Page 107 of The Last Thing
Devon barks out a laugh. “I like him. And he clearly knows Hallie.” He extends his hand to me. “Devon McGregor.”
“Wilson Decker.”
We shake hands, then his eyes narrow. “I’m assuming Justin already gave you a good withering glare and the general warning not to hurt her. But just so we’re clear, Hallie’s like a little sister to all of us, so just know they’ll never find your body if you break her heart.”
“Okay, stop threatening the father of my child.”
Devon’s gaze flits to her. “That’s so weird. But I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks,” she says flatly.
“You know he’s serious,” Kennedy says.
“Kend,” Hallie hisses.
Kennedy steps up to me, leveling me with the kind of look that would make a lesser man’s balls shrivel up.
After a long moment, her eyes shift to Hallie. “I want to make sure he’s taking care of you. That he’ll stand by you.” Kennedy turns back to me. “Because I left. A lot of us have left Hallie in pursuit of finding what we need. I want to make sure you never will.”
I feel the change in Hallie’s demeanor when Kennedy says that. I know it’s something that’s been a pain point for her. She doesn’t like to talk about it, but the main reason she moved to Ida is because of how lonely she felt. I’ve heard all the words she didn’t say. All the quiet, vulnerable remarks she played off as nothing serious.
“This might sound shitty, but I’m lucky you left her because it means she ended up in my arms, and there’s nowhere else I ever want her to be. There’s no amount of money you could pay me, nothing you could say, no shiny object you could offer that would make me walk away from her. She’s the love of my life, and it’s my honor to be the one at her side, taking care of her. That’s what I intend to do until my dying day.”
My eyes stay locked on Kennedy for a moment longer, then I turn to Hallie, who is smiling with tears in her eyes.
I pull her to me and kiss her forehead. “You’re mine, Hellion.”
“And you’re mine.”
To prove it, she gives me a slow, sweet kiss.
“Okay, you’ve passed my test,” Kennedy says. “Anyone who can make Hallie melt like that—smile like that—gets my full approval.”
“Thank you,” I say, squeezing my fingers into Hallie’s side.
“Come on. The rest of the family should be here soon, and we should make sure Frannie and Mark aren’t turning Sophia into a sugar zombie,” Devon says.
He leads us out of the room, and as we walk, Hallie burrows into my side, then leans up and kisses my neck.
I don’t care what words she’s said or hasn’t said, this is all I need to know she’s mine, and we’ve got a beautiful future ahead of us.
Hallie’s familyis full of fun with a hint of chaos.
Knowing Hallie and all of her family I’d already met, that shouldn’t be a surprise, but I guess I’m used to people trying to hide that. They’re allcome-as-you-areand very warm and accepting.
Sophia has been the star guest tonight. She already decided she’s calling Hallie’s parents grandma and grandpa, and she announced to everyone that she’s having a baby sister. At this point, she’s probably willed it into being.
Hallie’s grandmother is the biggest spitfire of the group. She’s funny and sarcastic but also has a calming presence, and it’s clear she means a lot to Hallie.
We’ve just finished eating dinner around a huge makeshift table in Kennedy and Devon’s backyard, and everyone is chatting and catching up.
My arm is around Hallie, who is leaning against my shoulder while brushing her fingers up and down my arm.
“Hey, Gran,” she says during a brief lull in conversation. Her voice is a little thick, but I’m not sure why. “Will you tell us your love story with Pop?”
That explains the emotion in her voice. I’m a little surprised she wants to hear it after how his death affected her.
“Oh, I want to hear it,” Sophia says.
