Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
ADDISON
I wouldn’t put it past Mabel to have sent out a homing beacon with our exact location, just to get a crowd gathered.
She had to have, considering how quickly the rest of my brothers arrived.
Aiden made his way over first in search of Avery.
Then Brady strolled up, decked out in his sheriff uniform with Luna by his side, his gaze scanning the scene for trouble.
Ford and Beck were next with Quinn and Everly on their arms.
I’d been vaguely aware of the growing crowd, but I hadn’t been able to pay them much attention.
Not when my focus had been entirely on Chase and Levi and their heated discussion.
They were far enough away that I couldn’t hear what was said, but I could read body language like a fucking boss.
And theirs, thankfully, had shifted from the pissed-off vibes they’d both been sporting when I’d shoved them that way in the first place into something more subdued. Acceptance, maybe? One could hope…
Avery was at my side, talking a mile a minute in an obvious attempt to distract me from what was going on a few yards away. But it hadn’t helped. I couldn’t even recall what she’d said, too focused on the two men as they talked it out before finally standing and turning in our direction.
I didn’t know what it was in that moment.
If it was the way Chase’s gaze found me as soon as he’d turned around, as if we were connected even that far apart.
Or if it was the look in his eyes, something that looked an awful lot like love shining through.
Or if it was because I had all my favorite people surrounding me, the ones who’d been with me through it all.
But I had the sudden and overwhelming urge to let the entire world know Chase was mine and I was his and we were in this—whatever it was—together. Forever, if I had my way.
For so long, I’d called the shots in our relationship just so I didn’t have to be vulnerable.
Had held him at arm’s length to keep myself safe.
To keep my heart from getting broken by him again.
And look where that had gotten me. Trapped in a web of misunderstandings and regrets where neither of us was happy.
And I didn’t want to be stuck there anymore.
With my gaze locked on Chase as he strolled toward me, I cleared my throat and spoke loud enough so all those gathered around could hear me. “I have something to tell everyone.”
“Oh, this is gonna be good,” Mabel murmured, turning her phone to me. Then, quieter, she said, “To all of you just tuning in to my Live, I’m here at the winter festival, and sparks are flying. We’ve got—”
I tuned out the rest of what she was saying as I met the gazes of my brothers and their significant others, all of them staring at me with interest.
“What’s up, little D?” Ford asked, brows raised.
I swallowed down my nerves, steeling myself to finally, finally get this out in the open. Stop bending over backward and doing everything I could just to keep Chase and me a secret. I was done. I wanted everyone to know he was mine.
I took a deep breath and, on an exhale, said, “Chase and I are together.”
Chase’s footsteps stuttered on his way over to me, his brows flying up as he studied me. And then the most beautiful smile swept across his face, and I couldn’t help but return it, my heart so full it felt like it could burst.
“I thought she was gonna tell us something we didn’t know, but okay,” Ford mumbled.
I snapped my head in his direction and pinned him with a glare. “You knew nothing, you lying liar!”
Aiden cleared his throat. “Actually, we all knew.”
My mouth dropped open as I glanced at each of them in turn. “No, you did not!”
“Well, everyone but Levi, apparently,” Beck said. “How he missed that when you were sneaking off with his best friend—not at all covertly, by the way—I’ll never know…”
“Fuck off,” Levi said, but his words lacked heat.
I glanced to Brady, my last hope, but he only shrugged.
“I’m the sheriff, Addison. Don’t tell me you thought I didn’t know.”
“That’s exactly what I thought!”
Brady shook his head. “If you wanted it to be a secret so bad, maybe don’t make out on the ice where anyone can see you. Hell, even Mabel knew. She’s been calling it the Zam-bone-her shack for days.”
“It’s got a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” The older woman shot me a grin and winked.
Chase snorted a laugh, and any other time, I might’ve found this amusing, but these fuckers were always stealing my thunder. Figuring out shit like some kind of professional sleuthers. Well, not today.
“Oh yeah? Well, did you know I love him?” I asked, glancing around at each of them. “That’s right. I’m in love with him. What do you have to say about—”
My words cut off as Chase suddenly stood in front of me, his imposing form blocking out everyone else. He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing softly against my cheeks as he swept his gaze over every inch of my face, hope and disbelief shining in his eyes.
And then, before I could say another word…
before I could apologize for blurting that out in front of the whole damn town instead of telling him alone, he lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me.
Right there, in a parking lot on a cold early March night, surrounded by my entire family and half of Starlight Cove.
But it wouldn’t have mattered if the whole world had been watching. Because just like always, when Chase’s lips touched my own, everything else melted away. Nothing else mattered when I was in his arms, safe and protected. Cherished.
I wished I’d realized that sooner. Wished we hadn’t wasted so many years trying to find our way to each other. Though, maybe this was exactly how our story needed to unfold. Maybe we’d needed that time living separate lives so we knew just how precious it was to be together.
After several long moments, when I was breathless, he finally pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. Then, just loud enough for my ears only, he whispered, “I love you, too, firefly.”