Epilogue
My eyes popped open as Chardonnay’s warm body pulled away from me. The heat of the fire was officially gone. The lights of the Christmas tree—a battle Chardonnay won but only because I let her—fought with the morning sunrays filtering in through the blinds.
“Where are you going?” I asked, kissing her bare shoulder as I pulled her back to me.
“To go pop an Ibuprofen. Sleeping on the floor in front of the fireplace beneath the lights of the Christmas tree sounds great in theory, but my back is killing me.”
I laughed, burying my face into her neck, not letting her get up. “Couldn’t have to do with all those new positions we tried, could it?” Her vampire sex books were proving to be a great guide to mixing things up. I, for one, was eager every time she started a new one.
She squirmed in my hold. “Possibly. Either way, it is Christmas Eve, and I have a very long to-do list to get through before tomorrow.”
“Want help?”
She stopped trying to get away from me, and turned to me, eyes wide with shock. “You hate Christmas.”
“But you don’t.”
“I don’t want to force you to do something you don’t want to.”
“Coming from the woman who forced me to cut down a perfectly good tree and bring it in the house then smother it in lights and ridiculous ornaments.”
“The ornaments aren’t ridiculous.”
“Char, there is a glass pickle hanging on that tree and a mini flannel shirt on a hanger.”
“They reminded me of you.”
My eyebrow arched. “A pickle, Char?”
“It’s a tradition. A German tradition. You’ve gone so long without celebrating Christmas, I just wanted you to be able to take part.”
“So that’s why you forced me to go ice skating, get hot chocolate at the light display in River Birch Park, and go to the tree lighting at Town Hall?”
She nodded. “Exactly. And I don’t remember you complaining about any of them. In fact, I would wager to say you enjoyed yourself.”
I grabbed her by the waist and plopped her onto my lap. “That’s because I was with you. Kind of hard not to when you’re around.” I dipped my head, taking her nipple between my teeth. A moan broke the silence of the morning, but then she slapped her hands on my chest and pushed away.
“I don’t have time.”
“Why? Because it’s not on your to-do list? Newsflash, doing you is always on my to-do list.”
“Brady!” Her voice pitched as I squeezed her other breast. “Fine, but carry me to the shower. Might as well kill two birds with one stone.”
“My pleasure.” I pushed up from the floor, taking her with me. A little squeak came from her throat as she tightened her hold on my neck.
“No crazy positions,” she said. “Remember my back.”
I massaged her lower back, moving my hand until I had a handful of her ass, kneading the firm flesh.
“Don’t worry,” I said against her lips. “I’ll always take care of you.”
After too many hours helping Chardonnay with her to-do list, we went back to my place. I poured us each a little whiskey, we grabbed our books, and settled in front of the fire. It was becoming a tradition, and one I hoped would last forever.
Jack lay at our feet on his back, legs moving as he probably dreamed about chasing squirrels.
“Have you decided about coming to Christmas dinner at my parents’ house tomorrow?”
She had invited me, Franc had invited me, Laurent had invited me, both Mr. and Mrs. Grasso called to invite me. It wasn’t much different than years past. They all reached out in their own way and respected when I politely declined. This time, I couldn’t bring myself to outright say no. Instead, I gave them an I’ll think about it.
“I don’t want Ron to be alone. I mean he has Beau, but Beau is his nurse not his family.” The fact I was even able to say that showed me how much had changed over the last month. Beau was a godsend who had dealt with dementia patients many times, starting at eighteen when the grandmother who raised him was ravished by the disease. He was thirty-six now and dedicated his life to helping others. He had moved into my old bedroom, and didn’t even ask for extra money. He said the amount I was saving him on room and board more than made up for the costs Ron’s healthcare didn’t cover.
Now Ron never missed taking his pills and always had someone with him. He had a routine, and while he still had days where his memory was shit, he had good days, too. I didn’t know if one morning he would wake up and the disease would overpower him, so while I could, I wanted to have at least one Christmas together.
“Bring him. Beau, too.”
