Blissed Out (Love Is #2.5) - Abby Brooks

BLISSED OUT (CHELSEA & MAX’S WEDDING)

ABBY BROOKS

LITTLE BIRD PUBLISHING, LLC

CONTENTS Copyright Dedication Connect With Abby Brooks Also by Abby Brooks Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Also by Abby Brooks

Copyright © 2016 by Abby Brooks All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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For Bill. My Bliss.

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Also by Abby Brooks The Moore Brothers Series Blown Away (Ian and Juliet) Carried Away (James and Ellie) Swept Away (Harry and Willow) Break Away (Lilah and Cole)

Love Is… Love Is Crazy (Dakota & Dominic) What Happened in Vegas (Dakota & Dominic’s Wedding) Love Is Beautiful (Chelsea & Max)

Chapter One I’ve imagined my wedding day since I was a little girl. Too young to understand love, but hooked on Disney princesses and all the dreams of happily ever after that come along with Cinderella and Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. I wanted a beautiful dress, all white and wonderful. A veil with a tiara that sparkled on my head and made the thousands of people watching me walk down the aisle gasp and hold their hands to their heart and wipe tears of joy from their gleaming eyes. I dreamed of my prince, so handsome in his tuxedo, smiling at me as I floated towards him, carried by singing birds, or fluffy clouds, or some other ridiculous nonsense. Turns out, real weddings aren’t like that. Not at all. I was under the impression that my wedding was going to be about Max and me, proclaiming our love for each other in front of the people who cared about us the most. And I thought planning it would be simple. We decide what we want and everyone is happy for us because it’s our day. We want to get married on a beach, so everyone in our family says: Oh, what a wonderful idea! We want to keep things small and intimate and so everyone in our family says: Of course! How lovely! Is that even remotely the way things are going? Hell no. You really should get married in a church, says Mom. Formal weddings are so much more respectable. Destination weddings are expensive, says Dad. It’s very selfish of you to expect us to take time off from work to travel. And pulling Charlie out of school…? Are you dieting? You’ve got a dress and a bikini to fit into. I’d be dieting if I were you. At least you don’t have to worry about being an old maid anymore. What about your great aunt Sally? I know you haven’t seen her since you were six, but she’s going to be so offended if you don’t invite her… And on. And on. And on. And on. It’s no wonder I’m a nervous wreck. But, on the upside, all the barbed remarks from my parents have proven just exactly why Max is everything I have ever needed. For every doubt someone else

plants in my head, he gives me a reason to trust my instincts and feel better about myself. He loved the simplicity of a beach wedding and after I suggested it, we spent one whole week scouring maps of the coastal states and Googling favorite tourist destinations. Max was the one who found the town we eventually settled on. I wasn’t sold on it at first, but after hearing his explanations, I couldn’t be more excited about where we chose to get married. It’s a small town in South Carolina. So small it barely exists. I can’t imagine there’s much to do there, which is why I kind of put up a fight when he first suggested it. But then Max explained why he loved it so much. “First of all,” he said that night, pulling the phone with the million open search tabs of possible wedding locations out of my hands and kneeling in front of me. “Look at the name.” “Bliss?” I remember wrinkling my nose and shrugging my shoulders. “Yes. Bliss. Can you think of a better place to get married than a town called Bliss?” I remember the way he smiled and I remember the way he looked at me. Open. Honest. Warm. His bullet blue eyes didn’t look like weapons that night while he kneeled in front of me. There was too much love in them to look even remotely dangerous. “Well, when you put it that way, it’s actually really poetic.” He had smiled and nodded before continuing. “But you know what else, Chelsea? Don’t you think the very fact that there’s nothing to do but lounge on the beach and drink and fuck makes this the most perfect place for us to get married? You need some down time. You need to unwind. You push way too hard, baby. I mean look at you, your shoulders are so tense they look like they’ll break if I touch you.” And of course, everything he said was true. So true that tears stung my eyes. I remember just nodding, my voice caught in the emotion locked in my throat. Leave it to Max to plan something for the way I need it to be done, not the way I think it should be done. When I asked him when he wanted to get married, he didn’t hesitate while he came up with an answer. He already knew. “October,” he said. “That’s when I first met you, and that’s when I want to make you mine.” It had all seemed so perfect at the time. I cried and hugged him and we planned the whole thing out the way we wanted it, my parents be damned. And in the months leading up to it all, I couldn’t have been more pleased with myself. Of course, now that we’re here, none of it seems right. “My parents are going to hate this,” I say as Max navigates us through the one street of shops and buildings that makes up downtown Bliss, South Carolina. “This isn’t about your parents.” Max smiles and peers through the windshield to get a better view of our surroundings.

Charlie pipes up from the back seat. “Even I know that. He’s had to say it enough.” Max drives slowly down the street and my back is so straight as I study the town we’ve chosen to get married in that I must look like a meerkat, especially given the way my head is swiveling from side to side as I try to take in everything all at once. The shops look appealing, and there’s something very quaint and welcoming about the store fronts. There are a handful of restaurants and cafes, all locally owned, nothing commercial anywhere. People are out on the sidewalks, waving at each other as they pass and stopping for conversation. We get more than our fair share of curious looks as we drive by with our unfamiliar faces and Ohio plates. “So, here’s the question that really matters,” Max says as we leave the populated part of Bliss and head out to our rental house on the beach. “What do you think?” I take a minute to process my response. The ocean is off to our right, completely visible during our entire trip through town. I’m struck by how vast and open it is. I don’t know if anything could have prepared me for the simple beauty of water meeting sky. Combine that with the inviting shops and restaurants and I think I might be in love with Bliss, South Carolina. “Honestly?” I ask, propping my elbow on the back of my seat so I can rub the back of Max’s neck. “It’s adorable and I love it and I can’t think of a better place to get married.” I consciously force myself to relax into my seat. If I stop worrying about pleasing my parents, I find these moments where I’m so totally happy I can’t help but grin. I love my fiancé so much. I love Charlie so much. I am so ready to make us a real family and am so glad to do it our way. “What do you think, bud?” Max looks through the rearview mirror at Charlie. “It’s pretty cool,” he says, eyeing the water. “You think there’s sharks out there?” Charlie’s been adapting really well, but he still approaches almost everything from a place of fear. He’s so wary. His eyes look like they belong to a hardened adult rather than a ten-year-old boy. Although, there are times—sweet and wonderful times—when that look fades away and he just looks plain old happy. The way a kid should look. Those are the times I wait and work for. Max shrugs his shoulders and meets Charlie’s eyes through the rearview. “Sure. Sharks live in the ocean, don’t they?” Charlie nods and stares out at the water, studying it like he would a potential enemy. Max understands that Charlie needs facts and information to help him through his fears. My instinct is to gloss over it all. I would have brushed off his question and then given him some bullshit answer, but that doesn’t work for a kid who’s already dealt with his fair share of monsters in his short little life. A kid who knows firsthand that danger can be hiding anywhere, in anyone and anything. “Why don’t we look up all the stuff we can find about what kind of sharks live here when we get to the house?” Max glances at Charlie again. “We can learn where they like to hunt and what kind of signs we can look out for and then we know what

