Page 80 of Love Story

We stood there, eyes locked, and the weight of our words felt light.It was sunshine breaking through the trees, smiles shared over pancakes, walks in the snow, and the taste of maple syrup kisses.It felt like forever.

Mom pulled us both into a warm hug, her voice soft and full of joy.“Welcome to the family, Ben.”

Dad stepped forward, gripping Ben’s hand and holding it for a moment longer than necessary.His nod was steady, his words heartfelt but straightforward.“Welcome.”

“All right, boys,” Mom announced with a clap.“Let’s get this stuff inside.”

Conor and Haider laughed but didn’t argue, moving to help with the boxes while Ben and I shared a quiet moment amidst the chaos.It was good to be home.Even better now that Ben was part of it.

“You don’t have much stuff,” Mom said, her tone gentle as she glanced at the small pile of belongings Ben had brought in.

Ben sighed a soft, wistful sound.“I never wanted to stay where I lived.It was always temporary.This… this is forever.”

Mom’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes bright with emotion.She took a moment to compose herself.“Well,” she said, clearing her throat and looking around my cabin, “we’ll need to make some adjustments.Maybe extend the cabin or—” her gaze turned speculative “—it might be time for you to take over the main house, Sam.Somewhere for the grandchildren.”

“The what now?”I choked out, heat flooding my face.“Mom, don’t scare him off like that!”

But Ben only grinned, his eyes steady on mine.“Kids sound good,” he said, his voice warm and sure.

I blinked, thrown off-balance.“For real?”I asked, my voice quiet.

“For real,” Ben said, his expression full of love.

And we sealed it with a kiss, much to the loud disgust of my best friends, who started catcalling and making ridiculous noises in the background.

“Get a room!”Conor hollered, laughing.

“Preferably one soundproofed from us!”Haider added, with a dramatic groan.

Ryan shook his head, muttering something about maple sap being less sticky than we were.

Whatever.

I was in love.And this was forever.

And my forever apparently came with a man I lovedandchildren.

Sam

I WOKE UPtangled in Ben’s arms, his breath warm on my neck.For a moment, I just stayed there, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing.It was one of those perfect mornings where the world seemed to stand still long enough to make me wish it would last forever.But today wasn’t about lazy mornings.Today was Conor’s birthday, and I was heading to the bridge for our traditional walk.

“You’ll come with me?”I murmured, twisting to meet Ben’s sleepy eyes.

“I don’t want to mess up what you have going,” he said, his voice thick with sleep.

“You won’t,” I assured him, brushing a stray curl from his forehead.“They’ll want you there.You’re part of our group now.Whether you like it or not.”I grinned at him, knowing he couldn’t resist when I teased.“Besides, Haider has this wholeStar Warsthing planned.Y’know, the whole ‘May the Fourth’ thing.”

Ben groaned softly, burying his face in the pillow.“That sounds… elaborate.”

“It will be,” I said, laughing.“Haider doesn’t do anything halfway.And anyway, it’s tradition.”

Ben chuckled.“I wish I had a cool birthday nickname.”

I realized in the months we’d been together I’d never asked—what if I’d missed it?What kind of boyfriend was I that didn’t even know the most straightforward information?

“Thirty-first of October,” Ben answered to my unspoken question.“I’ll be thirty-nine.”

I looked over at him, a smile pulling at the corners of my mouth.“I think Halloween is plenty cool.”

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