Page 130 of Hot Knot Summer
“That’s adorable,” River manages between fits of laughter. “You think condoms would survive us and our knots?”
“Okay, okay,” I say, though I’m still giggling. “Let’s just take things one step at a time. No need to plan the entire nursery just yet.”
Before anyone can respond, the firstfirework explodes across the sky in a brilliant cascade of gold and red that makes me gasp in pure delight.
“Oh my God,” I breathe, craning my neck to get a better view. “It’s incredible from up here.”
The fireworks bloom directly in front of us, so close it feels like I could reach out and touch the trailing sparks. The sounds are crisp and clear—the whistle of rockets launching, the deep boom of the larger shells, the crackling hiss as sparklers scatter across the night sky in showers of light.
Atlas scoots his chair closer, and River does the same until I’m completely surrounded by warm, solid Alpha bodies. Levi nuzzles my neck, and I can feel his chin resting on top of my head as we all tilt back to watch the show.
“This is perfect,” I murmur, letting myself sink completely into the moment. “I’ve never had a view like this for fireworks.”
“Wait until you see the grand July fourth finale,” River states. “They always save the best for last.”
A particularly spectacular firework explodes in a shower of blue and white, and I tip my head back against Levi’s shoulder with a contented sigh. His lips brush against my temple, and I shiver at the contact.
“You know,” I say softly, “I never really felt like I had a home after my parents died. Even living with my grandmother, as much as I loved her, it always felt temporary. Like I was just waiting for real life to start.”
The words slip out, riding on the magic of themoment and the safety of being held by these three incredible men.
Atlas reaches over to take my hand.
“Here,” I continue, my voice barely audible over the fireworks, “with you three, for the first time in so long... I actually feel like I’m home.”
The silence that follows is heavy with emotion.
“For the first time in years,” I whisper. “I feel completely loved.”
“That’s because you are loved,” River murmurs. “So fucking loved, it’s not even funny.”
“I fell in love with your smart mouth first,” Atlas admits, his thumb stroking over my knuckles.
“I fell in love with your laugh first,” River says, setting down his beer to give me his full attention. “But it was your courage that sealed the deal. The way you trusted us even when you were terrified, the way you let us see all your broken pieces.”
Levi kisses my cheek. “I fell in love with every inch of you,” he says quietly. “The way you create entire worlds with words, the way you see beauty in everything. But mostly, I fell in love with your strength.”
Tears stream down my face, but they’re good tears, filled with gratitude.
“I love you, too,” I manage through my tears. “All of you. I know it’s crazy fast, but it feels like this is what I’ve been waiting for my entire life.”
Another massive firework explodes overhead, bathing our faces in golden light. And I’mawed. The entire sky explodes in cascades of every color imaginable.
I’m surrounded by warmth and love and the absolute certainty that this is exactly where I belong.
“My parents would have loved you three,” I say, the words carrying a wistfulness that sends a sharp ache in my chest. “They always worried I was too stubborn to let anyone take care of me, but they would have seen how happy you make me.”
“They’d be proud of you,” Atlas says firmly. “At everything you’ve accomplished, everything you’ve survived. You’re incredible, Emma.”
“My grandmother used to say that love finds you when you need it most, not when you’re searching for it,” I continue. “I wasn’t looking for this… for you three. I was just trying to survive. But somehow, you found me, anyway.”
The grand finale begins, and the sky becomes a canvas of light, color, and sound. I gasp in wonder as burst after burst illuminates the night, each one more spectacular than the last.
“Have you ever been skinny dipping?” River asks suddenly, completely out of nowhere.
I nearly fall off Levi’s lap. “What? No! Why would you…”
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Atlas grins, already standing up.