to avoid when we’re in the water. Sound good?” Charlie nods. “Yep. Knowledge is power,” he says, parroting the phrase Max says every time we run into a situation like this. Max is such a beautiful person, so strong and smart. So protective and deeply loyal. Who would have thought he had all that goodness hiding under his scowling face and rough exterior? And Charlie? I think he’s got the same kind of soul. I’m so glad we found him when we did, even if we have had to fight through some difficult transitions. In this moment, the anxiety I’ve been living with almost constantly for the last few months has faded from view and I feel pretty damn wonderful. And then we arrive at the house we rented and it all comes zooming back and my shoulders clench and my stomach rolls with worry. I mean, I love the house. Really love it. It’s this stately thing with a wraparound porch and all these windows that look out onto our own private beach. Palm trees line the driveway and they sway in the light breeze coming off the ocean as if to welcome us home. It’s all so beautiful I could just pop with happiness. The house isn’t the problem. The problem is that I suddenly realize we’re all going to be crammed into this gorgeous house together. All of us. My whole entire family will be sharing one space for the next few days. My sisters are fine. They love me. They love Max. We’ll have fun together, no doubt about it. But my parents? Oh. My. Fucking. God. I can’t do this. Max and Charlie have dealt with enough of my whining already, so I put on a huge smile and wipe my sweaty palms on the back of my shorts as we climb out of the car. A man and a woman—the owners of the property I assume—stand up out of the white wicker recliners on the porch and come down to greet us. “Hey there. You must be Max and Chelsea,” says a man with dark hair and kind eyes. He extends a hand to Max. “I’m Ian Moore and this here is my beautiful better half, Juliet.” He gestures to an adorable woman who nods in greeting while a little Yorkshire Terrier winds its way through her legs. Charlie is instantly taken with the dog, which is surprising because he tends to look at all new animals like they might bite. “What’s his name?” he asks as he crouches down and holds out his hand. “Oh,” says Ian, looking at his wife with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “That’s Chopper.” Charlie looks up, surprised. “Chopper?” He regards the little dog, sizing it up and shaking his head. Juliet laughs. “No, her name isn’t Chopper. Would you please stop telling people that?” She gives Ian a look that means trouble. “Her name is Lulu and she’s very nice. You want to play with her while we show your mom and dad the house?”

I cringe, waiting for Charlie’s stock answer of they’re not my mom and dad. There’s always a moment of awkwardness that follows something like that. Imagine my surprise when he doesn’t say it. “Sure,” he says, shrugging. “She got a ball or anything?” Juliet pulls a toy out of her purse and hands it to Charlie who runs off to play with the dog in the front yard. “I bring her when I know visitors are arriving with kids who’ve been cramped in the car for more than a handful of hours.” Juliet gives me a knowing smile. “Brilliant,” I say because it really is. Ian wraps a strong arm around Juliet’s shoulders. “She’s really the brains of this operation. I’d be lost without her.” They show us around the house and it’s everything I could possibly want. I was excited after seeing the pictures online, but it turns out the pictures didn’t do it justice. The master bedroom is downstairs and off to itself, so Max and I can have some much needed privacy. The king-sized bed is situated so the first thing we see in the morning will be the sun coming up over the ocean through the floor to ceiling windows that make up the entire east facing wall. “We’ve stocked the bar for you,” says Ian as we walk out into the family room. He indicates a gorgeous wrap around bar with a marble top that Dakota is going to love. “It’s all free of charge. Our gift to you.” “That’s incredibly kind.” I run my hands over the cool stone and see an array of liquors and wines arranged on the shelves. Ian looks at Juliet with nothing but love in his eyes. “We kind of have a soft spot for people being in love here in Bliss.” “Don’t let his tough exterior fool you,” she says. “He’s got a romantic streak a mile wide.” We finish our tour of the house and get instructions on how to work the hot tub and who to call if there’s a problem with the pool. The more time we spend here, the happier I get. Max was right. This is the perfect spot to get married. “So,” says Max as Ian hands him the keys. “We’re planning to be as relaxed as we can while we’re here. Just spend our days drunk and happy on the beach. But, in case we need out of the house, could you recommend anything in the area?” “I took her skydiving when we first met,” Ian says, gesturing towards Juliet. “I swear it helped seal the deal.” “Skydiving?” My heart speeds up just thinking about it. “Wasn’t that terrifying?” I ask Juliet as Charlie comes bounding back to the porch with Lulu. “Utterly. But I’d highly recommend it anyway.” Charlie’s eyes go wide. “Skydiving? Like jumping out of a plane? Can we please do that?” “I’m not making any promises,” says Max, but he gets the information from Ian anyway. Great. And now my hands are sweating again. “If skydiving isn’t your thing,” Ian continues. “There’s Fantastic Sam’s in

downtown Bliss. They have live musicians almost every night and it’s a local favorite. I think the whole town shows up as soon as the sun goes down.” Juliet glances at Charlie. “Although it’s a bar, so it’s not exactly kid friendly.” “That’s true.” Ian shrugs. “Well, I was trying not to play up my family, but if you want coffee, there’s Good Beginnings. My brother and his fiancée own it and I highly recommend you pick up some of the house blend if you’re coffee fans. There’s also Moore Good Eats—” I perk up when I hear the name. “That’s where we’re having the rehearsal dinner!” “My other brother is the owner. I promise you, you’ll be very pleased with your choice.” Juliet nods her approval. “You really will.” “Wow,” says Max, eyeing the Moores. “You guys kind of own this town, don’t you?” “I wouldn’t go that far,” says Ian. “Again, don’t let him fool you.” Juliet shakes her head and gathers Lulu into her arms. “His family is pretty much local royalty.” “Our family.” Ian smiles down at his wife and I want to ask them how long they’ve been married. I’ve never seen such a happy couple. The Moores leave and we send Charlie out to play in the pool while we carry our suitcases in and unpack. We hang my dress and his tuxedo next to each other in the closet and I get all teary-eyed looking at them like that. Side by side, wrapped in plastic, a promise of so many good years ahead of us. I hope we stay as happy as we are right now. That our love is as palpable as Ian and Juliet Moore’s. We head downstairs, Max’s fingers twining with mine, me pressing against his strong body and I have to admit, this place really is blissful. Charlie’s out splashing in the pool, his happy laughter mixing with the constant rush of the waves lapping up onto the beach and it all soothes some rough patch on my soul. And then, as if on cue, like thunder rolling off in the distance just as you decide to go out and enjoy the day, comes the sound of cars in the driveway. Doors slam shut, first one, then two, then so many there’s no doubt in my mind that my entire family has arrived at the same time. So much for bliss.

Chapter Two Suddenly the house is churning right along with my stomach as my family streams through the front door, dragging luggage and bags that bump and thump over the tile floors. My sister squeal and run to hug me and I stumble backwards a little. “Holy shit!” Dakota steps back and looks around. “This place is incredible!” “Dakota…” My mother shakes her head and looks stern. “Language.” Maya rolls her eyes at me. “I wonder if she even noticed that at some point along the way, we all grew up?” There’s handshaking and back thumping from the men, my dad and Dominic greeting Max with the appropriate level of manly detachment. “This place looks like it cost a pretty penny.” Dad raises an eyebrow as he studies his surroundings. “You sure you’ve double checked your math? This has to be a bit of a stretch for a physical therapist and a public servant.” I swear, in that moment, my heart stops beating and my lungs stop processing oxygen and this high pitched whine settles into my head. Never in my life have I given him reason to think I’d be irresponsible about my money. That I’d be irresponsible about anything, for that matter. Max has more than enough money, thanks to an inheritance from his parents and grandma, but I’ve never bothered to tell my parents that because it’s none of their damn business. “It’s fine, Dad,” I manage through a clenched jaw. “We’ve got this.” Max cuts through the crowd of people to stand at my side. He wraps an arm around me and pulls me in close. His body is a shield. I feel protected by the sheer size of him. And let’s get real. With the way things are going, I really need him right now. “I’m sure you are, dear,” says my mom with a patronizing smile that says she doesn’t believe it for an instant. “I’m just glad you’re finally getting married. When you hadn’t found anyone and you were so close to thirty…” She whispers the word like she’s naughty for even saying it out loud. “Well.” She tosses her head. “I thought you were destined to finish your poor little life all alone.” Max tenses beside me and I hurry to fill the silence. “So,” I say brightly. “Did you guys all drive together? Or was it just good luck that you got here at the same time?” And I use those words—good luck—with the very loosest interpretation of their meaning. Dad drops a heavy hand on my shoulder. “We caravanned. We all wanted to do our best to make this little wedding the very best for our Moo.” I flinch. I can feel it. I hate that nickname with every fiber of my being. It’s haunted me since I was a little girl, fueling the demon-bitch in my head to question

