Chapter 20
Gia
Idodge travelers left and right, trying to get to the bathroom as quickly as possible. The flight from Atlanta was annoyingly long, and I’ve had to pee for the last hour. As ridiculous as it might be, I refuse to use the airplane bathrooms. They seriously gross me out.
Thankfully, the gods are with me, and I’m able to go straight into the one in the airport without having to wait in line.
Once I’m back out in the terminal, I make my way toward baggage claim to wait on my two massive suitcases that sadly contain almost everything I own.
Talk about an existential crisis.
As Ginny helped me sort through my stuff, it hit me hard that I had very little to my name.
I’ve lived in my house in Sonoma for eight years, and I was able to fit almost everything I cared about into two—admittedly large—suitcases.
It was the proof I needed to start finding the place I want to call my home.
I have no idea if Pine Creek Falls is that place, but my gut is telling me it’s where I need to start.
I called Gwen after Ginny and I had our talk to see if she was still interested in a roommate. She squealed and then said, “Hell, yeah.” We worked out the details, and I insisted on signing a six-month contract. Gwen didn’t think it was necessary, but I wanted to protect us both, just in case.
Now I’m in their dinky little airport, and I’m terrified to make the call I’ve been avoiding since I decided to come back.
This could go any number of ways, and I have no idea what I’ll do if my worst-case scenario—Holt tells me to go fuck myself—comes true.
On one hand, I’m not solely moving to Pine Creek Falls for him.
I genuinely connected with the town and the people who live there.
On the other hand, the town is tiny, and it’s gonna be awkward as fuck having to see Holt regularly if he turns down my proposal.
Okay, Gia. Woman up and make the call.
With a deep breath, I press Holt’s name. It rings several times, and I think it’s going to kick me to voicemail when his deep voice comes through the speaker.
“Rainbow?”
God, that nickname. I should hate it. I don’t do cutesy stuff, but for some reason, it hits me square in the vagina when he says it. “Hi, Cowboy.”
“You okay?”
“I’m good. Really good, actually.” And I suddenly realize it’s true. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.
“That’s…good. I’m glad.” Despondency is clear in his voice. Oh fuck, he thinks I’m good because I’m in Sonoma.
“Yeah, see, I made a pretty crazy decision, and I was wondering if you might hear out my proposal.”
“Your proposal?”
“The thing is, after I went back to Sonoma, I was really fucking sad. Like, depression-level sad, and I knew there was only one way to make myself feel better, but I was being stubborn. I’m sure that’s not a surprise to you.”
Holt scoffs. “You, stubborn? I’d never have guessed.”
I blow a raspberry, making him laugh. “Anyway, my sister finally knocked some sense into me, and I packed up my shit and…I came back. To Pine Creek Falls. To…you. If you’ll have me?
I don’t mean, like, forever. Or…well, maybe, if that’s what happens, I guess, but I just want to give this a chance.
If you want to too. Gwen offered to let me rent a room from her so you don’t have to worry about me moving all my shit into your house or anything, but—”
“Sweetheart, take a breath.”
I suck in air like I’m dying.
“Now let it out.”
Exhaling, my shoulders relax from where they’d crept up to my ears.
“Good girl. Where are you right now?”
“At the airport. We just landed, and I’m waiting for my suitcases.”
“Okay, we’ll be there in half an hour.”
“What?”
“The girls and I are going to come get you. Don’t go anywhere.”
“I won’t.”
“G!” The little yell has me searching through the crowd. A flight just landed, and people are crowding around the baggage claim area.
“Leah, wait!” Holt shouts behind her.
Then a little body is slamming into mine, and I fall over at the impact. “Oof.”
Leah’s giggles have me laughing with her as we lie on the ground in a tangle of limbs.
I hug her to my chest. “I missed you, little monkey.”
“We missed you loads. Are you back for good?”
“Yeah, I think I am.”
“Daddy!” Leah scrambles off my chest, elbowing me in the boob in the process.
“Ouch.”
Holt comes striding up to me in the next second and holds his hand out to pull me up. Lauren steps in to hug me tight, and I squeeze her back.
“G said she’s staying for good!” Leah announces, her hand clasped in mine as she jumps up and down.
Holt’s bright blue eyes pin me in place. He’s got dark circles under his eyes, but he looks just as good as he always does. “Is that so?”
I shrug. “Yeah. Pine Creek Falls seems to have gotten its hooks into me.”
“Good.” He grips me by my chin and kisses the hell out of me. It’s the first time he’s ever been affectionate with me in front of the girls. I don’t take the gesture lightly. This means something major, and I have to be ready to take on all three of them.
It’s something I’ve been thinking about since I left Pine Creek Falls a week ago.
Kids were never in my long-term plan, but then again, I’d never imagined getting married either.
Holt and I will need to talk about it. I’m not sure if I want to get married, and I have no idea if he does.
He’s already done it once; he may not want to go through it again.
I know without a doubt I don’t want to have kids of my own.
That’s not going to change at any point in my lifetime. But does Holt want more?
We’ve got a lot to discuss, but now that I’m back, we’ll finally have the time to talk about it.
“Come on, girls, let’s get Gia loaded up in the truck.”
“Are you going to stay with us?”
“Just for tonight,” Holt says before I can answer. “She’s going to live with Gwen for a little while.”
“Aw, man,” Leah groans.
“I promise to have lots of sleepovers at your house. Okay?” I say it to Leah, but Holt catches my gaze. The heated look in his eyes sends my body into overdrive, and I’m suddenly dying to get to his house.
The four of us walk out to Holt’s truck, the girls talking a mile a minute as they catch me up on all the things they’ve been up to since I left.
Holt holds my hand while we each push a suitcase. It’s domestic and strangely comfortable. It feels right, as if we were always meant to be here.
I’m not big into fate. I believe that we’re all responsible for our choices, but every now and then, the universe puts people in your path who will change your life.
I have a feeling Holt and his girls are about to turn my world completely upside down.
I am so ready for it.