Meg’s Epilogue
Meg’s Epilogue – New Years Eve
“Ihave never decorated a Christmas tree this late in the season.”
“That’s because it’s not a Christmas tree,” Alexei smirks, twining a string of lights around the tree with the help of Leo. “It’s a yolka, a New Year’s tree, but you can call it a Christmas tree if you forget.”
I laugh and continue preparing the box of ornaments for hanging. With the scent of the pine and the soft, festive music playing through the speakers, the atmosphere in the Aslanov house is so completely domestic, it’s hard not to imagine getting to do this every year with Alexei.
“I’m really looking forward to extending the holiday vibes past the New Year.” I shoot Alexei a lopsided smile, and my stomach does a little flip when he winks at me. “But I’m still not sure about burning my wish into champagne and drinking it.”
“It’s tradition,” Alexei says, stepping back from the tree to admire the lights. “It’s so your wish can come true.”
“I don’t need to make a wish for next year. I’m pretty content with how my life is right now.”
Alexei leans around the tree and lifts his brows at his brother. “She says that because she’s found me this year.”
“She couldn’t avoid you, Aloysha. You clocked her with a puck.” Leo rolls his eyes.
“She says it because she won the Beach’s Best Taste award for her pies,” Nina says, wandering in from the kitchen with a tray of full champagne glasses. “Which we should toast, by the way.”
Leo’s stoic expression warms when he sees Nina. He wraps his arms around her hips and hooks his head on her shoulder before glancing my way.
“Are you sure you want to keep him? He’s very annoying, I promise you.”
“I like him too much to trade him in yet, Leo. I just got him.” Taking Alexei’s extended hand, I haul myself up to standing and feel the protective, safe slide of his arm around me as we all laugh.
“Hear that, Lyonya? She’s not trading me in.”
“She said yet.” Leo nods and reaches for a champagne glass.
Alexei presses a kiss to my temple and mumbles in my ear. “Don’t listen to him, sweetheart. He’s just mad that I didn’t save him any pie from Thanksgiving.”
“I can make more,” I say.
“Not during the season. Lyonya’s sensitive about his figure now that he’s past his prime.”
“I am not.” Leo growls, ruffling Alexei’s hair affectionately.
Nina rolls her eyes. “I promise you’ll get used to them. This is what passes for love between these guys.”
Raising his glass in the air, Alexei looks down at me and says, “To my love, Meg. Congratulations on winning the Beach’s Best Taste award. May your pies continue to be everyone’s favorite. I know one taste was all I needed to know they were mine.”
He winks at me, and I catch the heat in his chocolate brown eyes. And just like that, the memory of him having a taste—of my pies and of me—suddenly flashes in my mind.
“Thank you,” I choke out, my face and ears warm with the attention. I lift my glass as everyone clinks and cheers. “Couldn’t have done it without the Scorpions’ support or Alexei.”
“Not entirely true. You insisted many times you didn’t want or need my help.”
“Yes, but fat lot of good that did me, huh?”
He laughs and leans in for a kiss. But when our lips touch, heat blooms in my belly.
Leo and Nina make some excuse to go hunt down tinsel, giving us a moment to ourselves where I lean against his muscled chest and relax in the circle of his arms.
I still can’t quite believe that it was just four weeks ago that we met and fell head over heels in love with one another. Since then, Alexei and I have spent a lot of time getting to know one another and have fallen into a kind of predictable, sweet rhythm.
Each day, he turns up at Crust & Crumble to grab a quick breakfast pastry or to join me for a sweet afternoon treat.
Sometimes, he’ll bring a picnic lunch. Sometimes, I’ll make us something to have.
And over our meals, we talk about everything under the sun—his upbringing and mine, what our parents were like, and what our hopes are for the future.
Among them is… well, this.
Time spent with our loved ones, and dreams that one day, we might be able to create a family of our own.
Not anytime soon, of course. It’s still early in our relationship, but things with Alexei have been so unlike any other relationship I’ve had before. Maybe it’s because he’s so steady, loyal and loving that I’ve gotten more comfortable with the mushy feelings he inspires in me.
Before him, I was so used to keeping my world contained and small because I thought it was easier to be alone. But Alexei’s shown me that it’s safe to expand my circle, make more friends, and accept help every once in a while.
I just have such a good feeling about what’s to come.
Next to me, my phone buzzes with an incoming text.
Sierra Darby
Remind me no good deed goes unpunished! My car broke down, now I’m stranded in a beautiful, snowy small town until it can be fixed.
It’d be so fucking romantic if I wasn’t stuck spending Christmas with Shiloh Gagne, the lazy-ass legacy.
He won’t shut up about his stats. Send help!
Or alcohol!!! But not my dad, okay? Ugh. Happy Holidays!
“Everything okay?” Alexei asks.
“Hm? Oh, yeah, Sierra was updating me on her trip. She’s apparently stuck in a snowy small town with… I quote, ‘the lazy-ass legacy’.”
His mouth tips up and he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “How long do you think it’ll take for her to realize she’s into him?”
“Mmm,” I look to the ceiling, pretending to give it serious thought, then I look at him and grin, “Probably as long as it took me to fall in love with you.”
He chuckles. “So, no time at all, then.”
I shake my head no, and he brushes his lips over mine.
“I love you, too, my chef.”
Thank you so much for reading Meg and Alexei's love story!