Chapter 33
thirty-three
. . .
Bridger
“Are you upset that you won’t see your parents on Christmas?” I asked as I rolled her over and settled myself above her.
Emilia’s mother had texted last night to let her know that she and her father had both tested positive for flu. They thought she would be wise to stay away for a few days.
She sighed. “I mean, it definitely feels weird because it’s the first time Jacoby isn’t home for the holidays, and now my parents are sick.”
“Okay, I’m going to tell you something because I think it will cheer you up,” I said.
“Ohhhh… tell me.”
“You would have found out later, because you were coming over this afternoon, but since you’re free now and you’ve agreed to come with me to my parents’ house—there’s something big happening. I think you’ll be very happy you were there.”
It was not lost on me that I was a man who’d avoided serious relationships my entire adult life, and now I found myself frustrated when I had to be away from her for a few hours. A woman who’d just agreed to date me just a few days ago.
I was fucking crazy about this woman.
“Well, no, you’ve got to tell me what it is.”
“Rafe is doing some elaborate proposal for Lulu at the house this morning. We weren’t supposed to tell anyone, because he was worried someone would slip. My parents just found out last night because Rafe thought they’d slip.”
A high-pitched squeal escaped Emilia’s lips, and she wrapped her arms around me. “That’s amazing. She’s going to be thrilled.”
She leaned up and kissed me before leaning over the edge of the bed and dipping down to reach for something. “I have your gift hidden under here.”
“You got me a gift?” I asked, feigning surprise. I knew she had, because she was quite possibly the worst sleuth known to humanity.
“I know this is all new for us, but I got you this before we even agreed to give this whole dating thing a shot.” She held out the red-and-white-striped package that had a smaller gift on top of a larger gift, and her arms shook with excitement.
I unwrapped the smaller gift first, and I studied the box that held the compact photo printer.
“Are you going to start sending me nudes?” I asked.
Her head fell back in laughter. “It’ll make sense when you open the second gift.”
I unwrapped the next present and pulled the lid off the white box inside, where I found a black leather memory book.
My initials were monogrammed in gold on the outside.
I flipped through the pages with prompts for photos for special occasions like birthdays and holidays and vacations.
There were places to write down notes on each page as well.
“I think it’s time to start enjoying your birthday and cherishing the good times you have. You can enjoy the memories that you make, instead of being annoyed by them.” She smirked.
“Such a smartass. Thank you.” I turned the page to see a few photos she’d pasted in there from our trip to Paris. There was even a photo she’d taken on her phone of the airplane bathroom door, and she wrote a note that said, Not a bad way to end an epic trip.
“I wish we had even more photos of that memory,” I said, waggling my eyebrows at her. “All joking aside, thank you. This is very thoughtful.”
“I got it for you after our trip. You were one of the first Christmas gifts I actually purchased.”
I knew she wasn’t expecting anything from me.
“You were also the first Christmas gift that I purchased, oddly enough. Not the norm for two people who thought they’d just banged it out and were going their separate ways. I guess the writing was on the wall.”
“What did you get me, another fancy toilet?” she asked, making it clear she thought I was joking.
I reached in my nightstand drawer and pulled it out, handing her the package. It wasn’t wrapped, as it was just in a box with a bow on it.
She stared down with surprise and then untied the bow and lifted the top to the box. Her eyes widened, and a little gasp escaped her mouth. “Oh my gosh. This is stunning.”
She pulled the antique gold charm bracelet out of the box and inspected every single charm.
There was an Eiffel Tower to represent our trip to Paris, and a flower for her flower shop. I’d chosen a little house charm for her interior design business, a horse charm because she’d shared her love for riding, and an angel wing because it seemed fitting.
“We can add to it each year,” I said, because that’s what the woman at the jewelry store had told me.
Emilia’s head shot up in surprise, and her cheeks flushed pink.
I realized I’d put my foot in my mouth and gone way into the future.
Why was it so easy to go there with her?
“I really love this. Thank you.” She pushed herself up and gave me a kiss and asked me to help her clasp it around her wrist.
My phone rang, and it was Rafe, who sounded like he’d just downed fourteen Red Bulls. He said the box had arrived, and it was perfect, and I needed to get my ass over there sooner rather than later, because he was nervous.
“Got it. I’ll be there soon,” I said.
Emilia and I got dressed quickly, loaded up the gifts we’d gotten everyone, and made our way to my parents’ house.
We walked through the front door, and the chaos was well underway.
My mother took decorating for the holidays very seriously, and she always had.
There were Christmas trees in every room in the house, and holiday décor on every surface.
Music piped through the speakers, and it smelled like pine and cinnamon.
Cutler ran over to me and gave me a big hug. He tugged at my hand because he wanted me to see the gift box that Rafe would be hiding inside. Everyone had on pajamas, and they were excited about the surprise my brother had planned.
Cutler and Melody had already opened their gifts from their parents, and they both jumped up and down as they told Emilia about what they’d gotten from Santa this year.
When we came around the corner, I laughed loudly when I saw the giant box that Rafe had ordered. He was standing there talking to Emerson about how it would all go down.
“That’s quite the box, brother,” I said, impressed by how real it looked with the gift wrap and the large tag with Lulu’s name on it.
“Look back here,” he said as he took us around to the back side and showed us the little door where he’d climb in. “And the top has a latch that opens from the inside, and that’s where I’ll jump out of.”
It was over the top and goofy, but very fitting for Rafe and Lulu. I knew she’d love it.
“When is she coming?” Cutler asked, rubbing his hands together with excitement.