everything I put on my plate, every bite I put in my mouth, every outfit I put on my body. “With all due respect, Mr. London,” Max says in his most authoritative voice, the one he uses when he’s on duty. “It doesn’t take much to see from the look on your daughter’s face that she doesn’t like that nickname very much.” My sisters’ eyebrows hit their hairlines in unison and Mom’s mouth drops open. My dad actually pinches my cheek. “But I love my squishy little Moo.” “Maybe it’s time you take a real look at the gorgeous woman your daughter has become. She’s not your squishy little anything anymore. She’s smart. Strong. Successful in her field. Sought after for her expertise.” Max smiles down at me. “And she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” The stunned silence actually echoes through the room and I don’t know how that’s even a thing but it’s totally happening right now. My dad purses his lips and regards Max as a cat might regard a mouse he may or may not want to pounce on at some point in the near future. “Well,” huffs my mother, looking around for some way to politely end the conversation. “Why don’t we all get ourselves situated.” We show them to the bedrooms upstairs and there’s this blessed quiet few minutes as everyone unpacks and gets their things in order. “Thank you for standing up for me,” I whisper to Max. He pulls me into his arms and runs his hands up my back. “I’ve got you,” he says as he drops his lips to mine and then all I know is that we’re kissing and it’s all good because I love this man with all that I am. When everyone has their stuff put away, we decide to join Charlie in the pool. I admit, it’s more than a little nice, lounging around while the sun bakes my skin. Today there is no time limit. No worry. We’re here, and that’s all that has to happen. My family chatters around me, conversation and laughter ebbing and flowing like the sound of the ocean. It’s relaxing. And maybe Max was right. Maybe I really could use a chance to unwind. And if the relaxation is nice, watching Max strut around in his bathing suit is downright decadent. That man is built like a brick wall. All hulking muscles and broad shoulders. Dominic is a big man himself, but he looks small next to my future husband. “They sure are pretty together,” says Maya from her place on the lounge chair beside me. “Who?” Dakota shades her eyes and looks over me to see Maya. “Max and Dominic.” Maya jerks her chin in their direction. “Fuck yeah, they are,” says Dakota and I’m glad Mom isn’t around to have a heart attack at her language. We watch as Dominic finds a boogie board in the crate of pool toys near the house. He throws it into the pool and then takes a running leap onto the thing, skims a few feet across the water, and then falls into the pool. He comes up laughing, shaking water out of his dark hair.

“You gotta try it, man,” he says to Max who’s already eyeing the boogie board with excitement. What follows is a ridiculous competition to see who can stay on the longest before falling off. Even Charlie joins in, laughing and smiling, modeling himself after the men. He couldn’t have found two better men to emulate. I may not have been Dominic’s biggest fan at first, but now that I see how happy he makes Dakota, his easy going nature is growing on me. Before long, the men exhaust themselves and the sun gets too much for our poor Ohio skin. Back home, we’d be wearing pants and considering jackets, but here? It’s been a balmy seventy-eight degrees since we arrived. We head inside and Dakota falls in love with the bar. She mixes us drinks while we lounge around the family room. “What else is there to do here?” asks Dominic during a lull in the conversation. Charlie jumps up from his place on one of the couches. “We’re going to go skydiving!” Of course, my parents are properly mortified while Dominic and Dakota look absolutely thrilled. Maya just turns to me with her eyes wide. “We never promised anything,” I say and Max explains that the property managers suggested it. “But there are some restaurants and coffee shops downtown,” continues Charlie, rattling off just about everything Ian told us when we arrived. “And this bar called Fantastic Sam’s that everyone here loves but probably isn’t kid friendly.” Charlie grins at Max, proud of himself for having the information that Dominic asked for. “You’re a pretty cool kid, you know that?” asks Maya. “Well yeah. I guess.” Charlie ducks his head. “But that’s just because I got Max to show me how.” The entire room erupts in coos and proclamations on the sweetness of Charlie’s statement while my mother quietly corrects his grammar. Charlie’s eyes go wide as he sucks in his lips and blushes furiously. It’s the one time we can ever see his blonde eyebrows, when his face is red from embarrassment. Fantastic Sam’s sounds absolutely wonderful and I can tell that my sisters feel the same way, too. What’s not to love about drinking, music, and dancing? But there’s no way Max and I can go, not with a ten-year-old boy. “Why don’t you guys go?” I say. “Max and I will stay here and play some games with Charlie.” Everyone looks at each other, waiting for someone else to speak before giving their opinion. It’s the single greatest weakness in my family. No one wants to say the wrong thing, because everyone knows there’s nothing worse than saying or doing the wrong thing. So we all just wait around for someone to tell us the right thing so we can cast our vote in that direction. If anyone’s going to break the silence, it will be Dakota or Dominic, so I turn to them. “Really. It’s fine. Go. Have fun.” I smile and just as I can see them getting

ready to say yes, my mom speaks up. “You know what? Why don’t you all go? We’ll stay here with Charlie. I don’t get enough time with my new grandson, anyway.” She looks at her husband and he nods in agreement. “We’ll take him seashell hunting on the beach.” I study Charlie, not so sure I’m ready to leave him with my parents. Not because I don’t think they’ll take good care of them, but maybe they’ll try so hard to take good care of him that they’ll find the chinks in his armor and install a you’re not good enough button in him just like they did for me. But he’s smiling and nodding and looking downright pleased. “That sounds awesome!” he says, staring at my mom with gratitude in his eyes and that just seals the deal. We call it a plan and head to our respective rooms to get cleaned up for a night out. The moment our door closes behind us, Max pulls me into his arms and drags my shirt up over my head. His mouth is on my neck, my jaw, my chest. “It was all I could do to watch you prance around in that little bikini today,” he says and then bites at my nipple through the thin lace of my bra. “You think that was bad?” I pause and moan as he kisses his way back up my neck and throat. “Have you seen yourself in a swimsuit?” Max presses his hips forward and the very large, very hard bulge in his pants stabs me in the stomach. “I want you so much.” “The feeling is very mutual.” I grab his dick and give it a little squeeze. Just as I reach for the button on his pants—because damn it, family in earshot or not, this is my wedding week and if I want to have wild sex with my fiancé then I’m going to have wild sex with my fiancé--Max steps out of arms reach. “Go take your shower,” he says, jerking his chin towards the master bath. “Come take one with me.” I step towards him, grab his shirt, and give it a little tug. Max shakes his head. “Not yet,” he says with a smile that I’ve learned means I’m in for one hell of a good time. “We’re going to play, but not right now. I want you so wound up by the time we get home that you’re ready to explode the moment I touch you.” I study him. Max loves his toys. We rarely have sex without some kind of instrument or another coming into play. It makes for some very, very fantastic orgasms. But fantastic orgasms come with a lot of screaming and moaning. I don’t know if I can be silent enough if he intends to spend the whole night at the bar winding me up. “Take your shower,” he says again, surely anticipating my question about just what he has in store for me. “You’ll see what I have in mind soon enough.” I do as he says and I’m already so turned on that even my own hands feel good as I slide them over my body. My finger glides over my clit and I consider relieving just a little of the pressure Max has built up in me. It wouldn’t hurt, right? Just a little shower orgasm compliments of none other than moi?

