Second Epilogue
VIOLET
Twisting my hands in my lap, I stare at the adorable red brick house with a sunflower wreath and a white rocking chair on the front porch.
Okay, it’s official. I’m nervous. I mean, I knew I would be nervous, but this is like, a whole new level of nervous.
My knee bounces up and down when Jagger reaches over and touches my thigh.
“You good?” he asks.
I lift my shoulder. “I’m not sure.” My teeth dig into my bottom lip as I tear my attention from the picture perfect house and peek at Jagger. “Should we have called first?”
“They know we’re coming,” Jagger answers dryly.
“I meant before we parked.”
His mouth quirks up, and I know he’s doing his best to withhold a solid eye roll, but seriously? I’m freaking out over here!
“Come on, Little Thief,” he muses. “I’m sure you’ll steal their hearts like you did mine. It’ll be fine.”
Sure, it will.
With a deep breath, I reach for the door handle, so Jagger does the same, exiting the rental car and rushing around the front to open my door like a gentleman.
Once my feet are on the ground, his hand finds my back, and he leads me up the small walkway toward the front door.
A child’s scooter lays on the grass, a discarded helmet tossed beside it, along with a pair of roller blades and another helmet, though this one is red.
Lifting my hand, I tap my knuckles against the door and it opens, revealing a gorgeous blonde with glasses propped on the tip of her button nose and a baby resting on one hip.
“Hi.” Her brows pull as she takes us in until recognition sparks behind her glasses.
“You’re here!” She scans me up and down as if she can’t actually believe it, then shifts the baby to her opposite side.
“Are you a hugger? I’m not usually a hugger, but you’re family, so.
” She opens her free arm and steps forward, hugging me.
“You have no idea how nice it is to finally meet you. Ollie!” she calls out after letting me go.
“Ollie, come here!” She opens the door even more.
“Come in, please. Hi.” She wipes her hand against the hem of her shirt.
“By the way, my name’s Dylan. I know we talked on the phone, but…
you know. Hi. I’m Ollie’s wife, and this is our youngest, Millie.
I’m sure Eli and Parker are around here somewhere, too.
” She looks out front, searching the yard before her attention shifts to Jagger beside me. “And you’re Jagger?”
“Jagger Harden.” He offers his hand for her to shake, and she takes it. “Nice to meet you.”
“You, too,” she returns with a smile so kind I can’t help but relax just a little bit.
Okay, she seems nice. So nice, I’m officially a fan, and I really hope the feeling becomes mutual by the end of the day.
I’ve tried to manage my expectations for today.
So much so, I’m pretty sure I’ve been driving Jagger crazy, though he’s been nothing but perfect throughout all of it.
The ups and downs and chaos of emotions.
He even called in a few favors to help track down Oliver Reeves’ email and phone number so I could reach out to him directly.
Honestly, I don’t know what I would’ve done without Jagger throughout all of this.
My heart swells at the thought, and I thread my fingers with his.
“Hey, Pickles, what’s up?” my supposed big brother says as he jogs into view. When he sees me, he stops short, and his lips part. “Violet?”
“Yeah.” I force a smile and fight the urge to curl in on myself.
It’s just…you know, this is kind of a big deal, and there isn’t exactly a manual for this.
Meeting estranged family and whatnot. Or maybe there is?
I probably should’ve Googled it, but here I am, feeling a little bit like an idiot.
Ever the rock in our relationship, Jagger squeezes my hand, and I take a deep breath, grateful for the silent camaraderie.
“Sorry for just popping in,” I add. “I probably should’ve called, but—
“You said you’d stop by,” Dylan reminds me.
“I know, but I didn't give you a firm time and—”
“You’re always welcome, Violet.” With open arms, the one and only Oliver Reeves steps onto the porch and pulls me into a hug.
And maybe it should feel weird. Maybe it does feel weird?
But whatever awkwardness accompanying the welcoming gesture is swallowed by something else.
Surprise and wonder and relief and disbelief and…
Hell, I feel like I’m every emotion in the book as I stand, stunned, on my brother’s porch with my arms at my sides.
Without letting me go, Oliver says, “Always wanted a little sister.”
The weight of his words sit like an elephant on my chest, making it feel impossible to breathe.
A little sister.
I’m a little sister.
And he’s…
I lift my arms and squeeze him back, my body relaxing almost instantly.
He’s my big brother.
I have a big brother.