Epilogue

Ava ~ Winter Break

"There's a surprise for you outside."

"Why? Where are you?" Colter asks. His voice is a mix of both curiosity and skepticism.

"Come outside," I urge, bouncing on the balls of my feet. I exhale a sigh, and my breath forms a cloud and dissipates into the cold air.

The sound of a chair moving echoes through the other end of the call, and I picture him standing and heading toward the door. "Why do I feel like you're up to something right now, Ava?"

I grin. "Will you just get your butt outside here? I miss you and didn't just fly home to Braysen early for nothing."

Even I don't miss the word home, but we both know it's not the place I'm talking about. It's Colter. He's my home, and he has been from the moment we first met.

I stand at the foot of his grandparents' driveway. I didn't even bother going into my apartment when I got home. Instead, I immediately loaded my suitcase in the back seat of my car and got here as soon as I could.

Colter comes barreling out the door and across the yard toward me. He swoops down and lifts me into his arms, and I wrap mine around his neck, holding on tight.

"What the hell are you doing? I thought you weren't gonna be here until Wednesday. I can't believe you're here." He buries his face into my neck, and I soak up the feel of being near him again. "God, I've missed you," he hums, pulling away and crashing his lips on mine.

"I missed you too," I whisper when we break the kiss.

"I didn't think you were coming back to Braysen for a couple of days. What changed?"

I shrug. "Well, that was the plan, but Alec had to get back to Keaton. They have their bowl game this weekend. I decided to change my flight and surprise you."

Colter's smile grows wide, and he presses his forehead against mine and kisses me before he lowers me to the ground. With our hands linked together, he leads me to the house.

I've met his mom and grandparents on his dad's side of the family already. They've been to every one of Colter's football games. His younger sister, Wyatt, is usually with them too.

Before winter break, Colter brought up how he wished I could be there to celebrate the holidays with him too, without having to miss time with my family. My parents made the trip down to see us for fall break. Since Alec and I both had games the day after Thanksgiving, we couldn't leave. My mom has healed up from her surgery, and I know my parents were eager to see us. This was the longest time both of us had been away.

So, when Christmas came and we had more time to get away for the holidays, I didn't want to miss the chance to spend it with my family, even though a part of me wanted to be in Braysen with Colter.

Wyatt steps out onto the front porch, her chocolate-brown hair whipping around her. She's dressed in a red turtleneck and denim jeans. She's as sweet as she is beautiful, and she's grown to be like a sister to me.

As soon as Colter introduced us a couple of months ago and we chatted, we hit it off. She was my partner in crime, helping pull off the surprise today.

"Well, were you surprised?" Wyatt asks, her eyes bouncing between the two of us.

"Were you the one behind this with her?"

She shrugs. "Maayyybe?" We exchange a look, and I flash her a wink.

"Wyatt may have helped by giving me your grandparents' address. Otherwise, she's completely innocent in all of this."

Colter wraps his sister in a quick hug and thanks her before leading me into the house. I recognize a few people—his grandparents, sitting at the dining room table—along with Colter's aunt, his dad's sister, and her husband, along with their two kids the same age as Colter and Wyatt.

They're playing what looks like an intense game of spoons.

Colter told me about his relationship with his grandparents and how they played a bigger role in helping raise him after his dad passed away. I can see bits of him in both of them—the way he is quick to always look after me reminds me of his grandma. She's on her feet, offering me a plate of food as soon as she sees me walk through the door since they had finished eating not long before I showed up.

When I take a seat next to Colter, his grandpa tries to deal me into the next game.

"I'd be careful with her if I were you. She plays it off that she's all sweet and everything, but before you know it, she's cleaning house on ya." Colter narrows his eyes on me, and I roll mine.

"Ignore him," I joke. "He's a sore loser, is all. He's yet to find a game he can beat me at, and I think he's starting to take it personally." I press my lips together, trying to smother my smile.

His nostrils flare, and I know I've got him there. There's a flicker of intensity in his gaze, one that says he'll enjoy getting me back for that one later. Likely torturing me until he has me writhing, begging him to put me out of my misery.

"Is that true, Son? You turn into a sore loser, did ya?" His grandpa smirks, and Colter shakes his head.

"Don't listen to a word she says. That's how she gets you," he warns.

After winning two games of spoons and a round of poker, Colter leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest.

"Told ya." He smirks, nodding toward the table. "I tried tellin' ya, and that's why she just whooped our ass for the third time tonight."