But that’s the thing. Ever since Max has come into my life, it just doesn’t feel as good to do it myself anymore. Sure, my muscles clench, and sure, there’s pleasure involved, but it’s missing something. When I come with Max, there’s power and emotion and substance behind it. The earth quakes and my soul cries out, and it’s all about us, together, loving each other and bringing pleasure to one another. It’s not like that when I’m solo. And if he’s promising earth-shattering for later, I’d be a fool to waste my time on anything but the best. I finish my shower just as turned on as I started it. Okay, maybe a little more turned on, because I spent the entire time fantasizing about having him inside me. And wouldn’t you know, when I come back into our bedroom, I find him totally naked. Totally hard. Dick in hand. Staring straight at me. I lose my grip on the towel I have wrapped around my body and it drops to the floor, carrying my jaw along with it. “Just wanted to give you a little peek at what you’ve got to look forward to,” he says as he brushes past me into the bathroom. “Get dressed,” he says as he shuts the door. “Wear a skirt. No panties.”

Chapter Three Fantastic Sam’s is the perfect little dive bar nestled right in the heart of downtown Bliss. If I wasn’t so distracted by the fact that my skirt is short and my thighs are damp and the wind coming in from the ocean wants to put it all on display, I’d find it funny that they call this little strip of shops downtown. I mean, I thought I grew up in a small town, but compared to Bliss, Townsbury is a thriving metropolis. The parking lot beside the bar is full, so we have to park on the street. The Moores weren’t lying when they said this place was a local favorite. We press through the front doors into a wide open room filled with tables and chairs and people. My God, so many people. The bar is off to the right, kind of tucked into the corner and every seat there is taken. We find the lone empty table left in the joint-a cheap plywood thing barely big enough to accommodate all five of us--and claim it as ours. I take a seat, cautiously smoothing my skirt down to cover my ass as I do. “You think there will be music tonight?” asks Maya, indicating the little stage and dance floor beside us. “Your guess is as good as mine.” I have to shout to be heard because wow. This place is anything but blissful. A waitress sidles up to our table, her too-tight t-shirt clinging to a pair of utterly spectacular tits. Well, the part of her tits that aren’t falling out of the v-neck that is. I don’t usually like that word. Tits. I rarely use it. But those things are in no way shape or form polite enough to be called breasts. “You guys are new,” she says, popping her gum and flinging her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Just here for the week,” says Max and I have to give the man credit. He glances at her cleavage because it’s pretty much shoved in his face, but after that he keeps his focus glued above the neckline. And I have to give myself credit because, under the table, his hand is very busy sliding up my thigh and under my skirt. I spread my legs a little. I swear it’s a reflex. But reflex or not, Max takes me up on the offer and runs a finger across my slick folds. And why am I giving myself credit for all this? Because while it’s happening, I keep a pleasant smile on my face and manage not to dissolve into a series of wild moans and orgasmic sighs. “Well congratulations,” says the waitress, oblivious to what’s happening. “You might be Bliss’s first and only tourists.” She drops a hand on Dominic’s shoulder and gives him a sultry smile that has Dakota’s mouth dropping open. “What brings ya here?” Dakota smiles sweetly at the girl and flashes her wedding ring as she points at me and Max. “Those two are following in our footsteps and getting married.” She

pointedly takes Dominic’s hand and he drops his shoulder to bump lightly against hers. “Married?” The blonde’s eyes light up as she looks at us. Max stops playing with me under the table, takes my hand and kisses it. His finger leaves a wet streak on my palm. “Luckiest man ever,” he says and I squeeze my thighs shut as a surge of desire pools there. “Well that’s cause for real congratulations now, isn’t it? First round’s on the house then, alright? I’m Ashley and I’ll take super good care of ya’ll.” She takes our drink orders, scribbling them down on her little notepad and then beams at me. “I just love a good love story,” she says and then heads back to the bar, her hips swaying in the teeniest pair of shorts I’ve ever seen. “I think that was the classiest deflection I’ve ever seen,” Maya says to Dakota. “So smooth.” “When you’ve got a husband as sexy as I do, you get used to fending off the women.” Dakota slaps my hand. “Just wait, you’ll see. You’ll have to come up with your own way to let the ladies know your man is taken.” Out of nowhere, silence descends on Fantastic Sam’s. Surprised by the sudden change of atmosphere, we all look up in time to see a roundish man waddle onto the stage. Sweat drips from his ruddy face, but the guy has a smile you can’t help but like. The crowd cheers and claps and he holds up a hand and shakes his head. “You all know I’m not the one who gets the applause,” he says in a nasally twang. “I just own the place.” He grins, pleased with himself, and the crowd chuckles. “Ya’ll ready for some music?” The place goes crazy with a thunderous noise. Each and every customer here slapping their hands on the tables and stomping their feet into the floor. Dakota makes a face at me and joins in and before I know it, our whole table is slapping and stomping with the best of them “I’m betting this man needs no introduction, but I have to introduce him anyway. Ladies … gentlemen…” The man, I assume he’s Sam, scans the crowd and waggles his head like he’s coming to a decision. “And since no one deserving to be called those things is here tonight, I’ll just say, hey! You guys! It’s time to welcome Cole Bennett to the stage!” The bar erupts in laughter and more slapping and stomping as a tall young man takes the stage, a guitar slung over his shoulder. He’s as tan as he is blonde and has the strong arms and weathered skin of a man who spends a lot of time outside, working hard. He grins and there’s something in his eyes that reminds me of Max. He takes a seat without saying a word and picks a few chords on the guitar before starting into a song that has his fingers flying over the fretboard. His voice is as weathered as his face and just as beautiful, lending a layer of depth and emotion to the song that I wasn’t prepared to find in a little bar like this. The patrons of Fantastic Sam’s are rapt, tapping their feet and smiling despite themselves. A few people get up to dance. I consider asking Max if he wants to join them, but dancing to something this fast and upbeat in a skirt this short while not