“I’m not imposing on your family like that.”
“Are you kidding me? It’s an open-door policy on Christmas. Everyone and their brother stops by at some point throughout the day. Besides, Mom and Dad would be ecstatic if you came.”
“I don’t know. I’ll see.” I didn’t want to disappoint Chardonnay, but I also didn’t know if I was ready to fully immerse myself into the holidays. I’d spent so many years doing everything in my power to avoid them.
Then I glanced over at the tree glowing with one too many strings of lights. The pickle reflected the reds, blues, and yellow glows. Maybe I was past that point.
And maybe I was just scared of bridging the past and the future. I wasn’t sure and until I was, I didn’t want to ruin our first Christmas Eve together.
I plucked Chardonnay’s Kindle from her hand. “What are we reading tonight?”
“This one is called The Vampire’s Holiday Wish.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. So Julian is this old mean vampire who hates Christmas.”
“Why does this sound vaguely familiar?”
She kissed my cheek. “I don’t know. You’re not old.”
“Just mean and hate Christmas.”
She shrugged. “Can’t have it all. So anyway… He’s drawn to this woman, Holly.”
“Of course her name is Holly.”
“Are you going to let me explain or not?”
“Sorry. Continue.”
“She’s a baker.”
I held back my retort and let her go on.
“And a long, forgotten enemy of his resurfaces, threatening the town's Christmas festival and Holly!” Chardonnay never sounded excited, always structured and sticking to facts, but as she told me about this vampire Christmas book, excitement radiated in her tone.
She bit her lip. “Sound stupid?” she asked, looking adorably bashful.
“Is there hot sex in it?”
She nodded.
“Then let’s get started.” I powered up the Kindle. She cuddled into my chest, and I wrapped the blanket around us, then handed her a glass that she had claimed as hers and filled it with a two-finger pour of whiskey. The fire flickered, the lights glowed and my days of reading A Christmas Carol to avoid becoming Scrooge were behind me. I didn’t need a story to remind me, not when I had Chardonnay.
***
Ron, Beau, and I stood on the Grasso’s front porch. I held two bottles of whiskey, not wanting to come empty-handed but wondering if I should have brought something else. My own whiskey shows I couldn’t even be bothered to go to the store.
“Are you going to knock? I’m freezing my nuts off,” Ron said, and Beau laughed.
“I’ve seen your nuts. There isn’t much to freeze,” Beau said, breaking the tension.
Ron glared at him, then shoved his hands into the pockets of his winter coat. “Real funny. Now someone knock.”
“You want me to?” Beau said, glancing over at me. “The knock will be the hardest part. Promise.”
With his words, I knocked.
Beau shot a smirk at Ron. “See, patience, my friend. Good things come to those who wait.”
Ron bounced on his feet. “Frostbite isn’t one of them.”
Once upon a time, the easy nature of Beau and Ron’s relationship would have infuriated me. Made me jealous and question why I couldn’t have the same thing as them, but not anymore. I was just happy we found someone who could put up with Ron’s shit and was bringing him out of his shell little by little.
The man I had come to know over the past month wasn’t the man I once knew. He was witty and considerate. He laughed and smiled. Even cried at commercials, especially the ones with the Sarah McLachlan song.
My biggest fear had come true. I liked him. And if it wasn’t for Char, I wasn’t sure I ever would have gotten here.
The door opened, and Wyatt’s eyes widened. His mouth dropped into an O, and he pointed at me like I was an alien coming to take him to his home planet. He stuttered a few words before turning and staring at whoever might pass by.
“Merry Christmas, Wy.” I patted him on the shoulder and stepped into the one home I always felt welcomed in.
Wyatt made a few more noises behind me, but it was soon engulfed by all the noise coming from the kitchen. Laughing, loud conversation, each Grasso trying to talk over the other. Gio’s little voice was stronger than the rest. I stepped into the kitchen, and everything came to a screeching halt. The saying you could hear a pin drop had never rung more true.
My eyes immediately locked on Chardonnay. Her nose crinkled, and her lips pressed into a huge smile as tears glistened in her eyes. “You made it.”
