“How was it?” I ask.

“Higher than my wildest fantasy.”

After we clear up, we lie bare on the sofa, holding one another. We’re yawning, however we drive ourselves to remain up till midnight.

When there’s one minute left, we flip the TV up a bit of louder, however we don’t depart the sofa. It’s surreal to see the ball within the distance reducing in real-time past the TV. “Auld Lang Syne” performs quietly within the background, and confetti rains down on the gang. I place my hand on Claire’s cheek and kiss her, figuring out we’re bringing love and laughter into the brand new 12 months with us.

“Joyful New Yr, darlin’.”

“Joyful New Yr, child desserts.” She snickers. “I’m attempting out pet names.”

“Not that one, please.” I chuckle, petting her hair. “You already know, I believe again to all the pieces that’s occurred within the final month, and it appears like a dream,” I mutter.

She rests her head again on my chest. “Yeah? It’s been quite a bit,” she says, then she props herself as much as meet my eyes. “However I believe I’ve realized one thing.”

“What’s that?” I steal a kiss and smirk.

“You’re my favourite mistake.”

I attain round, wiggling my fingers into her aspect as she laughs and tries to squirm away. “I really like you, CeCe.”

I open my arms, and she or he returns to me, permitting me to carry her tight. “Love you, JJ.”

“Oh, what did you and your father speak about?”

She meets my eyes. “He informed me he was happy with me for standing as much as him.”

“I’m happy with you, too,” I say.

“What did you two speak about?”

“I informed him if he harm you, I had a shotgun shell along with his title on it.”

She gasps. “You didn’t.”

“Nah. I didn’t. However he informed me he loves you.”

“Sure, he informed me as a lot, too.”

I squeeze her tight and kiss her brow.

“All the things labored out higher than I ever may’ve imagined,” she says, releasing a contented sigh.

“I couldn’t agree extra.”

EPILOGUE

JAKE

7 MONTHS LATER

“You didn’t warn me that Texas could be so sizzling,” Claire says, fanning herself after lunch. We stroll again to her store, and she or he unlocks the door, permitting me in. Because it’s a vacation, loads of the boutiques on Essential Avenue are open, and Claire is making the perfect of it.

CeCe’s Collectibles opened just a few months in the past and makes a speciality of snow globes. The locals welcomed her enterprise with open arms and have been supportive. No different outsider has been capable of genuinely win over as many hearts as Claire has. She’s even began volunteering on the town and has develop into quick pals with my cousins.

I smile, rigorously glancing over the brand new stock that was delivered earlier this week. She strikes to the counter and activates a tabletop fan, the place it’s blowing full blast in her face. “You get used to it. July is the most well liked time of the 12 months. Okay, properly, some individuals say August is, however I disagree.”

She clicks the thermostat down a number of levels.

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