wearing any panties seems like a bad idea. The last thing I want to be remembered for here in Bliss is as that one girl who flashed an entire bar. Ashley returns, a laden tray balanced on her shoulder. “He’s good, isn’t he,” she says with pride in her voice as she serves us. “That’s his wife over there. And his mom. They come every time he plays.” She points to an elegant blonde woman— her hands resting on a very pregnant belly—and an older woman sitting next to her. Each of them stare up at the man onstage, utterly rapt and pleased as could be. “It’s sweet, isn’t it?” asks Ashley. “Like I said, I just have a thing for a good love story.” We drink and talk, our conversation mostly focusing on how Dominic met Dakota and how I met Max and how we fell in love. Maya listens but doesn’t contribute much and I recognize the patented, fake London smile that stretches her face but doesn’t reach her eyes. The one we all use when we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings and we sure don’t want anyone to see our own feelings have been hurt. As far as I know, she isn’t seeing anyone and hasn’t seen anyone since high school. She’s been too busy living up to the demands of our parents, getting her medical degree and surviving her residency in pediatric surgery. I’m not the only one to see it and when Dominic asks Dakota to dance, Max takes a moment to catch my eye and then offers his hand to Maya. She tries to turn him down but there’s no denying Max of anything once he’s set his mind to it. Before she even knows what’s happening, she’s out on the dance floor laughing and smiling as Max spins her around like he knows what he’s doing. Just when I think I’ve found all the reasons I could possibly find to love this man, he goes and does something to show me that I’ve only just begun to understand how deep his heart goes. Thankfully, the musician switches to a slow song as Max brings Maya back to the table. After watching all the acrobatics he just put her through, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll flash each and every single person here at Fantastic Sam’s the moment Max gets me moving to an upbeat song. I wonder what Ashely would think of our love story then? Instead, Cole strums a lilting melody and croons into the microphone, his dusty voice the perfect back drop to the rush of Max’s breath as it whispers past my ear. He holds me tight. Presses my body to his, and we sway cheek to cheek. I close my eyes, utterly and completely in love with this moment. Determined to remember this song, this feeling, this … everything … for the rest of my life. Max drops a hand to my lower back and then slowly spins us so he’s hiding me from view before he slides that hand down over my ass and up under my skirt. The touch of his skin to mine is shocking in a public place. I gasp and freeze in surprise, but he’s strong enough to keep me moving. And just like that, his hand his gone and he spins us back so that I’m totally visible again. His dick hardens and presses into me and I’m so wet I don’t know how I’m going to sit down without making a mess. “I want to be inside you,” he whispers, his words hiding under the music. “My

thick cock filling your pussy.” My breath catches. Max isn’t one for talking and I’ve never had anyone say something like that to me. Ever. And I love it. “I want you down on your knees,” he continues. “I want you licking and sucking my dick, pleasing me.” He rubs his hand on my back. “All for me. All of you is for me.” I nod, not sure how to respond. “Say it.” He pulls back enough to look me in the eye. The whole rest of the world disappears from around us. It’s just him and me, swaying in time to the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard. “Say what?” I ask. “Tell me that you’re mine.” “Oh, Max. I am so yours. I was yours before I even met you, I just didn’t know it yet. And I’ll be yours for the rest of our life.” “Damn straight.” His voice is thick with emotion and for the first time ever, I think of the sky when I look into his eyes. The song ends and Max escorts me back to our table where we have fresh drinks waiting for us. “Damn guys,” says Maya, waving a mostly empty margarita glass our way. “What the hell was that?” I take a seat, careful to keep the fabric of the skirt covering my ass. “What was what?” “That.” Maya gestures towards the dance floor as Dakota and Dominic join us. “You saw it too?” Dominic asks as he pulls back Dakota’s chair. Dakota nods and widens her eyes. “I know I sure did.” Panic strums through my body and I take a long drink of my Long Island. Shit. Shit. Shit. Please don’t let them be talking about my ass. “See what?” I’m pretty sure I manage to sound confused rather than terrified. “That wasn’t a slow dance.” Maya takes a long drink of her margarita. “That was foreplay.”

Chapter Four Maya’s right of course, though I’ll never admit it. The rest of the evening is spent with Max’s hand going places it shouldn’t, and me feeling things I can’t believe I’m feeling in public, and way more Long Islands than I ever intended to drink. Apparently, Ashley saw the same thing everyone else saw, and since she’s a sucker for a good love story she decided to bring us drinks on the house for the rest of the night, whether we asked for them or not. By the time we get back to the house, I’m so ready to have Max to myself, I barely take the time to mutter goodnight to my sisters before I pull him down the long hallway to our bedroom. They giggle and shush each other as they head upstairs, reminding Dominic in loud whispers to be quiet so as not to wake Charlie and our parents. I close the door behind us and grab Max by the belt and pull him towards me. “You wanted me on my knees, didn’t you?” I ask, looking up at him as I lower myself to the floor. “I did.” Max undoes his buckle and slowly draws the belt from his pants. The hiss of leather against fabric sends a quiver of excitement through me. He reaches down and takes my hand, pulling me up to a standing position. “But I don’t anymore.” Max kisses me so tenderly I think my heart might break open, exposing all that I am to him once and for all. His fingers graze my jawline and thread up into my hair. His tongue skims my lips and I tilt my head back to let him in. We kiss for a long time, our hands exploring each other’s bodies, the rush of our breath mingling with the rush of the ocean and I can’t help the little moans and whimpers that come from me. I am consumed with love for him. Consumed with need. A desire to be closer and closer until there’s nothing left between us but the separate bodies we occupy. “I love you, Chelsea,” he says, dropping kisses on my cheek, my jaw. “I want you with me for the rest of my life. You’re so perfect for me. Everything I ever wanted wrapped up in one hell of a sexy woman.” Tears burn my eyes as he kisses me again. I pull at his shirt, needing to feel his skin against mine. Needing to give myself to him. Needing to take him for my own. He steps back and pulls it over his head. “I love you so much,” I murmur as he drops it to the floor. “Good,” he says. “I need you to.” He takes off his pants while I slip out of my clothes and finally, we’re bare to each other. He stretches me out on the bed, covering my body with his, holding himself above me with both of his hands on either side of my head. His eyes claim

mine as he slides himself into me. I clamp my mouth shut. I want to moan, to scream, to cry out with the ecstasy of the moment, but I can’t. Not when my whole family is just a few feet away. He fills me, stretching me like he promised he would and then he rolls his hips, slowly pulling himself out of me only to fill me once again. “You feels so good,” he says and I moan despite myself. He continues to move slowly, never once looking away from me. His eyes are windows and I see his love for me, see how much he wants me. My lips part and my breath speeds and Max changes his angle ever so slightly, the base of his shaft grazing my clit. I come. Exploding around him. Tiny little whimpers escaping my closed mouth. And never once do I look away from him. The compassion I see, the utter and complete joy he feels watching me come undone around him, it sets me free. As my orgasm fades, Max presses a kiss to my forehead. “Mine,” he says, his voice rumbling in my ear. “Yours.” He sits up. Grabs my waist with both hands and thrusts into me, in search of his own release. I watch him like he watched me. Noticing the change in his features, the need in his eyes, the pleasure that rolls over him as he draws close to his own orgasm. I come with him, as I suppose I will for the rest of forever because we are inexplicably tied. I go where he leads me. He shudders into me, as silent as he’s ever been and I realize I’m crying. I turn my head, desperate to hide the tears, but Max turns my face back to his. “What’s wrong?” he asks, worried. “Did I hurt you?” “No. God no.” He’s still inside me and I’m not ready to be without him yet. I grab his hips and hold him in place. “I just love you, that’s all. And that was beautiful.” “I agree, but only because you were involved.” He drags a finger across my cheek, wiping away a tear. “No.” I smile up at him and lean into his hand. “It was beautiful because we were involved.”

