out with scheduling and things. Whatever the most important tasks are that you need me to handle, I’m here. But I also understand if you need to hire someone else full-time.”

Her jaw drops a little as I babble. “Wait a minute, wait a minute. You’re starting a wreath business?”

“Kaplan’s Crafts. Actually, Austin gifted me the business license and some other stuff for Christmas.”

“Holy smokes, Kel. An engagement ring and a business? How’s he ever going to top this one?”

I lift a shoulder and make a face. “I’m not sure. A monthlong trip to Hawaii, maybe?”

She laughs, and she jumps down from her desk and gives me another hug. “I’m so happy for you, and honestly, you can work as much or as little as you want. I love, love,loveworking with you, but I’m excited to see what you can do with your wreaths. I always knew you were destined for greater things than sitting in an office.”

I set my hands on her upper arms. “But you gave me the job that allowed me to work the entire first year of my daughter’s life with her right by my side, and I will never be able to thank you enough for that.”

“Oh! Wait! What if I gave you a rack or two in the café to sell stuff from while you get things up and running?” she suggests.

“I couldn’t ask you to do that,” I say, shaking my head.

“Why not? You’re already selling stuff out of my bakery anyway. May as well give you some prime real estate. And make some Vegas Aces wreaths. Dude, people would gonutsfor those.” She raises her brows. “My mom had a different wreath on our front door every holiday when I was growing up. They don’t have to be limited to just Christmas, you know. Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day…hell, Flag Day,ooh,Talk Like a Pirate Day—they all need wreaths.”

“Talk Like a Pirate Day?” I repeat, narrowing my eyes at her.

“What? It’s totally a thing. Ask Grayson. And ask him what he did to me on that day last year.” She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively, and I don’t doubt he dressed up like a pirate and saved the damsel in distress with his…peg leg.

Austin walks back into the office, and he’s holding Mia, who’s eating a cookie with green and red frosting on it. He clearly took a bite since he has a little bit of green frosting on the side of his mouth, and he also has some red garland around his neck that Mia is playing with as she eats her cookie.

I stare at these two loves of my life as this wave of pure happiness washes over me. Two months ago, back when Austinwas being a scrooge since he felt like he was second best in every aspect of his life, I never would’ve seen us here. Our journey has been filled with bad timing and tough choices, but my second down Scrooge and I are finally on the same page, and I can’t wait to build our future together.

Epilogue: Austin Graham

Did Cupid Throw Up in Here

Two Weeks Later

I stare at the mess on the kitchen table, and I can’t help but laugh. “Did Cupid throw up in here?”

Kelly glances up at me as she loops some red meshy shit back and forth on a wire frame. “Sorry. I promise I’ll clean this up before we get Mia.”

---