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“Oh, I’d love that.”

We stood in the quiet for a few minutes, just holding hands and looking up at the stars. When it was this deep in winter, the cold permeated quickly even when you were bundled up. “Let’s go in and get some coffee.” I squeezed her mittened hand.

We tromped inside for coffee and an early bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Before long, Elsa and Haven showed up along with Kendall and Jude, Adele and Cole, and finally Grady and Asher.

At one point, during a lull when I went to refill my coffee cup, my mom lightly caught me by the elbow and squeezed. “Merry Christmas, Lincoln.”

I glanced down at her. “Merry Christmas, Mom.” Her eyes were glistening and my heart was beating fast. I knew she was happy I was here for Christmas for the first time in too long.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m glad to be here. You don’t have to worry. I’ll be here at Christmas from now on.”

She beamed up at me, then pulled me into a fierce hug and literally patted my cheeks as she stepped back.

I rolled my eyes. “Enough, Mom.”

When we walked out into the dining room where all the guests were gathered to serve themselves from the generous buffet, Chloe was standing talking with Elsa and Kendall. When my gaze landed on her, my heart thumped hard. I let my eyes arc about the room, taking in the space. It finally felt like I had come back home.

Epilogue

Eden

Don’t text

* * *

I walked into the crowded bathroom at a restaurant in Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska was home, and I was relieved to be here. Still, I felt unsettled. I’d been feeling off kilter ever since the shitty breakup with my shitty boyfriend, who I stupidly missed anyway. Or maybe it was the idea of him that I missed, despite how wildly off base that idea turned out to be.

Despite the busy bathroom, there was a moment of almost quiet when I slipped into a stall. My phone vibrated in my pocket. Reflexively, I slipped it out and glanced at the screen. As if he’d somehow read my mind from a few thousand miles away, it was a text from said shitty ex. Fuck my life.

“Ugh, I really want to text him back,” I said out loud.

I hadn’t considered that anyone could hear me when the group answered in unison, “No!”

My cheeks got hot, and I burst out laughing, mostly at myself. “You don’t even know what I’m talking about, or who I am,” I announced.

“Oh, we know. It’s a guy, right?” one woman’s voice said.

“Fine, okay, maybe you’re right,” I agreed.

“It’s your ex,” another woman chimed in.

I stood and yanked my pants up before flushing and walking out. My gaze arced around the group of women. I was a little tipsy, and maybe they were too, but obviously more clear-headed than me.

“No, no, no,” one of the woman said, wagging her finger back and forth. “We never, never text someone if we say “ugh” because of their text. Uh-uh, uh-uh.”

I sighed. “That’s some good advice.”

“We’re going to keep you in here until we know everything is fine,” another one chimed in.

“What do you mean? Are you bathroom-napping me?” I sputtered, although I enjoyed the near-instant camaraderie I felt with these women.

A woman with glossy black hair, beautiful bronze skin, and sharp dark eyes stopped in front of me and placed her hands on my shoulders. “No matter who he is, he’s not worth it.”

Another sigh slipped out. “I know you’re right.”

“What happened?” she pressed, her gaze kind.