*** I don’t remember falling asleep, but I wake up to the sound of my mother singing in the kitchen, the scent of pancakes, bacon, and coffee wafting down the hallway. Max props himself up on an elbow and looks down at me. “Morning, beautiful.” “Morning.” “How’s your head?” He brushes a stray hair off my face. “I think you had your weight in Long Islands last night.” I crinkle my eyebrows together and take stock of how I’m feeling. “So far, so

good, I think. Although I’ll hold off on judgement until I find out what’s waiting for us out there.” I wave my hand toward the door as my mom calls us for breakfast in the exact same singsong voice she’s used since I was little. “Is she always like this?” Max sits up and swings his legs over the edge of the bed. “Always.” He shakes his head in wonder. “Our lives couldn’t have been more different.” We pull on some clothes and take a moment to look halfway presentable before we shuffle down the hallway where we find everyone at the table. My sisters and Dominic are hunched over cups of coffee, looking as bleary-eyed as I feel. “You guys don’t look as bad as they do,” chirps Charlie, looking almost proud of us, like we won some kind of competition. Dakota peers up at him. “Thanks, kid.” We sit and mom plops a platter laden with pancakes and bacon onto the table before presenting each of us with a champagne flute filled with something orange. “Mimosa’s for the headaches and orange juice for the kiddo,” she says and then whisks back into the kitchen to pour Max and me some coffee. We eat and damn, it’s good. I forgot how delicious my mother’s pancakes are. “So,” says my dad as we finish up breakfast. “The three of us talked last night and came to a decision. We’re all going skydiving today.” There’s a pause as his statement makes its way into our hungover brains and then everyone explodes into conversation at once. Dakota and Dominic are thrilled. They actually high five each other and dance around the kitchen like they’ve just heard the best news ever. Maya goes white as a sheet and I can’t quite make sense of what I’m feeling yet. “What about Charlie? He’s too young,” I say. “Nope!” he says, popping the ‘p’ at the end of the word. “We asked and as long as I’m big enough to fit the equipment, I can do it. And I’m pretty big for my age…” He looks as thrilled as Dakota and Dominic. I’m surprised he hasn’t started dancing with them yet. I look at Max. He just shrugs. “It’d be one hell of a memory…” My mom claps her hands together. “That settles it. The London brood is going skydiving!” The rest of the morning passes in a haze of excitement and what might actually be terror. I’m not so sure I want to do this, but I feel like I’d let my family down if I said I didn’t want to go. Thanks in part to Mom’s heavy duty breakfast, we’re all feeling fine by the time we have to leave for the appointment they made for us last night. We follow Dad on a long trip out of town and by the time we pull into a long driveway with a small sign that simply says Skydiving, I might actually be looking forward to it. And who would have thought I’d ever look forward to jumping out of a plane? Charlie, on the other hand, has gone silent. “Maybe I’ll be too small,” he says as we park and I’m pretty sure that’s hope I hear hiding under the fear in his voice.

We’re greeted by a small man who practically vibrates with energy as he introduces himself as Dillan. “A wedding, huh? That’s pretty badass. How’d you hear about us?” he asks as he shakes Max’s hand. “We’re renting a house from Ian and Juliet Moore. They told us about you.” Dillan grins and bobs his head. “I promise you, if they’re any indicator at all, this jump is going to bring you guys some serious good luck.” We spend the next couple hours learning all we need to know about what we’re doing today. Since none of us has done this before, we’re each doing a tandem dive. We’ll have a seasoned professional strapped to our back, making sure we’re safe. Charlie is definitely big enough for the equipment and he has the green light to jump, if he wants to. As we’re heading to the plane, Charlie holds back, walking slower and slower until he’s at the very back of the group. Max and I slow down with him. “What if I don’t want to?” he asks, looking up at Max with big, round eyes. “Then you don’t have to.” Max stops and drops a hand on his shoulder. “You can change your mind and stay on the plane and they’ll bring you right back down to us when it’s done. But listen to me. You came through some seriously tough stuff in your life and look at you. You’re totally fine. I know you’re strong enough to do this if you want to. I have faith in you.” Charlie nods and sets his jaw. He doesn’t say a word, but I can see him processing everything Max just told him. “You’re so good with him,” I say as Charlie climbs up onto the plane. “I used to be just like him. I just say the things my grandmother used to say to me.” “Then she sure was one hell of a woman.” Max nods his agreement as we find a place to sit next to Charlie. “That she was. You would have loved her.” We take off and I keep reminding myself of Max’s advice to Charlie. I don’t have to jump if I don’t want to. In fact, I’ve pretty much decided that if Charlie opts to stay on the plane, I will, too. Imagine my surprise when the boy pops right up when they ask who wants to go first. Max gives him a silent fist bump as they get his equipment set and strap him in with Dillan. They walk to the edge of the plane. Charlie’s blonde hair stands on end as the wind hits him in the face. His toes hang out over the edge and I hold my breath. And then, like that, they lean over and fall. My mouth drops open. “I knew he’d do it,” says Max, totally and completely the proud father. One by one, my family marches up to the edge and one by one they lean over and fall out of the plane. Even Maya, whose face is still white as a sheet and who hasn’t said one single word since we got here. Finally, there’s just me and Max left on the plane. “Ladies first,” he says and kisses me on the lips. “You promise you’ll follow me?” I ask, suddenly afraid that he’s planning on staying on the plane even though I know without a doubt he’s not scared. I need

him to do this with me. “Everywhere,” he says. “Always. For the rest of forever.” And with that, I find myself strapped to my instructor, toes hanging over the edge, wind whipping past my face. And we fall. Except it’s not like falling. It’s like floating. My body is cushioned by the air rushing up to meet it as we plummet to the earth. I scream, but the wind steals my voice and before I know it, I’m laughing as I float serenely towards the ground, the canopy open above me. We land and I cheer, running into the arms of my family as soon as I’m unhooked from my instructor. We hug and the looks on their faces mirror what I’m feeling inside, exhilarated and alive. I turn in time to see Max striding towards me. He swoops me up in his arms and spins me in a circle before putting me down. He reaches out for Charlie and pulls him into our embrace. “I love you guys,” Max says, his voice rough and raw. “I love you, too,” says Charlie, and I realize it’s the first time he’s ever said it to us. Before I know it, my family surrounds us. There’s hugs and cheers and so many damn pictures as we each talk about our own experience, comparing it to everyone else’s. There’s this moment where I catch myself smiling, Charlie’s small voice echoing in my head, just staring at this group of people. My family. A lump forms in my throat because I realize that for the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m well and truly happy with all of us together.

Chapter Five That night, we’re all sitting out on the back deck watching the moon swoop down over the sea. It’s late and Charlie’s in bed, but that hasn’t stopped us from talking about how proud we all are of him. My whole family picked up on his fear at the skydiving facility and not one single person other than Max expected him to jump. “He seems to be adjusting well,” says my mom, her eyes searching mine. I nod. “We’re getting there. We’ve had our rough patches, that’s for sure. I didn’t know how to be a mom and he didn’t know how to have a mom.” She shakes her head. “I’ve got three full grown daughters and I still don’t know how to be a mom.” That may be the first time I’ve ever heard my mother admit to a fault. It takes me off guard and I don’t know what to say. A quick glance at my sisters shows that they’re also still processing that statement. “He was basically feral when he first moved in,” says Max. “Totally used to being in control of what he did and how he did it. We’re lucky he’s a good kid with a good heart.” I stare out over the water, remembering some of the stories he told us about his life with a woman who really and truly had no right to be a mom. “It sounds like he was often the one in the parental role. As much as I hate it for him, what he went through when his mom left him, I’m very glad to know he’s out of that situation.” “Is he talking to anyone?” asks Maya. “A counselor? A therapist?” Max nods. “We see a family therapist once a month and he goes for some one on one stuff twice a month.” There’s a moment of silence and serenity and I can’t believe that I’m sitting here, having a normal conversation with my family. There’s no stress. No anxiety. No barbed comments. It’s so nice. Why isn’t it like this more often? “Well, I for one am so glad it’s working out,” says Mom and it sounds like she really means it. “Dakota found Dominic. Chelsea found Max and Charlie. Now I just need to worry about poor sweet Maya turning into the old maid of the family.” Maya visibly flinches and clenches her jaw. So much for the no stress version of a London family gathering. “Mom.” The word comes out of my mouth a little harsher than I intended it to. “What?” She looks utterly confused and offended. “Maya is only twenty-eight. And she’s a pediatric surgeon going through one hell of a residency at a trauma hospital. Just when do you expect her to find the time or energy to date?” I can’t believe what I just said, and judging by the looks of shock on my sisters’ faces, neither can they. No one stands up to Mom or Dad when they say stuff like that. That’s just not the London way to make waves.

