CHAPTER 30 - BRYNN
You’d think after what happened that I’d hate the snow.
Never want to see it again.
But as I stand on the porch, watching Grizz and Jovie trudge back from the clubhouse through the deep white powder, I have to admit I’ll be sad when spring comes around and it starts to melt away.
It’s been such an important part of our story so far.
It literally forced us together, and the memories it’s helped to create are unforgettable—even the one where it tried to kill me.
But that wasn’t really the snow’s fault.
I giggle at Jovie as she waddles toward me, her tiny body bundled in so many layers of clothes she can barely bend her knees and elbows. Though it hasn’t stopped her from carrying the candy-cane shaped sock over her shoulder like Santa Claus with a few things balancing precariously on the top.
The boys from the clubhouse have clearly stuffed it full, and I already know I’m going to have to stash some of the candy I can see peeking out if I don’t want hurricane Jovie to be released later.
Grizz’s hair is loose and falling around his face, decorated with a sprinkle of snowflakes. He’s been leaving it out a lot more lately, ever since I made a throw away comment about how hot it is when I watch him push it back from his face.
Damn it, I need to stop.
I clench my thighs together and hold the hot mug of coffee I’m holding a little tighter, just as they stomp up the stairs.
“You good, baby?” Grizz asks, shaking off his coat and dusting the snow from his hair.
“Mmhmm,” I answer, cringing when the sound comes out high pitched and squeaky, making him pause and raise an eyebrow. I quickly clear my throat. “What?”
Before he can respond, Jovie steps around him and dumps her stocking onto the ground, breathing heavily. “Wow, that was hard!” she exclaims, tugging at her thick gloves. “I can’t wait to see what’s in here.”
“Looks like you’re having a very merry Christmas there, kid,” I say with a giggle, and she looks up at me with her rosy cheeks and bright smile on her face. “Let’s get them inside and add them to the rest.”
“Can we open some now? Please!” she pleads, frantically trying to unzip her coat.
“Hell yeah, we can,” Grizz says, helping her get it undone before gathering up her gifts and tucking them under his arm.
He pushes the front door open and steps inside, holding it like a gentleman.
“We need to remind your Mom to call Aunt Scarlett and let her know there's been a change of plans. My girls are staying with me, non-negotiable.”
“Duh, Grizz. Of course we’re staying together,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Besides, I already heard them talking about you, and Aunt Scarlett said she wants to make sure you’re good enough for us.”
“Jovie, what have I told you about eavesdropping?” I scold, trying to be serious but failing.
Grizz doesn't know about the surprise she almost gave away, and I can see her excitement.
She scoots past him, heading straight for the Christmas tree with wide eyes and a giddy laugh.
I step through the doorway behind her and Grizz puts his hand out, forcing me to pause in front of him so he can press a gentle kiss to my temple.
I close my eyes and inhale deeply.
I swear I’ll never forget to stop and appreciate these moments.
The little ones that may have never been.
His lips linger on my skin for another few seconds before his hand moves behind me and gives me a pat on the ass.
“Let’s go, there’s presents to open,” he says with a smirk and kicks the door closed with his foot.
The temperature changes instantly, the heat from the fireplace nipping at my cold nose.
I take another sip of my coffee and follow Grizz to the lounge where he sets Jovie’s stocking of chaos under the tree. “Alright Jon Bon, have at it.”
I take a seat, sinking carefully back onto the couch.
I’m still moving slower than normal, mostly because Grizz has been giving me these worried looks every time I jolt or jerk or even flinch. So, it’s just better if I stay cautious and aware and not give him any reason to try and wrap me in bubble wrap.
Grizz settles onto the couch beside me, his hand resting on my thigh. I lean in, laying my head on his shoulder while we watch Jovie rummage around in the small pile of presents that she’s been itching to get her hands on for weeks.
“What are you doing?” I say with a soft chuckle. “You know which ones are yours.”
“I know!” she calls, almost all the way in behind the tree. “I think Grizz should get to open a present first.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t—”
“Here it is!” Jovie calls, crawling out from the depths holding a heavy box in her hands—one I’d stashed back there last week, knowing that if Grizz saw that I’d bought him something, he’d lecture me on all the reasons why I didn’t need to.
But I did.
I needed to get this.
And I hope he understands why.
Jovie places it on his lap, the little sticker reading I love you.
We said it earlier, but either way, it would have come out today. It’s been there for a while, and I’m sure we both have known, but there’s no way I could have spent the first real Christmas I’ve ever had with this man, and not told him what he means to me.
The fact that he told me first, is just that much more special.
Grizz holds the present, looking to me with a comically angry stare.
“Open it,” I tell him with a wide grin, not at all intimidated but prepared to guilt him into it. “Jovie’s waiting, and she’s not going to open hers until you open yours.”
