The Relationship Pact(79)

I grin at her. “I love you.”

Her eyes grow wide.

“I told you in a voice message, which was probably the total wrong way to do that, but it just came out,” I say with a shrug. “And I should’ve said it on stage so you could’ve gotten your public declaration you were telling me you always wanted, but this will have to do.”

She smiles so wide that the corners of her lips touch her eyes. “I love you too.”

“Well, I love food, and I’m starving,” Boone says. “Can we grab some food and continue this little love fest elsewhere?”

“I’ll call Hillary’s House and have them deliver,” Siggy says. “Everyone, come to my house. Judy, would you like to come?”

Judy clutches her pearls. “Why, yes. I think that would be nice.”

“Fabulous.” Siggy smiles. “We’ll see you all there.” She grabs Judy’s arm gently and helps her out.

Boone slaps my back, drawing my attention away from Siggy and Judy. “Hey, man. Good work on the field and off. I’m glad Riss found a decent guy for once.”

“Well, you can stop worrying because I’m where it stops for her.”

She stills beside me. “You are?”

I look down into her eyes and know it’s true. I can fight it, but it won’t matter.

All the doors that closed up to this point were so that I would walk through this one. And I’m jumping in headfirst.

“I am.” I nuzzle my cheek against the side of her head. “We’re going to need another pact.”

“Oohh, you’re right.” She grins against my side. “What should this one include?”

“Me and you forever.”

She wraps both arms around me. “That’s a relationship pact I’ll be happy to sign.”





Epilogue #1





Hollis




The swing goes back and forth. It’s a lazy movement, completely inconsiderate of time.

Larissa lies longways with her head on my lap. I brush her hair out of her face as I keep us swaying in the breeze.

The lasagna Siggy ordered for an early dinner was amazing, and I ate more than any guy should ever eat in front of a girl’s family. It was nice to have my appetite back.

I look down at my girl. Her eyes are closed. She looks content, and I want to keep it that way.

No matter what.

“Can I ask you something?” I ask.

“Mm-hmm.”

“How did you know I was there? And how did you get everyone to go with you?”

She grins. “Well, Boone and Bellamy and I were going to go anyway. Or we were before you decided to be a jerk.”

“Fair enough.”

She opens her eyes. They’re sparkling. “I had kind of called it off because I didn’t think you wanted us there. That and I was really mad. And hurt.”

I wince.

“But Judy called Lincoln and told him she wanted to go and that he needed to get ahold of me.”

“She did?”

Larissa nods.

“Huh.”

I gaze across the lawn behind Siggy’s house at the trees dotting the landscape—giant southern oaks covered in Spanish moss that dusts the ground at some points. There are bushes with deep purple flowers along both sides of a path that leads from the porch steps and over a hill.

Judy’s actions on my behalf surprise me. I don’t know why. She’s a meddling and territorial lady, and I shouldn’t be shocked to find out she exerted her will over anything, let alone my problems.

How did I get so lucky to stumble into her little shop that day?

I look down to see Larissa watching me.

How did I get so lucky to find her?

She climbs off my lap and moseys down the steps. She shoves her hands in the pockets of her wine-colored dress and gazes down the pathway.

I get off the porch and go to her.

“Can I ask you something else?” I say.

She laughs. “Look at who’s the one full of questions now.”

“It’s paybacks.” I stand behind her and wrap my arms around her front, locking my hands at her belly button. She holds on to my hands, her succulent bracelet tickling my skin. “Why did you come today? Why did you still show up after I pushed you away?”

She stills in my arms. “Because I love you, and you needed me.”

My throat tightens as I hold this woman.

She came because I needed her. Even though I never told her.

I don’t know what to say to that.

“I’ll always be here for you. So will my family.” She lifts her chin and looks up at me. “You have so many people who love you. If you will just let us.”

Something happens inside me, a shift that I didn’t think would ever happen. It’s like a number of puzzle pieces click together. I can hear the snap as they form one picture.

“I love you,” I tell her. “I don’t know what that means. I’m not promising you I’m not going to make mistakes because, well, I’m Hollis Hudson, and I’m kind of known for that.”

She laughs.

“But I’ll love you with everything I have,” I tell her. “And I’ll never leave you alone to try to figure things out by yourself. You have me.”