Epilogue
EMERIE
“Cheers to Christmas Eve,” I shout alongside my four best friends as we clink our glasses together and giggle.
I take a sip of yet another of the magnificent spiked eggnog drinks that Skyler concocted. It’s amazing, and you can taste the hint of clover in it. Talk about yum.
I absolutely love eggnog. We all do. Though I think Maggie prefers the apple cider drink more.
“Have I said how much I love this house?” Litzy whisper-yells while leaning forward on her stool.
We’re all gathered around the kitchen snacking before we move on to the games.
Calder was on his way home, and the Devore brothers were all joining us within the hour.
This was going to be a great time for all of us.
The brothers have all been staying with us while the house was being renovated after everything, and it’s been nice having them all here.
I love it. I think secretly, Calder does too.
They all go to work in the morning and come back roughly around the same time.
Though sometimes one or two of them will leave again to go out to, as they put it, ‘see to business’.
“It is a great house,” Patience murmurs, smiling brightly, and takes a sip from her drink before popping an olive in her mouth.
“I still can’t believe you’re married and on your way to such an amazing life,” Maggie remarks, then wags her finger at me. “Though I will say I’m still put out that you didn’t allow me to plan your wedding or even a party to celebrate.”
“This’ll be the first time we even get to meet her husband,” Skyler quips.
It was definitely the first time they’d be meeting him. Officially, that is. They’d seen him, and he’s seen them. But they hadn’t met yet. They’d met Leone and Ciro, who take turns playing bodyguard.
I haven’t told them about what happened or how it all came to be. They just know the small parts of it, like my dad arranging it and it working out for me in the end.
And working out for me, it definitely did. I couldn’t be happier than I am when it comes to my life with Calder. He’s the love of my life, and I look forward to each day I have with him.
The sound of the garage door going up catches my attention, and I set my drink down and excuse myself.
I knew what business Calder had gone out to handle.
He explained to me how he always took out his last name on Christmas Eve.
I wanted to be able to greet him to make sure he was okay.
That’s not the only reason. I want to make sure that he’s not hurt or coated in blood and needs seeing to.
I get he’s good at what he does, but that doesn’t mean I won’t worry.
Moments later, the door opens, and my stomach flutters at the grin he’s giving me.
“Gotta say, Bellissima, love coming home to you greeting me at the door,” he says, a hint of laughter in his voice as he comes at me, pulling me into him. His head dips down, and he claims my mouth immediately.
“He’s a keeper.”
“We don’t have to kill him.”
“I wanna meet a man like that.”
“Oh boy, is it hot in here or what?”
The two of us break apart to look in the direction of the four women standing just in the kitchen, watching us.
“Can we get back to our Christmas drinks now?” Skyler asks, cocking a brow. “Or do we need to continue without you for a bit so you can get it on with your super-hot guy?”
Oh God.
“Go drink with your girls.” Calder chuckles, letting me go. “I’ll be down after I change and join y’all.”
“Okay.” I reach up to kiss him once again and whisper, “I love you.”
It’s the first time I’ve said the words out loud.
“Love you too, Emerie. More than you know,” he whispers, lips brushing against my own.
Letting me go, Calder walks away, leaving me there. I take a moment to think about his words.
He loves me.
Just as I love him.
I swear this might be the best Christmas ever.