“Oh, you know I’m proud as I can be of her. But I’m just saying. You girls aren’t getting any younger. The bloom is falling off the rose.” Mom makes it sound like that’s the worst possible tragedy or our lives. “You’re lucky you found someone like Max who wasn’t concerned with the fact that you’re looking a little older. And maybe, if you stop wasting time, there’s still a chance to have a baby of your own.” I’m appalled. “Mom!” “I just want what’s best for you.” Mom sighs, looking to Dad for support. “Your mom’s right. It’s something you just don’t understand because you don’t have any biological children.” And that, my friends, is the final straw. I can feel it settling on all of us. The weight of what they just said. The gravity of it. Years and years of comments like that baring down on me and Maya and Chelsea. I sit up and look at my parents, the self-nominated spokesperson for me and my sisters. “Maybe it’s time to realize that at this point, we know what’s best for ourselves.” Maya sits forward as Mom and Dad spit and sputter in exasperation. “She has a point. I’ve spent the last ten years of my life preparing for my career while other people were out experiencing life. And now that I’ve wasted my youth, or so you’d have me believe, I’m coming to the conclusion that I chose this path for you guys. Not for me. And this is where I am now, and as much as I love that I’m making a difference in people’s lives, I’m not so sure I would have gone in this direction if you hadn’t pushed me into it.” Dad clears his throat, the customary warning sign that he is beginning to get irritated. The London version of a rattlesnake shaking its tail. “So you’d rather be like Dakota then? Living the kind of life that keeps us awake at night?” Dakota sits up. “Hey! I like my life, fuck you very much.” Mom gasps. “Dakota!” This is all about to go downhill very quickly. And here I was just thinking that we might be able to survive this week together after all. I’m desperate to get things back on track, but have not one single idea what to say or how to do it. Max stands up, showing his palms. “Listen to your daughters, Mr. and Mrs. London,” he says in his cop voice. “I know you don’t like what they’re saying, but as an outsider looking in, it’s clear they really need you to hear them.” Dominic nods. “He’s right.” Max continues. “I know you’re trying your best to make sure they’re good, strong women, capable of reaching all the potential you see in them, but, maybe it’s time to take a step back and look at who they are. They’ve accomplished so much. What more do you want for them?” My mom stares at his, studying each of our faces in turn. “I just want what’s best for them,” she repeats. “I love my life,” says Dakota. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.” I stand up and wrap myself in Max’s arms. “I have a job I love, a man I adore, and a kid I think the world of. What more could you possibly want for me?”

We all turn to Maya who makes a sad face. “I have a job that sucks the very marrow from my soul sometimes, a crap load of student debt, and a home I can barely keep clean because I’m always at work or exhausted because I was at work. Congratulations, Mom and Dad. Mission accomplished.” And with that, she stands up and hurries inside, leaving us all to stare after her in surprise.

Chapter Six Later that night, as we’re brushing our teeth and getting ready for bed, Max takes my hand. He meets my eyes through the mirror and smiles such a sad, sweet smile, that I take my toothbrush out of my mouth and turn to him. “What?” I ask around a mouthful of toothpaste. “I’m proud of you.” I spit and rinse my mouth. “For what? For making a big scene with my parents and upsetting Maya when we still have two more days we have to spend in this house together?” Max laughs. “No. For standing up for yourself. For your sisters. You parents have the best intentions in the world, I know they do, but they needed to hear everything you said tonight.” “Maybe,” I say. “But I don’t think anything is going to change. They’re still going to be them, overbearing and passive aggressive as all hell.” I shake my head. “I feel really bad for Maya. I’m worried about her.” After she ran upstairs, we all took turns trying to get her to come out and talk to us. She kept insisting that she was fine and just needed to be alone. The whole thing just breaks my heart. I keep thinking of her, locked in her room. Hurting. Alone. I can’t imagine how she’s feeling right now, after spending a decade in school and a small fortune on education, only to realize she might not actually want to be a surgeon. I want to fix it and make it all better for her and I’m not sure if that’s something I can do. I think that’s up to her. “I’m not worried,” says Max. “What? Why?” He takes the toothbrush out of my hand and sets it on the counter. “Life is all about ups and downs. You’ve gotta recognize that you’re down in order to fix things and work on climbing back up again. Sure it’s bad when you’re in one of those valleys, but it only makes the view from the top all the more sweet. Maya’s down. She’s not happy and anyone who looks close enough can see it. But instead of addressing the issue, she’s pretending that everything’s fine when it isn’t. And that just makes life one long, straight line. No ups or downs, just a whole lot of tedium. There’s nothing good about living a life like that.” “No, there really isn’t.” “That’s why I don’t feel bad for her.” Max runs his hands up and down my arms. “She got knocked out of that long, straight, flat line tonight. And sure, she’s in a valley now, but that only means she’s got nowhere to go but up.” “What if she stays down?” I look up into those endless blue eyes and wonder how I ever made it this far in life without him. Funny thing is, I think I was in the

middle of a long straight line before he found me and showed me the view from the top. “Have you ever known a London who could handle staying down? Ever?” I laugh, despite myself. “Never. If there is a ladder to climb, then by golly, we’re going to climb it.” “Exactly. Sure, Maya’s down. But all you need to do is show her the ladder.” I let out a long breath. “How do you always know how to say the perfect things?” “Because I’m just that awesome.” Max gives me a huge grin, one that is so very rare on his typically scowling face. One that I don’t think many people ever get to see. “You really, really are.” I dig through my makeup bag for my birth control pills. As I pop one out of the little individual seals, Max puts a hand on mine, stopping me. The grin is gone from his face and the deep crease has settled back in between his eyebrows again. He opens his mouth like he wants to say something and then closes it again, letting a long breath out through his nose. His eyes are tortured. I haven’t seen him look like this in a long time and it’s all the harder to see in the wake of such a happy face only seconds ago. “What is it, my love?” I ask putting down the pills and capturing his face between my hands. “Are you sure?” His voice is twisted and thick. My stomach drops because anything that could have him this tense is certain to be bad. “Sure about what?” Oh, God. What if he’s asking about the wedding? Was that scene with my family too much for Max Santoro, the man who boldly proclaimed himself as not a family man? A series of cracks splinter out across my heart. “About the pill,” he says and finally looks me in the eye. There’s so much pain and love all twisted up in there that I gasp. “Are you sure you want to take it?” “Are you asking me if I want to try to have a baby with you?” He nods. Swallows and purses his lips and then shakes his head. “I watch you with Charlie,” he says. “You’re so good with him. And I look at us, this haphazard family that shouldn’t work. Not at all. But we do. And it’s good, Chelsea. I stare at the two of you sometimes and I’m just in awe of what our life has become.” He swipes a finger across my cheek and its only then that I realize I’m crying. “You’re the one whose good with Charlie,” I say. “He says these things and asks these questions that I’m so unprepared for and you just get down in front of him and hit him with this big dose of wisdom. He’s going to grow into a great man, and that’s because he’s going to grow up to be just like you.” “Then maybe we need to have a little girl who will grow up to be just like you,” says Max. “I wonder what it would be to look a child and see your face and my face. And your strengths and my weaknesses and I wonder what it would be like to watch Charlie take on the role of big brother…” He trails off and damn if there aren’t