I blow on my nails, buffing them off on my shirt, and shrug. "I'm sorry. I'll sit out for the rest of the night if it makes you feel better." I snicker, not even trying to conceal my smile.

My eyes lock on Colter's, and I don't miss the way his eyes trail down my body before slowly making their way up to meet mine.

He pushes himself to stand, leaning in close to my ear, and whispers, "Come with me."

"Where are we going?" I ask under my breath, flicking my gaze around the table. No one's paying attention to us at this point. They've already moved on to their next game of Texas Hold'em.

"Don't worry about it. Just come with me, Ava. Now."

Just when I think we'll slip out the back door undetected, Colter's grandma calls after him. "Where are you two running off to?" She raises her brows, glancing down at our joined hands.

There's no mistaking that she's onto us, but thankfully, Colter is quick on his feet and fires off a response. "I told Ava I'd take her out back and show her around the shop."

She nods. "Well, don't be long. I'm gonna cut into the apple pie I made and dish it up soon."

I didn't have the heart to tell her I was full. Colter replies with, "Yes, ma'am," and nods, pulling me out the door with him.

The shop was in a large building on the back of the property. As we walk back there, Colter tells me stories about when he was younger and how he and his cousins would always hang out here. They had four-wheelers, go-carts, dirt bikes, you name it. A never-ending list of ways to keep three boys occupied, along with Wyatt, who I know loved to tag along.

The shop is more of a man cave if I'm being honest. A bar wraps around the back corner with two large-screen TVs. If I've learned one thing, it's that the Vaughn boys take their football seriously.

"You wanna rack 'em up?" Colter says, tugging on my hand. He nods toward the pool table near the middle of the shop.

"You really want to push your luck today?" I tilt my head to the side.

"I'm bound to beat you one of these times." The look in his eyes shifts, and there's no mistaking the desire when his voice drops low and says, "I guess I'm feelin' lucky tonight."

I suck in a sharp breath and manage to force my feet to move, taking the rack off the wall and begin arranging the balls in the center of the pool table.

I let Colter take the lead this time, and he's the one to break.

"Solids," he says, pointing with his pool stick toward the far-right corner pocket before leaning down to line up his shot.

He makes the first three shots before turning it over to me. We exchange a couple of turns until he misses, sending it back to me to try to take the win.

"Nine ball, corner pocket." I motion with my stick, and Colter nods, his fist tightening on his cue.

I smirk, leaning down to line up my shot and fire it off, watching it bounce against the corner of the pocket and roll into the center of the table.

"Well, well, well…" Colter says, his smirk growing wide.

He makes his next shot before he turns his attention over to me.

"What do I get if I make this shot?" he asks, and I raise my brow.

"The real question is, what do you want?" I tilt my head to the side.

"Let's be honest. My real gift is having you here." He sways his stick, once again letting his eyes rake down my body. The heat from his gaze sets my body on fire, warming every inch of my skin. "If I win, though, I want you to bend over the side of this table, and I'm gonna fuck you until we can barely stand."

My eyes grow heavy, and I nod, exhaling a shuddered breath. "I guess you better make this shot, then."

Colter raises his brow and curls his lip into a devious smile, turning toward the table. His eyes take in his options before he bends down and lines up his cue to make his shot, banking the ball into the left-center pocket.

"Would you look at that…?" He leans his cue on the side of the table, then stalks toward me, wrapping his arm around my waist until I press against him. "I think you're my best win yet."

He moves with me as I take two steps backward until I bump against the table. His warm breath feathers against my skin as he trails a path of kisses up my neck toward my ear.

"Colter," I whisper, putting my hand on his chest, and he hums in response.

"You didn't call your shot." He pulls away, not believing me. I drag my lip between my teeth, fighting the urge to smile.

His mouth drops open before he snaps it shut again, knowing what this means.

"Looks like I win." This time, there's no holding back the grin that takes over my face.

He mutters a low "fuck" under his breath before he wraps his hand along the side of my face, using his thumb to lift my chin until my eyes meet his.

"Turn around and put your hands on the table, Ava."

My breath catches in my throat, and he steps back, nodding for me to follow his orders.

"What are you doing?" I ask when he kneels on the ground behind me, reaching for the button of my jeans before jerking them down my legs.

He presses his large palm along my spine, moving me to arch my back and forcing my ass out toward him. He stares between my legs, a hungry look taking over his face.

His firm tongue swipes over my clit from behind, and my legs go shaky.

A low moan rumbles from deep in his chest before he says, "Calling the shots."

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