Once Upon a Sure Thing (Page 39)

“Can I do this?” I asked Mackenzie.

A huge smile spread across her gorgeous face. “Campbell, it makes you happy. And Sam is fourteen. You don’t have to worry about her. Plus, you have me to help. We’re a family.”

My heart soared like a hot-air balloon. Could there be a more awesome woman by my side? I curled a hand around her head and kissed her.

“Dad!” Samantha squealed.

I moved away from her and shrugged. “What can I say? I love her, and she’s right.”

As I’ve been learning, the women in my life are usually right.

Then I gave them my answer.

Hell to the yes.

Now, I turn to my brother. “Want to get back together?”

He laughs. He smiles. He can barely speak. All he manages is a raspy, “Yes,” followed by, “Am I dreaming?”

“It’s real,” someone shouts from the audience. “Play ‘Hit the Road.’”

My brother and I finish out the set to thunderous applause.

* * *

Miller

I didn’t see this coming. I had no idea she’d do something like this. When the show ends, I find her in the wings, back her against the wall, and kiss her senseless.

“This is the coolest thing anyone has ever done for me,” I say once we come up for air.

She beams, her fingers playing with the hem of my T-shirt. “I wanted you to have what you wanted most.”

“I do want this.” I reach for the belt loops on her jeans, then her ribbon, bringing her close again. “But you’re wrong, baby. You’re what I want most.”

She wriggles against me. “Then have both. You can have me, and you can have this. Package deal.”

“Like you and Chloe?”

She nods and smiles, the kind that can’t be contained.

I press another kiss to her lips, then another, and one more. “You’re my best friend, my lover, and my girlfriend, and I will look out for you and for Chloe because I’m going to be there for both of you. You know that, right?”

“I do,” she whispers.

I arch a brow, wondering what this means for Hot Stuff. “What about you? You don’t want to perform with me still?”

She shakes her head. “Why don’t you and I focus on being together and being in love?”

I can’t argue with that, so I don’t even try.

* * *

Later that night, I show Ally all the ways I love her. I tell her all the things I didn’t say the other evening. I slide inside her, whispering words of love.

If I thought the first time with her was out of this world, I was wrong. This is galaxies better, because when you can both say I love you, it’s simply the best.

Afterward, I run my hand through her hair. “So, we’ll pick up Chloe tomorrow morning. Together?”

She laughs. “We will.”

“Can we tell her we’re a thing?”

Smiling, she answers, “I think she’s going to be quite happy.”

“I think so too.”

The next morning we take Chloe out for breakfast. Over pancakes, Ally clears her throat. “There’s something we need to tell you. Miller and I are involved now. We’re a couple.”

Chloe snort-laughs. “It took you long enough.”

Epilogue

Ally

I wrap my hands around a mug of tea and take a drink as Chloe searches under our little Christmas tree for a gift.

“Hmm. What should we open next?” she asks.

With my slippered feet tucked under me, I peer at the Christmas loot, hunting for a pretty green box containing a silver necklace I bought for her. It has a camera charm on it, and I hope she likes it.

“Miller, can you grab the green box with the silver bow?” I ask.

“Ho ho ho,” he says in a deep voice, and Chloe laughs. Then he whispers something to her. She nods excitedly.

“Don’t tell her what’s in it!” I chide.

A chuckle comes from Chloe, who covers her mouth, saying nothing.

“Found it,” Miller declares.

“Wait,” Chloe cuts in, grabbing another gift I can’t quite see. “You forgot this one from Santa, Ally.”

I set down my mug on the coffee table and wait to see what Chloe wants to give me from the jolly man in red. It’s a small white box with a red bow.

“Santa is so smart,” Chloe says.

“He really is. I wonder what he brought me,” I say, but really, I wonder what Miller bought me since he must be pretending to be Santa for her sake.

I unknot the bow, rip open the paper, and freeze.

My lips part, and wild hope rises in me. It’s a blue velvet box.

This can’t be . . .

I blink as I click it open, gasping when I’m blinded by a stunning diamond.

In a split second, Miller’s down on one knee, taking my hands in his. “Ally, you’re my best friend and the woman I adore. I’ve been falling in love with you for six years, and I don’t want to wait any longer for us to have this beautiful life together that I know we can have. Will you marry me?”

“Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.” My soprano voice hits a new high, and tears rain down.

Chloe claps and squeals. “Is that a yes?”

I laugh and cry, throwing my arms around Miller. “Yes. I want that more than anything.”

“Good.” His eyes find Chloe’s. “I want us all to be a family.”

“We already are,” I say.

“Then this makes it official.” He slides the ring on my finger, and it’s stunningly beautiful.

I hug him and kiss him chastely. Chloe jumps on the couch, sliding in next to me and staring at my ring. “I helped him pick it out.”

I laugh. “You’re an amazing ring elf. And you two worked fast.”

She leans her head against my shoulder. “Can I give you a gift now?”

“Of course.”

Chloe hands me a package, and when I open it, I find her smiling selfie inside. Only it’s not alone. She framed a picture of all of us in the coffee shop, with whipped cream on our faces.

“I love it. It’s perfect.” I give her a kiss on the forehead, then rub my hands together. “Okay, let’s see what else Santa brought.”

Chloe drops a hand on my knee. “Ally, I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

She takes a deep breath and fixes me with a serious stare. “I know Santa is really my mom.”

She thinks Santa is Lindsay? Oh God. I’m going to need to call Dr. Jane again. “Chloe,” I say quietly, but Chloe continues.

“Everyone knows that Santa is your parents.” She points at me. “So you’re Santa.”

My hand flies to my mouth. My eyes widen to moons. I can barely speak. As she roots around under the tree for another gift, I turn to Miller, mouthing, “She called me Mom?”

He nods. “Merry Christmas, Ally.”

I have more gifts than I ever expected, since I have everything I’ve ever wanted right here.

Another Epilogue

Ally

I scurry around my room, hunting for my favorite red sweater.

“Chloe, have you seen my red sweater? The one with the little pearl buttons?”

“No, but your phone is ringing,” she shouts from the living room.

“Crud. Can you answer it?” It’s probably Miller, but I’m going to be late to the New Year’s Eve party if I can’t find my sweater.

Seconds later, Chloe appears in my doorway. “Sure, Angie. She’s right here.” Chloe covers the phone to whisper, “Angie from Butler Press.”