Page 92 of About That Night

Hank caresses my cheek and stares down at me, his eyes warm. “You’re my best friend. And I’m going to spend forever reminding you just how perfect a human being you are, Chastity, and that you are allowed to have fun. I love you.”

Tears fill my eyes. “I love you too. And I’m going to spend forever reminding you what a talented and amazing man you are. And safety first. Always safety first.”

He laughs and pulls back. “Balance, baby. That’s what we have together.”

“You’re right. We do balance each other out. I rein you in. Just a little. You get me to loosen up. We’re the perfect combination.”

The front door opens and Josiah spills in, immediately kicking his shoes off. “We got a Christmas tree!”

“Yay! I got all the decorations out. We’re ready!”

“Do you want some hot chocolate?” Hank asks him.

Josiah nods. “Yes, yes, yes.”

The top of a tree appears in the doorway. “Coming through,” Parker calls out. “Tell me when to turn, Chastity.”

“Five steps forward, then turn right.”

The tree fully appears, and so do Parker and Nevaeh, both smiling and shuffling with the tree. Josiah is in the kitchen with Hank, getting the milk out for him at Hank’s instruction.

My heart is so dang happy. I pull my phone out of my back pocket and put on a holiday playlist. Josiah and Hank are high-fiving. Somewhere along the way, Hank has ditched his crutches and is just hobbling on his cast. I fight the urge to mother him. He’s right. We balance each other out.

“Let me help you,” I tell Nevaeh and Parker as they right the tree by the front window. The tree stand is ready to go, so I guide the trunk down into it.

I get sap on my hands, but the tree is in place. Parker gives me a fist bump when I stand up, and then I head to the sink to wash my hands. Hank is stirring milk on the stove and leans over and kisses my temple.

“Is this how you pictured your Christmas?” I ask him, joking a little. “In a very small house with a broken foot?”

Josiah has run back to the living room and is dragging out more lights from the bin.

“It’s better than anything I ever pictured.” His eyes shine with emotion. “You’re it, pretty girl. You’re stuck with me. Young men fall in love once, and that’s it. You’re my ‘it.’”

I can’t ask for more than that.

Epilogue

Hank

“Are you nervous?” Chastity asks me, squeezing my hand.

“Not at all.” We’re in the dining room at Conviction for my restaurant’s opening night. There’s a line outside waiting to come in. It’s mostly my family and friends, but it’s still a line. My staff is bustling around, putting finishing touches on tables, Conway behind the bar. Everything in the kitchen is prepped and ready to go. We’ve run through this service half a dozen times this week in prep, and I’m confident. “My food is good.”

“Your food is amazing. Plus, everything looks beautiful.”

She looks beautiful. I bought Chastity a dress to wear tonight, a summer floral silky thing that makes me want to unzip it and see it slide to the floor. I’m so proud that she’s here with me, celebrating this milestone in my life. “You’re beautiful, Chastity. In case I haven’t told you today.”

She laughs softly. “Thank you. You have, at least four times. But I’m not complaining. How is your foot?”

My beautiful, cautious, ever-fretting-because-she-loves-so-deeply girlfriend.

“My foot is fine. It’s been five months. I’ve been fine for four of those.”

“Just take it easy.”

That amuses me. I’m opening a restaurant. There’s no taking it easy. But I make a noncommittal sound. Then I glance down at her. “You going to tell me, or what?”

“What?” She bites her lip. “Tell you what?”

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