I walked into his dorm room and saw Dani, but I won’t again. I refuse to let my insecurities ruin what we have.
“Yes, please, yes. I want to do this with you. I do. I love you so much, and I let those thoughts get in my head and mess with me.” A long breath slips through my lips. “But just hearing you say everything out loud, it means something. It makes me feel like flying…” I shake my head, overcome with emotion.
“You’re mine for as long as you want me, Charm.” He kisses me, soft and slow, and I melt into his arms.
We’re still holding each other when Mattie pops his head out the door. “Ma says you two have to come in now so the neighbors don’t talk. She wants to get to know Blaze. She’s demanding a game of Monopoly. Sorry, sis.”
I laugh. “We’ll be up all night.” I look at Blaze. “These games get pretty heated, underhanded deals and such.”
“Sounds fun,” he says, easing away from me and taking my hand, lacing our fingers together. “Any pointers on how to do this?” he whispers in my ear as we walk into the den and every eye in the place turns toward us.
“Nope. Sorry. It’s every man for himself here.” I grin.
Pop and Ma are setting up the game. She looks at my face and dips her head to hide a little smile. Pop is still wary, his gaze taking in our clasped hands, but he smiles. Joey P is noticeably absent, and I figure Ma slipped him out the back.
“So the guest gets first pick on their playing piece. Blaze, which one?” Ma says.
“Don’t pick the battleship. She wants it,” I say in his ear.
“The battleship, Mrs. Rossi. It’s the strongest piece.”
Amazement flashes in her face and she claps her hands, giving him an approving look. “I like you already!” She pats the seat next to her. “Here, come sit by me. We can talk while we play. I want to hear about this Combine thing. Such a strange world, football is. You may have to explain a lot to me. I have to warn you, I ask a lot of questions.”
“My pleasure.” Blaze gives them all that megawatt smile and they all freaking blink then slowly recover.
Paulie and Mattie have their mouths open, and I start laughing. I’m not sure if I’m laughing because they got a tingle when he smiled or at the fact that he’s taken Ma’s favorite Monopoly piece.
Blaze takes the seat, his face growing serious, ready. I see a hint of excitement there too, the eager anticipation of a boy who never belonged.
She puts her hand on his shoulder. “Now…how do you feel about converting to Catholicism?”
I put my hand to my mouth.
This is who they are, my eyes tell him. Are you ready?
He looks right at me. Love. So much wonderful love there. I see it so clear and plain and open.
He smiles at me. I’ll take them. I’ll take you. Forever, his eyes tell me back.
Epilogue
“Nice sunset,” Mattie says as we stand on the beach. “Hawaii, man—beautiful freaking place. I could get used to this. I say we come back for Christmas. Blaze loves Christmas, and he’ll pay for it since he’s got big money now. Hey, remember last year when I got him that Buddy the Elf shirt? I thought the dude was gonna cry.”
“Standing right here,” I murmur. “And there was something in my eye.”
“Gorgeous place,” Paulie agrees. “Christmas with the Rossis—never a dull moment, right, Blaze?”
“Those matching sweaters Ma made us all wear—now that, that was cool,” I toss in. “But I think the picture ornaments of us on the tree are my favorite, especially that one of you, Mattie, naked as a jaybird.”
Mattie groans. “I was five, okay! Five. Now you’re just trying to piss me off. I hate those pictures.”
I laugh.
“The snorkeling we did yesterday was perfection. I’d come back just for that,” Ryker says, jostling to get in next to me.
“Why isn’t anyone talking about how good I look in this suit?” Dillon chimes in, finding his place in line.
I just shake my head at him. Cocky bastard.
Decked out in a cream tailored suit, I dip my head and take in the way the sand feels beneath me. Seagulls call from over our heads. Palm trees wave around us.
I’m far, far from my roots in Mississippi.
I’m here, waiting for her, my heart bursting.
The guys keep murmuring softly next to me, but I tune