Page 171 of Forever To Me

Caroline claps her hands. “Alright, you have to answer without thinking. Would You Rather: Fight one horse-sized duck or ten duck-sized horses?”

Mack gasps. “Oh, ten duck-sized horses for sure. I could take ‘em out one by one.”

Caroline doubles over laughing. “You’re so right. Great plan.”

Mack’s face lights up at that, and I feel something in my chest pull tight—because she doesn’t have many people who say things like that. People who see her and instantly just… claim her as family.

Violet nudges me, slipping her hand into mine. “You okay?” she murmurs.

I squeeze her fingers, letting out a slow breath. “Yeah.” I glance back inside, where Mack and Caroline are now attempting to juggle lemons and failing miserably. “Yeah, I really am.”

She leans into me, her head resting briefly against my shoulder.

I’ve spent years avoiding this kind of thing. The big family gatherings, the loud dinners, the easy laughter that stretches long after the plates have been cleared.

But now, standing here with Eli flipping steaks, Maggie giving me hell, Mack bonding with Violet’s mom, and Violet right next to me where she belongs…

Damn.

This house has never felt more like home.

Eli slaps a steak onto a plate and nods approvingly. “Alright, Walker. You officially passed the ‘meet the parents’ test.” He claps me on the back. “Welcome to the family, son.”

I glance at Violet, who’s watching the whole thing with soft, happy eyes.

Maggie laughs. "He's already been a part of this family for a long time."

This all feels like something I never thought I’d have. It’s not the big things. Not the grand, life-changing moments. It’s the small ones.

It’s Eli standing next to me at the grill, arguing about the best way to cook a steak like we’ve been doing this for years. It’s Mack laughing in the kitchen with Caroline, completely at ease in a way she doesn’t let herself be with just anyone. It’s Maggie giving me hell while secretly watching over me like she always has.

And it’s Violet, her hand in mine, like she’s always belonged here.

For so long, it was just me, Maggie, and Mack. And that was enough. We had our routines, our way of moving through life—just the three of us, making it work. But this?

I always thought I was meant to keep people at arm’s length. That opening my home—my heart—to more than just Mack would end in loss, the way it always had before.

But tonight, I don’t feel like an outsider. I don’t feel like a man trying to find his place.

I feel like I already belong.

I glance over at Violet, watching as she playfully bumps Maggie’s shoulder while setting the table. She catches me looking and just smiles.

And right then, I know—I’ve already got everything I’ll ever need.

Chapter 38

Violet

The Black Dog is a madhouse.

It’s supposed to be a calm, professional setting for our interview with People Magazine, but I should’ve known better. When Will arranged this, we mostly wanted to counteract the negative publicity we’ve had since Stella dropped her bombs. And we were offered a nice chunk of money from doing the interview that will go towards the startup of our new label.

This is Bridger Falls. And they know what a big deal this is, and they're taking full advantage of this and giving us hell.

The interviewer, Laura, who appears to be questioning her life choices, sits across from me and Walker at a booth, her notebook poised, her phone recording between us.

Walker, as expected, looks like he’s five seconds from chewing through the wooden table to escape.

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