“You’re the man. Congratulations. Can’t wait to meet my future niece or nephew. I know he or she will be damn good-looking.” I give a playful sock to his arm. “And smart as hell. With Lex as its mother, I expect nothing less.”
“Agree.” He leans in, and that mirror version of my face grows serious for a moment. “I’m happy for you, man. You deserve the best. And I do believe you found her.”
“I believe it, too.” We hug it out, and soon enough our party clears out. It’s just Serena and me as we say goodnight to Sunday and Seth.
Sunday offers me a quick embrace. “I’m watching you. I may not have a gun like Marlin, but I’ve got something far more dangerous—ripe hormones ready and willing to ignite on command.”
We share a laugh as the two of them take off.
Serena smiles up at me with a devilish gleam in her eye. “Now what, Professor Collins?”
“How about we head to my place and work on your final? Axel swung by earlier and dropped off a few bottles he thought might complement hot honey.”
“Done!”
We head out the door and into the humid Hollow Brook night, and I hold her right under that oversized black bear they keep just outside the entry.
“I wish Emilia could have been here today. I’m sure she would have loved to see us together. Or at least I hope she would have.” My entire body grieves for my sister at once. It’s still a fresh wound, especially when my family gathers for events like this one. I don’t think I can ever get used to not having her around. And here Serena is missing both her mother and father. I plan on making sure she feels all the love and affection she deserves in this lifetime.
“Oh, she would have,” Serena asserts as if she knew firsthand. “Remember me telling you about the time I wanted a kiss and you ditched me?”
I cringe at the thought and give a subtle nod. No part of me wants to own what an ass I once was to Serena.
“And remember me telling you she said to brush it off?” she continues. “Well, there was a little more to the story. She said you probably didn’t want to kiss me because I was far too beautiful and you might accidentally fall in love. She went as far as suggesting that I forgive you and play nice—that you’d come around eventually.”
My body goes numb for a solid five seconds. “Emilia said that?”
She nods as tears build in her eyes.
“She couldn’t have been more right. She called it, didn’t she?” An ache pushes through my chest, and it’s all I can do not to weep at the thought of my sister predicting so accurately what’s transpired. “I’d like to think she’s up there watching over us. I know she loved you. She told me at least twice a day how adorable she thought you were.”
A tear glides down her cheek. “I’m still adorable, and don’t you forget it.” She gives a slight laugh, but her expression grows serious. “I loved her, too.”
“I know.” I wrap my arms around her, and Serena and I hold one another like that for a good long while.
“We’ll keep her memory alive,” she whispers into my ear. “I want to.” She pulls back and blinks up at me with tear-lined lashes, that familiar naughty grin building on her lips. “How about one day, not all that far away, when you and I plan a family of our own, we name one of our little girls after her?”
My heart swells with love for this woman before me. “That sounds amazing. And if we have all boys?”
“Oh, sweetie, we’ll keep trying until we pump out a pink little sweetheart with hair long enough to put in pigtails on day one. I’m going to have a heck of a good time with our little Emilia. Of course, I’ll practice by spoiling Sunday’s precious angel first.”
I belt out a laugh as we head to the car. “Little Emilia. I really like the sound of that.”
“You should. It’s beautiful.” She gives my side a pinch. “How about we do a little baby-making practice for the next five years?”
“Sounds like a damn good plan. I’m already counting down the hours.”
“It’ll go by quickly. Life always does.”
“You know what doesn’t go by quickly?” I whisper deep into her ear, and Serena quivers against me. “The things I’m about to do to you.”
And we both walk a little faster.
Axel droppedoff five new bottles for Serena and me to play around with. We’ve already poured the liquor and carefully administered the heated honey to each and every glass.
“You ready for a taste test?” I lift my glass, and she does the same.
“Salute.” She takes a careful sip and shudders. “Bleh! Definitely not that one.”
