Chapter Forty-One

Blake

C hristmas has never been a big deal to me. For most of my life it's a day that's been centered around football, but this year we aren't playing on Christmas Day, and I'll be instead spending the day at Willa's with our families. Since I hosted Thanksgiving, she's doing Christmas. I have a gift I'm going to give her, but I'm unsure if I want to do it in front of everyone. I'm very much a grand gesture guy, but I don't know if I want this to be a grand gesture.

Bret is sitting next to me as we all ride over to Willa's. Willa and I spent the night apart and while it sucked, I'm more than excited to see her this morning.

My brother clears his throat. "Before we get there, I want to see where your thoughts are about Willa's gift. Are you planning on doing something..." He lowers his brows and voice. "Publicly?"

I'm so confused. "What the fuck are you talking about, Bret?"

He rolls his eyes, frustration apparently causing him to frown. "You can't take a fuckin' hint, can you? Are you planning to propose?"

"Not in public, ever." I'm quick to answer. "When that happens, it's going to be just the two of us. I don't want that to be something that everyone else is involved in. We've got to have something for ourselves."

"Okay, good." He sighs. "I have an announcement to make."

CeCe leans over him. " We have an announcement to make."

"Congratulations!" I whisper to them so that our parents, who are driving, don't hear. "You don't have to worry about me upstaging."

"It wasn't about that," Bret is quick to say. "I hope you know..."

"I do. I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I'm excited as fuck for y'all. No better people than the two of you."

I glance out the window thinking about when this might be me and Willa. I know it probably won't be for a couple of years at least, but I'm excited about the direction our lives will be taking. As we pull into the underground parking garage, I prepare myself for the next few hours, and pray like hell I don't lose my nerve.

Conner laughs as Willa threatens to take me off his fantasy football team if he doesn't leave her alone.

"I wouldn't fuck with her, man. She usually means what she says," I warn him.

"Oh, I know." He slings his arm around her neck. "But she's also a lot of bark and not much bite."

She smacks him on the head. "You're about to feel my bite if you don't get out of here so I can finish following these instructions and hope I have cookies when I'm done."

He scrambles out of the room, and I turn to take her in my arms. "It's okay that you can't cook well. You're good at so many other things," I whisper, dropping my eyebrows in a suggestive gaze.

"I know." She sighs. "But I promised my mom I'd try and make something. No one is going to eat these." She rolls her eyes and whines like I've never heard her do before.

"I'll eat them and love it."

She laughs, throwing her head back. "You're really a glutton for punishment, Blake. You can't be this perfect."

"Not perfect at all. Just perfect for you."

Presents have been opened, and we're sitting down to dinner. I even choked down one of those cookies with a smile on my face. Food is piled high. Those of us who can are drinking, and all of us are laughing as there are numerous conversations going on around the table.

In the middle of it, I realize that this is what I've always wanted. I might not have been able to put it into words or actions, but this is it. The woman I love at my side and her family, my family, all turned into ours.

Bret stands, clearing his throat. "I wanted to take a minute to share some news with you all before we share it with the world at large." CeCe stands next to him, and Jovi giggles as she watches her parents.

"We're pregnant!" CeCe blurts out, much the way she did when she told us about Jovi.

Everyone cheers, including Jovi, although I don't think she understands much of what's going on. As I glance around the table, I hope that with any luck this is what holidays will look like from now on.