“Freezing our asses off for you,” Benson confirms. “Except Mom, she’s inside with the baby watching through the window. Wave to them.” He snickers at my attempt. “You’re waving to the bushes.”
“Your mom’s only inside with Gracie because you won’t let her out in the cold for more than two seconds. She’d be fine out here.”
Jess’ sarcastic retort drifts over from somewhere beside us as Cole murmurs directions. I smirk at them bickering about Benson being an overprotective dad.
“Not peeking?” Cole checks.
“Nope.”
“Here, Benny, take Bauer’s leash. Evie, come right over…this way.” He moves behind me, holding my shoulders. “There, now you can open your eyes.”
Cracking them open one at a time, I find myself before the camper. Dad, Benson and Jess are next to it with secret smiles.
I twist to look at him. “The camper?”
“I know how much it bothered you that it wasn’t done in time for your first market. I recruited Benson and your dad to help me finish it.”
“You have?”
“Go look inside.”
He kisses the top of my head and nudges me forward. When I open the door, I gasp.
It’s finished. The paint, the fluffy rug I bought but have been waiting to open, the cozy chair, the display shelves stocked with the small amount of earrings, stickers, and stationary I brought home from the market.
In the corner, there’s the little library I wanted. I lay a hand over my thumping heart and drift to the book cart decorated with fairy lights and magnets I’ve designed.
“Cole.” It comes out soft and emotional. “You did all this?”
“Don’t give him all the credit,” Benson says from outside. “Dad and I helped when he asked us to.”
I poke my head out. “Thank you.”
I bite my lip when Dad catches my gaze. Neither of us have to say anything. I step down to hug him and he crushes me the way he has since I was a kid. The awkwardness slips away. Benson pats my shoulder.
“I love you guys. Thanks for doing this.”
“That’s what family is for,” Dad says gruffly. “No matter what.”
I nod, understanding he’s letting me know in his own way that he’s happy for me. Benson pinches my cheek when I pull back. I swat at him and he laughs.
Cole follows me back inside. He leans in the doorway, forearm braced above his head while I wander the finished space, touching everything he put together to complete it.
“You like it?”
“I love it. This is perfect. It’s exactly how I pictured it. How did you even—? It’s like you pulled it right from my head.”
He taps his temple. “I know what you like.”
I rush to him, colliding against his chest. He catches me, keeping us steady like always.
“Thank you,” I mumble into the neckline of the Heston U Hockey sweater he pulled on.
“I’m glad it made you happy.”
I pull back to meet his eye. “You make me happy.”
His eyes crinkle before he dips to kiss me. “Not as much as you make me.”
