Page 69 of If Only You Hurt

“Yes, a true ray of sunshine.” Ellie rolls her eyes and opens the door. The moment the cold breeze hits both of us, we pull our coats closed a little tighter and make our way down the steps.

“You and I both know I’m the fun one between the two of us, right?” I love getting a rise out of her, and today is no different.

“Wyatt, don’t you start. You’re as pleasant as a colonoscopy for most.” She laughs, loud, at her own fucking joke.

I stop in my tracks and stare at her. When did she become this sarcastic? Did I teach her this?

“Excuse me, you married me,” I throw back.

“I did. You’re amazing in the sack, and your daughter won my heart.”

That’s it. I put all the bags down. Fuck the cold weather and the snow that’s threatening to fall. I pull her into my embrace, my gloved hands grabbing her cheeks, and kiss her hard. She’s smiling at first, and then I deepen the kiss, and she melts into me.

I hear a soft moan escape from her, and a part of me feels awfully satisfied by my ability to make this woman melt in my arms even after all these years.

I pull away, my eyes opening to see she still has her eyes closed, and her cheeks are rosy.

“You’re more pleasant than a colonoscopy, Wyatt. I forgot how sensitive you are.” She brings herself up on her tippy toes and gives me another, albeit soft, kiss. I pull her up into my arms, her feet dangling off the ground.

“I love you, Wy. Merry Christmas Eve.” She looks at me, her eyes full of love toward me.

“I love you, Sunshine.” Even all these years later, I don’t know what I did right to deserve her, but I’m damn glad she has stuck by me as I have her.

Our years together have always been about adjustment. That first year married, I still found her taking in moments between us and probably feeling a pang of guilt regarding Beau. I always gave her that space. I never saw her love for Beau as a lack of love for me. I simply saw it as love for both of us but in completely different ways. We have complimented one another, and not a day passes that I’m not grateful we get to do life together. She has been my rock, especially as I navigated Tessa throughout the years. She’s been a mother to our kids, filled the role, and surpassed what I think even Tessa imagined possible in a maternal figure.

We’ve got two girls home now while Tyler and Hannah are off living their lives. Tyler ended up getting a scholarship for basketball and now lives in Connecticut, coaching a small college team out there, and seems to love it.

Hannah is studying fashion out in Los Angeles. To say Ellie took the distance harshly is an understatement. For an entire month, each time she passed Hannah’s photo in our room, she would cry. It seems Hannah is feeling homesick as well and plans on moving back after graduation. I could bet money she’s transferring to an East Coast school by next fall.

I’m trying not to focus on Mia and her impending departure to college next year. She’s been my little sidekick, aside from Tessa. She and Tess pretty much grew up together once we all became a family, and to see a piece of my duo girls away will be hard for me. Maybe I’ll be the one crying with her picture in my hands when she’s off to college. I’m hoping one of the schools we toured in the city will entice her to choose them over leaving the state like her older sister.

“Where’s your mind at, big guy?” Ellie smiles at me, her blond hair outside of her beanie flying around us with the breeze.

“Big guy, huh? Trying to butter me up for later?” I waggle my brows and give a slight thrust toward her. I swear I’m a teenage boy when I’m around my wife.

“Oh gosh. I’ve awakened the beast.” She chuckles.

“Wow. Big guy and beast. Baby, you’re making me want to turn around and take you to bed. Fuck that holiday meal. Let’s go.” I make like I’m taking us back to our house, and she starts laughing.

“All good things to those who wait. Come on, they’re waiting for us.” She pulls on my hand.

This girl could take me anywhere, and I’d follow. The love she’s shown, not only to me but Tessa, is something I never saw coming. Love, support, and partnership are all things she gave me from the moment we came together. She may have fought it, but I know deep down she felt that connection the instant we touched. The fact we’re here all these years later and still feeling like she hung the moon only makes me more excited for what’s to come.

Shane

My sweet Betty, even in her old age, favors me over her mama. Becca eyes me from the kitchen as she’s moving around, putting leftovers away from dinner at Laney and Grant’s tonight. Christmas Eve looks a little different now that all the kids are leading lives of their own.

I didn’t get all the time with them as Becca and Hudson did, but from the brief time I lived with the twins, I got a little feel for what Christmas was like with a house full of children itching to open their gifts come Christmas morning.

Betty’s snoring away on my lap when Becca finally finds her way back, a bowl of popcorn in her hands.

“How can you fit more in there after all that dessert?” I am overflowing from all the food, but I know if there’s an opportunity for popcorn, Becca’s going to have some.

“You can’t sit and watch Christmas Vacation without some popcorn handy. Plus, I only had some candy canes while at Grant and Laney’s. I saved room for this Christmas Eve snack.” She throws a piece of popcorn at me, and I catch it because I’m stealth like that.

She rolls her eyes, irritated that I still caught it. The smell of the treat wakes Betty up, and she’s by Becca’s side in an instant.

“Oh, so now we’re friends?” She sounds annoyed, but nothing the dog does truly bothers Becca.

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