Page 132 of One Good Puck
I walk over to the two of them.
Emma looks up at me. “Mom, I ate two sandwiches with veggies in them.”
“And some carrots,” Gavin says. “And she tried olives for the first time too.”
“Gavin said that black olives taste better than the green ones I tried, and he was right,” Emma says. “They were way, way better.”
“I’m so proud of you for trying something new. And eating so many veggies,” I say.
“Can I have a cookie and a cake pop now?” she asks.
“Sure, honey.”
She walks over to the dessert table. Liam and Layla run up to her, and together three of them grab some sweet treats.
I look at Gavin, overwhelmed by everything I’m feeling for him in this moment. How doting and protective and romantic he is with me. How caring and kind he is with Emma.
After the way things ended with my ex and a handful of dead-end dates, I lost faith in ever finding someone.
But I did. I found the most amazing man.
Emotion bubbles up in my chest. That’s when I realize I’ve never felt like this about anyone before. This all-encompassing intensity. This aching joy whenever I’m around them.
Love.
The word burrows in the deepest part of my chest, next to my heart.
Could I really be in love with Gavin? We’ve only been together for a few months. We’ve only been official for a week.
I’ve been in love before. I was in love with Emma’s dad—at least I thought I was in love with him.
It never, ever felt likethis.
I push aside the thought and tell myself that I’m being silly. No way can I love Gavin. It’s too soon.
But saying that to myself feels wrong. And as I get dragged away for photos with the girls, then pulled into a million conversations, for the rest of the engagement party, I can’t help but think about why that is.
Chapter 51
Abby
Emma holds my hand, skipping as we make our way through the Christmas tree farm.
Gavin smiles down at her. “Someone’s excited.”
“So excited! We get to pick out a Christmas tree!” Emma says.
We’re at Jingle Bell Christmas Tree Farm just outside of Denver. It’s a perfect early December day: powdery snow on the ground from last night’s light snowfall and the sun peaking through the fluffy clouds in the sky. It’s below freezing, but instead of feeling frigid, it feels crisp and cozy because of the sunshine.
We pass by the small hot chocolate stand on our way to check out the trees.
“How about some hot chocolate?” Gavin asks Emma.
She nods, and we stop and get a cup for her and a cup for Gavin and me to share.
“Thanks, Gavin,” Emma says before eating all the whipped cream from her cup.
He hands me our cup of cocoa, then grabs the tree cartand handsaw that the farm employee gave us to cut down our tree.