Rafe glanced down at his phone. “Easton just sent a text. He and Henley picked her up, and they’re on their way. He’s going to send another text when they arrive, so I’ll climb in there once they’ve pulled in the driveway.”
He’d made up some excuse to Lulu about needing to be at my parents’ house early to build something for one of the kids.
“And then we just all sit in here and wait for her to see the box?” my mother asked.
“Yes. Cutler wants to meet her at the door and bring her in, and then Melody is going to tell her that it’s got her name on it,” Rafe said, a big smile on his face because he loved this shit.
“I’m guessing she’ll move closer to look at the tag and ask who it’s from, and that’s when I’ll pop out and propose. ”
“Okay, let’s all take our seats, so it looks like we’re just sitting around, ready to open gifts,” Emerson said. “Cutler and Melody can meet them at the door, and Nash has his phone ready to go, and he’ll film the whole thing.”
Archer took his seat beside my dad on the couch, and Clark and Eloise were passing out glasses of orange juice and mimosas. Axel brought the platter of donuts and muffins out to the coffee table and set them down for everyone to munch on.
Aunt Isabelle and Uncle Carlisle, who lived next door and were Axel and Archer’s parents, were sitting on the love seat as the fireplace roared behind them.
Emilia walked up beside me. “I’m so glad I’m here for this.”
“Me too.”
Rafe’s phone vibrated, and the room quieted.
“They’re here,” he said, then tossed me his phone, which I slipped in my back pocket. I moved around the back of the box. After he’d climbed inside, I closed the door, adjusting the paper to make sure it covered the opening. Emilia and I found a seat on the couch next to Archer.
“You ready, baby?” Emerson asked Nash, who stood in the back with his phone in his hand.
“Absolutely,” he said, winking at her.
“Okay, Cutler, you take Melody to the front door and greet them. Remember, Uncle Rafe being in the box is a secret.”
Cutler reached for Melody’s hand and guided her to the door. “We got this, Mama.”
My mother rubbed her hands together before blowing out a breath and straightening her face. She was clearly feeling overwhelmed with emotion and was trying hard to act natural.
My father wrapped an arm around her, and she leaned into him.
Easton’s voice carried through the house once they were inside, and then Cutler set the stage perfectly.
“Wait till you see the biggest gift ever under the tree!” he said.
Melody was giggling, and they made their way into the room.
“Merry Christmas,” my mother said, and they set down the bags of gifts they had in their hands.
“Merry Christmas,” Henley said with a smile as she, Eloise, and Emilia shared a knowing look.
“Oh my, that is a big present. What in the world is in there?” Lulu laughed.
“Come see what it says, Lulu,” Melody squealed as she took her hand and walked her closer, pointing up at the tag.
“Oh, it’s for me?” She started to inspect the tag, and Melody hurried away, hopping up in my lap just like we’d planned.
The rest was a blur.
Rafe burst out of the top of the box with a black velvet ring box in his hand.
Hell, we’d all known he was going to do it, and it still startled the fuck out of everyone.
Lulu shrieked, and, acting on reflex, her arm flew forward as she clocked my brother in the face, and he lost his balance.
I was on my feet, shifting Melody onto Emilia’s lap, as my brothers and I all moved quickly to stop his momentum.
But it was too late.
Rafe fell out of the box and slammed into the enormous Christmas tree as it tipped into the wall behind it. Ornaments tumbled off the tree, and the sound of round balls bouncing and shattering against the wood floors filled the space around us.
“Oh my gosh, Rafael!” Lulu gasped before moving to help him up, then tripping and falling on top of him.
The tree was flipped on its side, and they were both lying in a pile of conifer branches, and everyone was staring with wide eyes.
“Is he okay?” my mother asked.
“I’m good, Mom.” Rafe’s arm shot up, though we couldn’t even see his face, as he had Lulu on top of him, and they were surrounded by greenery.
Loud laughter boomed from both of them as I leaned down and grabbed Lulu by the waist, lifting her easily and setting her down on her feet.
More ornaments fell to the ground with every movement, and Easton and Clark reached in and tugged Rafe out of the mess.
He was still clutching that ring box for dear life.
Blood trickled out of his nose, and his eye was red and slightly swollen.
Lulu clearly had a mean right hook.
Rafe swiped at his nose with the back of his hand, shaking his head as conifer needles fell from his hair.
“Rafael, are you okay?” Lulu gasped, moving closer to inspect his face. “Why did you jump out of a box?”
He dropped to his knee, ornaments still rolling all around on the floor, and he reached for her hand. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“You definitely surprised me,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Lulubelle Sonnet, you are my sun and my moon. My North Star. The woman who challenges me and makes me laugh, and occasionally causes me physical pain,” Rafe said as the room erupted in laughter.
“Sorry about that,” she said, swiping at her cheeks.
“I wouldn’t change a thing, baby. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife?”
“Yes! Of course I will,” she said. She dropped down to see the ring and lost her footing for a second time as she toppled on top of him.
Rafe fell to his back with her sprawled over him, and we all just shook our heads in disbelief.
The tree topper finally gave out and hit the ground with a bang, making everyone laugh even harder.
Rafe managed to pull the ring from the box and slide it on her finger while they were lying on the floor in a bed of Christmas tree branches.
Lulu held her arm up in the air. “I’m getting married, y’all!”
Nash walked over and sighed as he stopped filming on his phone.
“Did you get it?” Emerson chuckled.
“Yep. I sure did,” he said.
Emilia turned to look at me, eyes wide. “Well, that was something.”
“Yep. Welcome to the family, angel. There’s never a dull moment in the Chadwick home.”
And that was the fucking truth.