Chapter 7
7
It’s been a whirlwind couple of months since the Harvest Festival. My boutique is thriving—more than I could’ve ever imagined—and my life with Jack? Well, that’s thriving too.
I’m standing in the kitchen of Jack’s house, watching him put the finishing touches on a plate of pancakes. He’s been up since the crack of dawn, which is no surprise. Hockey season officially starts in a week, and he’s been in full training mode for a while now. But today, he looks more relaxed than I’ve seen him since that day in my office.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask, leaning against the counter and taking a sip of my coffee.
Jack grins, flipping the last pancake onto a plate and sliding it toward me. “Nope. It’s a surprise.”
I narrow my eyes, pretending to be annoyed, but I can’t keep the smile off my face. “You know I hate surprises.”
“You’ll like this one,” he says, his eyes twinkling as he takes a seat beside me. “Trust me.”
I do trust him. More than I ever thought I could trust anyone. And that scares me sometimes—but in the best way possible.
After breakfast, we head out, and Jack drives us to the outskirts of town. The leaves are just starting to turn, shades of red, yellow, and orange dotting the landscape. It’s gorgeous, and I can’t help but feel a sense of peace as we wind through the mountains.
We pull up to a charming little house nestled in the hills, and I immediately recognize it from the pictures Jack has shown me. His parents’ house.
“Your family’s here?” I ask, my heart picking up speed.
Jack nods, his expression softening. “Yeah. I think it’s time you met them.”
I follow him inside, where his mom pulls me into a tight embrace, and his dad pats me on the back like I’m already part of the family. It’s overwhelming, but in the best way.
After lunch, we sit out on the porch, sipping hot cider and enjoying the crisp autumn air. Jack sits beside me, his arm draped over my shoulders, and I lean into him, feeling completely at home.
“I’ve got something for you,” he says, his voice low and teasing.
I raise an eyebrow. “Another surprise?”
He grins, pulling out a small, non-jewelry box from his jacket pocket. “Open it.”
Inside are two season tickets to every Blue Ridge Buffaloes game this year. My heart skips a beat as I look up at him, my eyes wide.
“Jack, I?—”
He cuts me off with a kiss, soft and sweet. “I want you there. Every game. And I was thinking, maybe you could design a new jersey for every game this season. Just for me.”
My breath catches in my throat as I stare at him, my heart swelling with love. “You want me to wear your jersey to every game?”
“Yeah, sweetheart,” he says, his voice low and rough. “I want you to be a part of everything. My life. My career. All of it.”
And just like that, I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
“I love you,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.
Jack smiles, pulling me close. “I love you too, Poppy.”