Page 93 of Unwrapped

We walk back inside.

“Hey.” Shiloh hesitates.

She’s so fuckin’ pretty it hurts my eyes. “Yeah,” I reply gruffly, my throat still clogged.

She wraps her arms around me. My throat’s thick. There’s so much love and hope I’m bursting with it. “Is this too much? Me? Freddie?”

“No. It’s perfect. She’s perfect. I wish you would’ve said—told me it was her.”

I nod. Not trusting myself to speak. “You’ll come to Chicago?”

“And you both to California?”

“Nothing will keep me away.”

“Me either.”

“Come on it’s cold.” I rub her arms, leading her back inside. Everyone’s eyes lift concerned. Smith and Luce. Rog and Dev. Even Duke and Shanna are here.

I lift my hand. “I’m okay. I just hate that Roque keeps getting all our girls.”

Smith grunts. He had a close call with Luce. Roque wanted her for himself once not long ago.

“Freddie chose you over him. She told me he offered to adopt her, too.”

“That bastard. He always wants what we have.”

“Can you blame him?” Shi asks.

I look around the room filled with family. “No. No I really can’t.”

“Come on it’s couples game night. Scrabble is first.”

“Oh, we so got that, right, Dare?”

“We do.” I kiss her hard, under the mistletoe. Outside, snow starts to fall. The fire blazes and all the cats are here reunited for Christmas Day. Sally brings in a tray of sugar cookies and White Russians.

“It’s so on,” I grin, taking my lady by the hand.

“Merry Christmas, Dare.” She whispers softly by my side.

“Merry Christmas. I-I,” my thumb stroked the inside of her wrist.

“…I know, me too.”

We don’t say it yet with words but we both feel it. The love. All the love.

THE END

EPILOGUE 1

DARE

“YOU’RE BEING AN IDIOT.”

“Excuse me?”

“You know you miss her.”

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