“I’m going to get you for this later,” he mutters so only I can hear.
“I can’t wait, now open the damn present,” I reply with a laugh, shaking my head.
His tattooed hands finally tear into the sparkly paper, pulling back the layers to reveal the leather underneath. He runs his fingers over it before flipping it open to the thick, blank pages inside, each one ready to be filled.
When he doesn’t say anything for a minute, Jovie grabs the discarded wrapping and tosses it over her shoulder, bouncing on her toes.
“It’s a new scrap book, like the one you and your mom were making,” she explains excitedly, clapping her hands. “Mom said maybe we can start planning a road trip. She said families take road trips to see cool things, and I think that bridge you wanted to see looks cool!”
“The Golden Gate Bridge?” he asks, his voice thick and raspy.
Jovie nods. “Yeah, I’d like to see that.”
“Me too,” he whispers and sucks in a long, deep breath.
Jovie turns away, her attention back on the gifts, while I can’t help but look up at this amazing man with tears in my eyes. “If you don’t want to—”
“I do,” he says, cutting me off. “But only if you and Jovie come with me.”
I nuzzle into his side, wiping a stray tear on the sleeve of his shirt. “Where you go, we go.”
Grizz quickly clears his throat. “Speaking of going places,” he announces, drawing Jovie’s attention again. “Jon Bon, there’s something for your mom in the bottom drawer in the kitchen.”
Her eyes light up and off she runs.
I glance up at Grizz with a smirk. “Hiding presents, huh!”
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” he answers with a shrug. “Christmas just happened to be the perfect time to give it to you.”
Jovie rushes back over holding something very flat.
It’s not wrapped.
Just a manila folder with a little bow stuck to the top.
Perfectly Grizz.
I eye him suspiciously as I open it, unwrapping the little string keeping it shut. I’m not sure what I’m expecting, but it’s not… paperwork. The room is silent as I flip through the pages inside.
It’s an enrolment form, with my name printed across the top of the first page.
“Grizz?” My heart feels like it’s going to explode from my chest. “What is this?”
“An online business program,” he says, making my heart race even faster, pounding against my ribs. “You can do marketing, or management. Whatever. It’ll be paid for.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Wait…”
“And Hades said when you’re done, you can have shares in The Gallows.”
My mouth hangs open as I look up at him in shock.
I keep trying to find the right words, or even the wrong ones at this point, but I just keep opening and closing it like an idiot.
A tear drips down onto my lips, and he swipes it away, chuckling softly. “Baby, it’s done. You don’t need to come up with all the reasons why you don’t deserve it, or why it’s too much.”
The man knows me.
“Mom, just say thank you!” Jovie insists, laughing as she throws her hands up. “It’s rude not to!”
I clear the emotion from my throat and meet Grizz’s amused stare. “Thank you,” I whisper, trying hard not to choke up. “I… it’s… thank you.”
Grizz chuckles and wraps his arm around my shoulder. I fold into his body, lifting my legs over his thigh and tucking myself into him. This is it. This is home. The place I want to be forever.
“Must be your turn, kid,” Grizz says, but Jovie is already standing at the tree and plucking her wishing jar from where she wedged it between a couple of branches.
The glitter that decorates the sides falls to the floor as she man handles it, but she manages to get it free and leave a messy trail behind her. “That other one was from Mom, but this one is from me,” she explains, holding it out to Grizz. “I want you to read it.”
Grizz and I are both a little confused, but he’s not one to turn Jovie down—ever—so he carefully unscrews the lid while she holds it tightly, and reaches two fingers inside to pull out a single piece of torn paper.
I look away, letting him read the paper—not sure if it’s something I’m meant to see.
But when he sucks in a sharp breath, and gently unwinds his body from mine before getting to his feet… I can’t help but watch on.
And I’m glad I did.
“Yes,” he says, his voice thick and shaky. “Hell yes, Jon Bon. Hell yes.”
Jovie launches herself into his arms, wrapping hers tight around his neck—the two of them squeezing the life out of each other.
The sight is something so damn special, my emotions finally get the best of me, and I cover my mouth just as soft sobs falls free.
The small piece of paper falling from his hand, to the floor where I pick it up, gasping as I read the words so tenderly written all those weeks ago.
Placing it gently on the coffee table, I wrap my arms around the man who stumbled into our lives and filled a hole we didn't realise was missing.
Kissing Jovie on the temple, I rub her back as Grizz adjusts his hold, taking both of us in his embrace.
“This is the first of many celebrations,” he says, his low baritone muffled as he speaks into the crook of her neck. “Merry Christmas, kid. You gave me the most important gift I could ever ask for.”
THE END.