“I know you would, it’s just…being an adult is scary,” she whispers, right before she starts giggling. “Sounds silly, but it’s true.”
“Hey. I know. I agree. It’s scary shit.” I lean in and drop a kiss to her perfect lips. “But I’ve got you. And you’ve got me. Right?”
“Right.” She nods. Kisses me again, her lips lingering as she murmurs, “I love you.”
“I love you too. It’s going to be a good Christmas,” I promise her.
“It’s going to be a good year,” she promises back.
“A good life,” I vow. “With you.”
Autumn smiles, joy lighting up her eyes. “Yes,” she whispers. “With you.”
Epilogue
Autumn
Christmas Day…
I sit cozied up next to my boyfriend on the couch, my head resting on his shoulder. Christmas carols play softly in the background, and there’s a fire roaring in the fireplace, the burning wood seeming to pop and sizzle in time with the music. Outside, snow is gently falling. It’s been snowing since we woke up. For the first time in my life, it’s a white Christmas.
A magical one too.
My entire family is in this house. Mom sits in Dad’s lap in the overstuffed ottoman that is closest to the window. Their heads are pressed together as they watch the snow, their lips moving as they whisper secrets to each other, their gazes meeting, their mouths curved.
A contented sigh leaves me and Ash squeezes me closer. “You all right?” he asks.
“Never better,” I answer, my gaze meeting Ava’s and we smile at each other. She’s sitting across from us in the loveseat next to her boyfriend, who’s currently got his lips pressed against her forehead. Eli never wants to leave Ava’s side, and I think she feels the same way.
Jake is in the kitchen with his girlfriend Hannah and Beck. They’re hunting for snacks. My uncle Owen is stretched out on the couch in the family room, taking a nap. Aunt Chelsea is sitting on the floor next to the Christmas tree, my cousins Blair and Ruby sitting with her. My cousin Knox is slumped in Dad’s recliner, staring at his phone.
Our family keeps growing, and I love it. Someday, my cousins will bring their boyfriends or girlfriends, and we’ll grow even more. If I look farther into the future, I can see babies. My parents will become grandparents, and they will spoil their grandchildren rotten. I can envision a dark haired, dark eyed baby in my arms, who will look just like Ash.
I tilt my head back and smile when I catch him watching me. “Is this the best Christmas or what?”
“Or what,” he teases, leaning down to brush my lips with his. “Do you know how grateful I am for you? For your entire family?”
My chest tightens at the sincerity in his tone. Ash was on a path of destruction before we got together. He didn’t have the best family life after his father died. His mom lost focus and became a drug addict. She had an abusive boyfriend who treated Ash terribly. It was a bad situation that was certain to get worse, until Ash was pulled out of his mother’s home. In a way, he was saved.
Thanks to my parents.
Maybe even thanks to me.
“Yes,” I whisper. “I’m grateful for you, too.”
He smiles, and the sight of it still makes my heart flip. Will that ever stop? I don’t think so. “It’s a good Christmas.”
“It’s a great Christmas,” I correct, laughing when he dips his head and nuzzles my cheek, tickling me. “Thanks to you.”
“Nah,” he murmurs, his lips tickling my skin. “It’s all thanks to you, babe. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I say.
“Merry Christmas.” He kisses me, his lips lingering.
“Merry Christmas.”
Books by Monica Murphy
The Callahans
Close To Me
Falling For Her
Addicted To Him
Meant To Be
The Dating series
Save The Date
Fake Date
Holidate
Hate To Date You
Rate A Date
Wedding Date
Damaged Hearts Series
Friends series
The Rules Series
About the Author
Monica Murphy is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of new adult, young adult and contemporary romance. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and she’s sold over one million copies worldwide. Both a traditionally published and independently published author, she’s also known as USA Today bestselling romance author Karen Erickson.
She is a wife and mother of three who lives with her family in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through many angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.
A Wicked Holiday Surprise
A Wicked/Rivals Crossover Holiday Story
Piper Lawson
Chapter One
Annie
“I can’t believe we’re here,” I gush, leaning over the console between our first-class airline seats.
The man I love cocks his head, glancing around the cabin. “Me either. We were supposed to be on a charter.”
The holidays are my favorite time of year. My rock star fiancé, Tyler… not so much.
We both had tough childhoods, but his was worse.
Now, I’m his family. My dad and Haley are too, along with our friends.
“We’re going to Dallas to see family. It’s not as if we have to walk,” I tease.
He rubs a hand through his dark hair. He’s itching for a guitar—I can tell from the tension in his strong jaw, the glint in his gorgeous chocolate eyes, the way he’s idly tapping one foot on the carpet. Any time the man’s not touching a guitar is a damn waste.
Unless he’s touching me.
“Besides,” I continue, “it’s been a long time, and we both need a break. Four whole nights.”
Broadway is demanding, and even though I wrote and coproduced the show, it was a marvel I got us four nights off together.
“You think spending four nights with your family will be a break?” His beautiful mouth lifts at the corner.
“Sophie will be running the house at age five. Baby Mason will be keeping Haley up. Dad will be running between the label and the kids.” Maybe it is a lot going on, but it’s family. And this is the first year things have been on solid ground.
I shift in my seat. “And you haven’t even seen what I got you for Christmas.”
Every part of me buzzes with anticipation because it’s an epic gift. I can’t wait to see him open it.
“You don’t need to get me anything,” he answers, his voice a husky whisper. “I have you every day. That’s more than I ever thought I’d have.”