34. Chapter 34
Chapter 34
If you don't like where you are, move. You’re not a tree.
December 23 rd
Magnolia slid her arm around Ezra, oh so gently, as she stood next to him around the bonfire in her backyard.
The party was in full swing, with people congregating around the finger foods and cocktails in the kitchen, some in her living room singing Christmas karaoke, and Ezra and most of his friends out by the bonfire talking, drinking and laughing.
This was probably the biggest Christmas Eve party she’d thrown and was definitely her favorite, since Ezra was here.
“How are you feeling?” she murmured, leaning up to kiss him.
“Perfect.” His voice was pitched low as he brushed his lips over her mouth, then the top of her head.
“Liar.”
“I’ve got a couple more hours in me.”
“Well don’t overdo it. As soon as you’re ready, I’ll grab some ice and you can sit.”
“I’m lucky to have you.” The deep timbre of his voice rolled over her as he leaned in even closer.
“You definitely are.” That was from Tiago, who had his arm around his fiancée, Fleur, an artist Magnolia was a fan of. And now friends with.
“So what are you doing with that condo anyway?” Mari, who’d quickly become friends with all of Ezra’s crew, asked. “Because I know someone in the market.”
“I think I’m going to keep it,” Ezra said. “Rent it out or maybe Lucas can use it when he goes to college.”
Magnolia blinked in surprise. She hadn’t even realized he’d thought about those things. “Really?”
“Absolutely.”
She wanted to kiss him senseless now, but simply smiled up at him and wished they were all alone and he was completely healed. Because she wanted to do all sorts of things to him right now that involved them being naked. And from the heated look in his whiskey gaze, he was thinking the same thing. They’d recently found out that she’d had the wrong address years ago when she’d sent him those letters and it had settled something in her knowing for sure what had happened. And in him too, she thought. Life had seen fit to tear them apart before, but never again.
“Oh god, you two, get a room.” This was from Bradford, a man who’d flown in to celebrate Christmas with all of them. He was currently staying at Magnolia’s house and she found she really liked him.
“Shut it,” Ezra growled, then winced slightly. It was so subtle she wasn’t sure anyone else saw it, but she realized he needed to sit.
“We’re going to head inside and mingle, but I expect all of you to go one round of Christmas karaoke. The winner gets the big prize.”
“Come on, we’ll do a duet and destroy everyone.” Mari winked at Magnolia as she linked arms with Berlin and dragged her inside against her protests.
Magnolia was so happy that Mari had found a friend in Berlin, that she’d seamlessly integrated into Ezra’s found family. She wasn’t sure if he even realized it, but he had a family with them. Knowing that he hadn’t been alone while she’d had Lucas eased the ache when she thought about all the time they’d missed together.
In the kitchen she found Lucas and Emma with all the other young people clustered around the dessert table as they piled food onto their plates. Lucas was proudly wearing the silly birthday crown Emma had made for him, even a day after his birthday—her kid really was in love.
Emma was currently living with Camila and finishing out her high school year. After that, who knew what would happen, but her life was stable, she had a safe place to lay her head at night, and lived with a guardian who adored her. And Camila had made it clear that Emma didn’t have to move out the moment she turned eighteen, that she could stay as long as she wanted. That was all Magnolia could hope for.
She bypassed the living room and pulled Ezra into her small home office/study and shut the door, immediately shutting out fifty percent of the noise.
“What’s up?” he murmured, pulling her into a loose hold.
She didn’t squeeze him, ever mindful of his healing injury, but she gently laid her face against his chest. “Just wanted a moment with you.” Then she looked up at him as she found the courage to ask what she’d been wanting to. “So if you’re not going to be using your condo…”
“I was hoping I could move in here.” He looked nervous as he said the words.
“You basically already have.” She’d talked about it with Lucas and asked if he was okay with it, and her son had looked surprised she’d even asked. He already loved Ezra and liked having him around.
“While I’ve been healing.”
“Well I’d planned to simply move you in completely and hope that you stayed,” she said, only partially joking. Things were still new, yet not between them. They had so much history, and she tried to tell herself to slow down but the wild part of her didn’t want to. The part of her that had missed so many years with him wanted to dive in head—or heart—first and just go for everything she’d always wanted.
“Good, because I wasn’t planning on moving out,” he murmured as he took her left hand in his—and slid a diamond ring on her ring finger. “Also, I was hoping to wait a couple months but clearly I have no self-control where you’re concerned. Marry me?”
“Yes,” she whispered, looking at the ring in awe, then back up at him, her heart so full her entire chest ached with the pressure of it. Almost losing him, after just getting him back, had made her terrified that this was all a dream.
“Soon?” he continued as he peppered kisses along her jaw, slowly working his hand under her bright red sweater.
She moaned slightly as he pushed her bra out of the way, then his other found its way up under her long skirt. “We can’t do anything right now.” She was too worried about him hurting himself even as he began teasing his fingers between her legs.
“I just want to get you off…and you still haven’t answered me.” His voice was ragged as he palmed her breast while simultaneously sliding his finger over her clit.
“Yes, as soon as you want,” she rasped out as he gently pinched her already hardening nipple. She’d agree to anything at this point. She’d been so careful with him the last week-plus, not wanting to hurt him.
“One month. Maybe two,” he growled against her mouth. “You’re going to be my wife.”
“Yes, yes.” She’d agree to anything as he began rubbing her clit in a tight little pattern.
And as he slid a finger inside her, she was grateful she had incredible insulation in her office as he gave her an early Christmas present. One that almost rivaled his other present that would link them together in every way.