Page 120 of Charm

She moves to stand, so I follow suit. I take her in my arms to kiss her deeply before we dive into the dancing crowd.

“I love you,” I whisper. “I love you so fucking much.”

“I love you, too,” she says. “Until the end of time.”

EPILOGUE

Holden

Three Months Later

I glanceat Greer as we drive up to the beach house in East Hampton. It’s our first time here since we met.

“Is this it, Dad?” Olive asks from the back seat of my car. “This big house is our house?”

I reach for Greer’s hand to kiss her palm before I answer. “It’s our house. I think you’re going to like it here.”

“Like?” She laughs as she unbuckles her seat belt. “I already love it here. Is the water close?”

“Very close,” I tell her. “We have a pool, too.”

“No way!” She taps the back of Greer’s seat. “Maybe Kirby can come with us next time, Mom. Can you ask Uncle Rook if she can come next time?”

Witnessing Greer become an integral part of my friend group has been a gift to me. She effortlessly fell into step with all of them. Rook and Carrie’s daughter, Kirby, has become fastfriends with Olive. They’re about a year and a half apart in age, but that hasn’t stopped them from making plans to make friendship bracelets together, go to the park for playtime, and even arrange sleepovers.

Greer has been coordinating all of that with Rook and Carrie.

It took Greer some time to adjust to Krista’s move to Los Angeles, but they talk on the phone every day. Greer cried when Krista told her that her daughter would be named Ceci when she’s born. It’s a fitting tribute to the friend they both loved and lost.

Greer has been working closely with Rocco on mapping out a path forward for Sweet Indulgence. Before she officially signed on the dotted line to approve the sale of Krista’s share to Rocco, we briefly discussed the idea of partnering on the business.

At the end of the day, and after hours of discussion, we decided our personal partnership would always be our priority. Adding the extra layer of a shared business interest to that is not something either of us views as a priority right now.

I’ll always be available to offer her advice if she asks for it, but her business is going places and I couldn’t be prouder.

“I’ll talk to Rook.” Greer shoots me a smile.

“Let’s get inside.” I swing open my car door. “There are bouquets of roses inside for my two favorite people.”

“That’s Mom and me!” Olive yells as she slides out after I open her door.

She races toward the house, looking up at how expansive it is.

As we follow her up the paved walkway, Greer glances in the direction of Mrs. Frye’s house. Even though it’s not visible from here because of all of the trees and shrubbery, it still brings back memories of the day we met.

“After Olive goes to bed tonight, I’ll go over there and take a dip in the pool,” I whisper in her ear. “I’ll leave an umbrella close by so you can threaten me.”

She lets out a laugh. “You’re not funny.”

“You laughed,” I point out. “So, I am funny.”

“Dad is funny.” Olive nods as we get closer to where she’s standing by the door. “He told me a joke last night about a pony that’s sick.”

“It had a sore throat,” I set up the punch line.

“That’s called a little hoarse,” Greer says with a laugh. “That’s it, right?”

Shaking my head, I playfully poke her in the side. “You’ll pay for ruining my joke later.”

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