My lips quirk with a smirk. A loud snort from Honey breaks through the sound of the waves and the sizzle of the grill.
“How are you doing? What’s your Christmas plan?”
Andy hums thoughtfully. “Probably just spending it with Mom, Beau, and Trevor. Will you be dropping by?”
Usually, I spend Christmas morning with my parents, then drop by Andy’s family’s place in the afternoon. Not sure what I’ll be doing this year with Jackson now in the mix.
“Most likely,” I say, swinging my feet in the camper chair.
“Good. You’re doing good?”
“No more seizures, Mom,” I reply sarcastically.
Andy audibly sighs. “I didn’t mean it that way… I meant more… you’re happy?”
For the first time in my life, the answer is easy. “Blissfully.”
“Awwwww,” Andy croons, no doubt resting her hand over her heart and grinning. “My little one is in love.”
“If you don’t up shut.”
Andy chuckles. “I’m so happy. Remember when I fell in love with Ethan, and you gagged every time I said something nice about him.”
“I also hate the military-industrial complex, so it was a mix of that and your disgusting droning of how much you loved him.”
“Never change, Harper.”
“Don’t plan on it,” I quip.
“Speak of the devil. My man is calling me. Anyway, I love you! I’ll see you at Christmas, loser!”
Slipping the phone into the pocket of my jeans, I sidle up to Jackson, wrapping my arms around his thick waist. He carefully flips the chicken, sweetly patting my hands where they rest over his stomach.
“Good call?”
I tenderly kiss the bare skin of his neck. “Just Andy.”
“Making sure you’re still alive?”
My grin actually hurts my face, so I hide it in Jackson’s shoulder. “Definitely. I told her that you haven’t sacrificed me to the sea gods yet.”
“Still time,” Jackson promises.
The crisp ocean air blows in as we eat dinner spread out on a blanket atop the cold sand. Everything feels otherworldly on the lonely beach with Jackson. Like we’re in a world of our own, just us. Never in my life had I thought a wish of mine could come true, at least in a safe way. But with Jackson here with me, I know that my safety is beyond protected. No harm will come to me here.
“So?” Jackson asks with a mouthful of macaroni salad.
“Yes, you Neanderthal?”
“What’s the star rating so far?”
“Out of five stars?”
Jackson nods eagerly. “Yeah.”
“At least three.”
Jackson’s frown is deep. “How do I get it to a five?”
