Page 34 of Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love

Izzy appears beside me, slipping her arm around my waist as I tug her close. I look down at her, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before saying, “We really are together.”

Merritt stands and circles the table, stopping in front of us and pulling us both close. “I need you to know I had no idea the fumigation tent was happening until it was already up,” she says. She leans back and looks right at Izzy. “I would have stopped them. You know I wouldn’t have pushed for something unless I absolutely knew your heart would be safe.” Then she looks up at me. “Her heartissafe, right?”

I nod, hoping she sees my sincerity. “It absolutely is.”

Another few minutes pass by in which we get a lot of hugs and back slaps and “you really had us going” comments, but then the room quiets as Hunter comes back, Ukulele tucked under his arm and the twins quick on his heels. He looks around, seeing us all standing, and frowns. “What did I miss?”

The sea of adults between me and Izzy and Hunter suddenly parts, and he gets a good look at me, with my arm wrapped tightly around his daughter.

My throat goes dry, and I swallow against the knot forming there. I’ve always had a good relationship with Hunter, but until right this moment, I haven’t really thought about how it will change now that Izzy and I are together.

This isn’t the time or the place. Both because the entire family is watching and because I really don’t think I can have a serious conversation in footie pajamas with a butt flap. But atsome point, I will tell Hunter how serious I am about taking care of Izzy, about loving her in all the ways she deserves.

The silence stretches as Hunter takes us in, so long that eventually, Izzy stiffens beside me.

“Daddy?” she asks.

Hunter’s gaze flicks to his daughter and finally, he smiles. He takes a few steps toward us, Ukulele crawling up to perch on his shoulder as Hunter pulls Izzy into a hug, then extends his hand to me.

I shake it firmly, feeling the strength of his grip as he says, “It’s about time.”

Maybe with Izzy and me, itwasabout time. Ortiming.About growing up. Living apart. Learning about ourselves enough that we were ready for this—ready to be together.

I can’t wait to learn Izzy in this capacity, to discover all the little things she loves, figure out what makes her tick. But I’m glad for our history too. For all our shared memories. And the shared future to come.

I’m also glad to have this big, messy, meddling family.

Davy bolts by, and I feel a breeze on my backside.

Amendment: I’m glad to have this big, messy, meddling family but could do without the matching Christmas pajamas.

ELEVEN

Izzy

I’m wokenup by someone gently shaking me. I come back to consciousness slowly. Opening my eyelids takes too much energy, and my limbs are heavy. After dinner last night, Liam and I stayed up way too late walking on the beach, talking. And also, of course, kissing. I’m also exhausted from all the peopleing. I love our family, but family dinners require some recovery time, and last night’s was particularly emotional.

“Lemme sleep,” I grumble.

“But it’s Christmas.”

“It’s too early for Christmas.”

When the shaking stops, I sigh and roll onto my side. Goody. More sleep.

But then lips brush my cheekbone and kiss a path along my jaw. Suddenly, I’m fully awake.

“Liam?” I sit up, tugging the covers up to my chest instinctively.

He’s crouched by my bed, grinning and looking like a total snack in his Christmas pajamas. “Morning, Iz.”

“What time is it? Is everyone else up?”

“No one’s up,” he says, grinning, and I almost grab a pillow to scream into.

“Then why am I up? Liam. If you know anything about me, it’s how I value sleep.”

“I know. But I wanted to give you your gift before everyone’s awake and things get nuts. I’ll give you a few minutes, but meet me on the sun porch. I’ll have your coffee waiting.”

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