“Children,” Axel corrected. “She’s calling them children.”
I smacked his chest. “I am not!”
“Dakota!” Mom’s voice rang out as she rolled down her bumpy ramp, Dad appearing behind her.
“Mom!” I jogged over and threw my arms around her. She’d visited me in the hospital, but I no longer took any of these moments for granted. I now understood that each time I saw someone I loved could be the last.
“Where’s all this help coming from?” Dad asked, eyeing the group with amused suspicion.
“Axel called in reinforcements,” I explained.
“We weren’t expecting so much help,” Mom said, her eyes bright with excitement. “I only bought snacks for four people.”
“Don’t worry about snacks, Mom.”
Jace reappeared from the backyard, Scarlett thrown over his shoulder. “I can have any snacks you want delivered within the hour. What do you need? Sandwiches? Pizza? I can have Swiss chocolate air-dropped into the backyard?—”
“Put me down, you caveman!” Scarlett laughed, pounding on his back.
“Give me my phone first.”
“Never!”
Faith watched the chaos with an amused smile, and I caught Ryker sneaking glances at her when he thought no one was looking. She was wearing fitted jeans and a fitted shirt that showed off her toned arms. As such, Ryker seemed to be having trouble focusing on his tool belt.
“All right, all right,” Dad interrupted, clapping his hands together. “Before someone gets hurt, let’s get organized. Axel, son, where would you like us to start?”
Son. My heart melted.
Axel looked at my mom. “Mrs. Blackwood, this is your house. You’re the boss.”
Mom beamed and shot me a knowing look. “I really like your boyfriend, honey.”
“Knox wasn’t too thrilled,” I reminded her.
“Your brother’s cranky. When he gets out of prison, he’ll come around. Now, follow me. I think we should start in the kitchen.”
As everyone started discussing the day’s tasks, Axel took my hand and paused for one last moment before we all got started.
“I love you, Sunshine.” He kissed me raw, deep, and apparently without caring about our audience.
“Get a room!” Ryker called out, but I noticed he was still stealing glances at Faith, who was pretending not to notice.
“You know, I remember a time when you barely ever cried.” He smirked, wiping away a tear.
“Well, that was before you made me go all soft and mushy.”
He laughed. “Come on, Sunshine.”
A fresh squeal from Scarlett came from the side of the house. Apparently, Jace wasn’t done with his revenge. Blake and Tessa were sharing another quick kiss by the front steps. And Faithwas asking Ryker to help her carry some supplies, their hands brushing as they reached for the same box.
Definitely interesting.
Axel walked me by the hand toward my parents’ home. Into my future. Surrounded by friends who felt like family—actual family—and, most of all, love.
The kind of love that made even the hardest work feel like play and every ordinary moment feel like magic.
EPILOGUE
