Epilogue

Max

"Are you sure they're going to like me?" Charlotte asks me for the third time.

"Beautiful, you've video chatted with my sisters more than once. Today is just in person. They already love you." I reach over and put my palm to her belly. "How's my baby doing today?"

"He's very active. I think he's dancing on my bladder. Maybe he's practicing his ice skating."

I chuckle. "Good to hear it, but I actually meant how are you doing? Other than being nervous for no reason."

"Well, I have to pee, and I am nervous. But I'm excited too. Your sisters practically raised you; they're a good reason why you are the man you are. So, I already love them for that."

"They know you make me happy. That's all that matters to them. "I turn down the driveway that leads to my childhood home, the house where Luna and Mason now live. "Ready? Because we're here." I reach over and grab her left hand, tapping my thumb on her engagement ring.

The front door opens, and my sisters and their husbands are already congregating on the porch. Dane has one of their dogs with them; I think this one is Cornbread, but I'm not sure.

I go around to Charlotte's side and help her out, then link our hands together and pull her towards the house. My heart feels like it could burst at any moment. All my favorite people right here in one place.

"Charlotte!" my sisters squeal in unison and then run into the yard to wrap my woman in a three-person hug.

My brothers-in-law come down the porch steps and give me the standard handshake, one-armed hug combo.

"This is my fiancé, Charlotte. Baby, you know Shelby and Luna, but this is Dane and this is?—"

"Holy shit. Your Mason Ball from Soul Obsession."

He gives her a grin. "That I am, love."

Charlotte pulls me to her side. "Is there a reason why you neglected to tell me that one of your sisters is married to an international pop star?" She's speaking through her teeth as if she's whispering, but everyone can clearly hear her words.

"The shine wears off really soon," Luna says.

"Little moon," Mason chastises.

Dane steps forward. "I'm the boring brother-in-law. Nice to finally meet you, Charlotte. Max talks about nothing else."

Shelby laughs. "Yeah, when he came home shortly after y'all first met, he was so sad. Weren't you, Maxie-pad?"

"Oh God, can we not do that? I'm going to be a father, for fuck's sake. I think I've grown out of y'all's ridiculous nicknames."

"I think Maxie-pad is kinda cute," Charlotte says with a grin.

"Don't even think about it. I know all of your tickle spots."

"That's just fighting dirty," she says. "It's unfair to tickle a pregnant woman."

I pull her to me and kiss the top of her head.

"I picked up some more of those cinnamon rolls you like from Sugar Bakers," Luna says to me.

Mason grunts. "I asked you to go and get me something there the other day and you said you were too busy."

"I see you all the time. I don't get to see my baby brother."

Mason rolls his eyes and reaches over and punches my arm. "Wanker."

"Have you ever been to Saddle Creek before?" Shelby asks.

"I think I've driven through it or nearby a time or two, but never come to visit. But you know the craziest thing, my sister works for a company that's headquartered here. Her boss keeps trying to convince her to move."

"Who does she work for?" Luna asks.

"JD Granger."

"JD's a good guy," Luna says. "I think we graduated close together in high school. I don't know. Some of us have just lived here for so long that we just know everyone, and we forget how we met in the first place."

Charlotte smiles. "That sounds really nice."

"You tell your sister if she ever wants to come and check out the town, she's welcome to stay here with us."

"Oh, I will. She is gonna flip out when I tell her about Mason."

"Wait until you hear about the other celebrities that live here," Shelby says. "They have a club."

"It's not a club. We just meet periodically to discuss the hazards of that lifestyle and make sure security in the town doesn't need to be increased."

"A club?" Charlotte asks. "Seriously? Who are we talking about?"

"Micah Stone," Shelby says.

"The country singer?" Charlotte asks.

"Yep and Jess Munoz, though around here she goes by Jess Whitmore. She's actually my sister-in-law because she's married to Dane's older brother."

"Y'all are lying," Charlotte says.

"She's telling you the truth," Mason confirms. "After living the celebrity life, Saddle Creek is a refreshing place to call home. No one here seems to care who we are." He chuckles.

"There are a couple of baseball players," Luna says.

"Oh, don't forget Andrew Riggs," Shelby says.

My brothers-in-law both groan.

"Who's that?" Charlotte asks.

"He used to be a body double in movies. Primarily his butt. Did some huge films."

"Mr. Perfect Cheeks," Luna says. "Something like that."

"I totally know who you're talking about. He does have a very nice ass."

I clear my throat and look at Charlotte.

"Not as nice as yours though." She smiles up at me. "That was a lame save."

We finally all make it inside the house, then congregate around the kitchen table where Luna serves those amazing cinnamon rolls.

"Ermegard!" Charlotte moans around her bite. "That's insane."

"Right?" I ask.

"Okay, so I want to hear more about this fight you were in," Luna says, pointing at me.

"It's not a big deal. Just one of the players was talking shit about Charlotte, and it was unacceptable."

"Max isn't the only one who punished him," Charlotte says.

"Yeah, I heard your brother got in on it," Shelby says.

"Sorta. He basically threatened to report him for sexual harassment if it happened again."

"Damn," Dane says. "That's the kind of brother you want."

"Brendan was great, and the whole experience bonded him and Max. But the best part was the fact that the player showed up at our house two days later, still sporting his double black eyes and busted up nose. He had a plate of cookies and an apology. Evidently his mother caught wind of what happened and reminded him that was not how she raised him to talk to or about women."

"That's so awesome!" Shelby says.

Yeah, I think it's safe to say that my girl is gonna fit in just right.

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