“Figured I kept you all waiting long enough,” I said.
“How nice of you not to make us wait another thirty-plus years,” Nero said, and Lainey smacked him in the chest. “Ow! He knows I’m joking.”
Franc wrapped his arms around me and bear hugged me, lifting me off the ground. “Merry Christmas, brother.”
“Merry Christmas,” I said with a laugh.
Gio bounced in front of me. “Uncle Brady, Santa bought me a new fishing pole. Are you going to bring me fishing?”
I rustled his hair, and he swatted at my hand. “Whenever you want, bud.”
“Sweet! Did you know fishing has been around for forty thousand years? That’s as old as you.”
Laughs burst from around the room, and though I didn’t think it was possible, I loved that kid even more.
I realized then I hadn’t introduced Ron, though he knew Mr. and Mrs. Grasso. But that was the old him, and this man wasn’t him.
I rested my hand on his shoulder and glanced around the room that was filled with so much love. “This is my dad, Ron.”
Chardonnay’s tears finally spilled over. Ron stuttered beside me, and Beau squeezed his arm. “And this is his caretaker, Beau.”
The noise picked up as the introductions continued, conversations flowed, and I was met with hug after hug as I tried to make my way to Chardonnay.
Finally, after a hug with Phoebe, I reached my girl.
“Hey,” I said as I took in her dark green pantsuit that curved to her body like a second skin.
“You made it,” she said again.
I nodded. “I realized something today.”
“What’s that?”
“Wherever you are is where I want to be.”
“Together,” she said.
“Always.”
I captured her lips, feeling like it had been an eternity when it had only been hours. She pulled back, lifting on her toes, her lips a mere breath away from my ear. “I’m wearing the red La Perla set you bought me.”
My dick hardened, and I shifted awkwardly.
“Festive,” I croaked.
“I thought so.” She patted my chest, and I rested my hand against hers.
“Maybe we can sneak off later. Start a new tradition. Holly and Julian managed some pretty creative positions in that closet.”
“We’re not having sex in my parents’ coat closet.”
“Come on, Char. You already had sex with me in the tasting room, my garage, my truck, your kitchen…”
Her finger pressed against my lips. “You’re lucky I like you.”
I kissed the pad of her pointer. “No, you love me.”
“I do, and because of that, it’s a maybe on the coat closet.” She kissed me again, then took my hand and led me into the chaos that was her family. Ron and Beau had eased right into conversation, and for a second, I stood back, watching it all, remembering how it started and picturing how it would be from now on.
Visions of kids running in and out of adult’s legs, Gio finally having cousins to play with, Jack getting up there in years but still wanting to take chase. A lifetime of Christmases, Thanksgivings, birthdays, anniversaries, and anything else the Grassos found reason to celebrate.
The thought used to terrify me, make me want to retreat farther away until the dust settled and life was back to normal. Now I couldn’t wait.
I wrapped my arm around Chardonnay and pulled her tight against me. Her hand rested on my chest, and she nuzzled into my embrace.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked. “I can see it in your eyes. Something is on your mind.”
I glanced around the room, looking at Gio as he showed off his new fishing pole to Ron and Beau. Laurent and Phoebe had found a quiet spot in the corner to video call her sister. Sherry, Nero, Lainey, Rhone, and Sutton were playing quarters. Quinn and Franc were snuggled on the couch, watching Gio but sneaking loving glances at each other. Mr. and Mrs. Grasso were laughing at something Wyatt said, while Rose lovingly watched him.
“Just taking it all in.”
“Yeah?” She sunk farther into my arms like she belonged there, because she did.
“I didn’t think I was built for this.” My voice grew quiet as I scanned the room once more. “The chaos, the way your family manages to make everything bigger, louder. But now… I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
“That’s because you belong. You always have. It just took you a while to figure that out.”
I kissed her forehead, squeezing her close and vowing to never take this for granted. “I do now.”
***
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Download an extended epilogue here.
***
Thank you for reading!