tears in his eyes. “Max,” I say. “This is a huge thing. If it’s not something you want, and remember? It wasn’t long ago when you told me you didn’t want it.” “Believe me. I remember.” “Well, what’s changed?” “You. You came into my life and changed everything for the better.” I frown, feeling a crease appear between my brows just like his. “Is this something you really want? This isn’t something to just do on a whim and change our minds later after it’s too late.” The truth is, I’d love to have a baby with him. I just never let myself think about it because I didn’t think he would want to make our family any bigger than it already is. “I’ve been thinking about it for a long time now. This isn’t a whim. At least not on my part. I can’t get the thought of a little girl out of my head, sweet and strong like her mommy. I want this. Do you?” I nod, too full of too many feelings to find words. Max takes the pills out of my hand and pops them out one by one into the toilet and flushes them away. “Good.” He smiles. “Now stop crying and let’s go make a baby.” That night, the sex isn’t just sex. Nor is it simply making love. Max and I forge a connection so deep there’s no coming back from it. I give myself to him and he gives himself to me and while our bodies writhe and sweat on the bed, our souls complete a union. As my fingernails rake down his back, and he spills himself into me, whispering my name over and over and over, I realize that this is the moment we’re truly married. Not standing in front of some stranger on a beach. Not signing a paper to file with the state. But now, lying in bed, committing ourselves to each other and the creation of another soul. A promise to love each other through our children, to see the best of each other in who they become. Forever. And ever… …and ever…

Chapter Seven We sneak out the next morning before my family is awake. I know I didn’t sleep much, and I don’t think he did either, both of us too excited about what we’d done the night before. I just want to steal some more time with Max and Charlie before I have to face my sisters and my parents. And so that’s what we do. We creep upstairs and wake Charlie. Get him dressed as he yawns and rubs his eyes. And then we take off for downtown Bliss. “Where are we going?” asks Charlie once we’re in the car. “I’m hungry.” Max looks at me and shrugs, a question in his eyes. “Want to get something to eat?” “Sure.” We didn’t have a destination in mind when we left. All we knew was that we wanted to end up not where we were. Of course, curse of the small town, there’s not much open this early. We’re just about to give up on finding a place to eat and find something else to do when we come across Good Beginnings at the very end of the street. And they’re very decidedly open. “Isn’t this the place Ian mentioned?” I ask, my hands placed flat against my stomach. Is something happening in there? I can’t help but wonder. I can’t help but hope. “I think so.” Max parks and then spins in his seat to look at Charlie. “Want to give it a try?” “As long as there’s food, I’m good.” We climb out of the car and press through the door into the café. There’s a woman behind the counter, her hair a mess of dark curls. “Morning,” she says with a smile. “You must be either the couple that’s getting married or you’re with them.” Max flares his hands. “Guilty on that first count. How can you tell?” “We don’t get too many new faces in here and word travels fast. Alas, there are no secrets in Bliss.” A tall man comes out of the back while we study the menu. He’s almost as big as Max, which is surprising, although he’s not nearly as intimidating. However, that could be because of the baby boy giggling on his hip. “Hey, Ellie?” he begins and the stops when he sees us, a look of surprise darting across his dark features. “Woops! Sorry. Didn’t expect to see a customer. The locals don’t show up this early.” He shifts the wiggling boy over to his other hip, who promptly reaches for Ellie. “So,” continues the man. “You the ones getting married or are you just here for the wedding?” he asks as he hands the baby over.

“Wow,” I say, shaking my head. Ellie smiles at me as she kisses her son’s head. “What did I tell you? There are no secrets in Bliss.” If I had any doubts about the way Max truly felt about having a baby, the way he’s watching Ellie and her son obliterates every last one. He studies them almost reverently, smiling to himself. He takes my hand and gives it a little squeeze before wrapping an arm around Charlie’s shoulder and pulling him close. We finally decide and place our order, egg sandwiches for Max and me and pancakes for Charlie. “You want a coffee?” Max asks the boy as Ellie hands us two large cardboard cups of the stuff. “Ew. No.” Charlie wrinkles his nose and shakes his head. “That stuff is nasty.” “Just wait, I bet you’ll change your mind about it here in a few years.” Max leads us over to one of the tables in the empty café and pulls out a chair for me. “No way.” Charlie plops down next to me, shaking his head. Max and Charlie babble on, talking about caffeine and skydiving and whatever else comes to their minds. Charlie actually says he can’t wait to get back to school so he can tell his friends all about it. As smart as he is, he never wants to go to school. It’s a simple thing, this. Sitting in an empty café with my family while we laugh and talk and eat. Simple and beautiful. A glimpse of the rest of my life. I know we’ll have our ups and our downs. I know that it won’t all be beautiful. I know there will be times when we don’t agree. When Charlie grows and spreads his wings and pushes against us, testing his independence. But I’ll take those downs if it means that the ups will be this good. Besides, what Max said last night is true. I’m a London. I won’t stay down long. Max and I are waiting for Charlie to finish his pancakes when my phone vibrates in my purse. Frowning, I pull it out only to find that I’ve missed about a million texts from Dakota. Where are you? Mom’s loosing it. Check your damn phone. Did you leave for good? And then finally: For real. Where the fuck are you? Mom thinks you changed your mind about the wedding and went home. She’s blaming Maya. Call me. I close my eyes and sigh. “What’s up, babe?” asks Max. I show him the phone and watch him read through the texts, brow furrowed. “I don’t even want to go back,” I say, smiling weakly. “Maybe we just do what they already think we did.” Max pulls me into him. “You don’t mean that.” “I know.”

“Here’s what we’ll do. Text Dakota back. Tell her we just ran out to get breakfast for everyone and we’ll be back soon.” Max heads up to the counter to place a to-go order while I send the text. He’s so smart. If I mentioned anything about needing some space this morning, that would be like trying to put out a fire by pouring gasoline on it. Mom’s certain to be hanging over Dakota’s shoulder, waiting for me to reply. If I even imply that I’m upset about last night, Maya will never hear the end of it. Even though it’s not Maya’s fault. We gather our things and pile back in the car. I take a moment to be grateful for the serenity of the simple family moment the three of us had this morning because we are about to walk into a giant family explosion.

Chapter Eight The moment we walk in the door, Mom sweeps me into a huge, tear-soaked hug. “I am so glad to see you. I thought you all ran away and decided to hide from us after Maya’s outburst last night.” I extricate myself from her embrace. “Mom. Maya didn’t have an outburst last night…” I know now’s not the time to bring up anything remotely honest, but I do want to start laying the groundwork for when the time is right. Maya shakes her head and gives me a wry smile. “It’s okay, Chelsea. I was really out of line last night. I don’t know got into me.” She shrugs and her eyes have that look in them that means she’s shoving all of her actual thoughts and feelings far, far away. “I’m feeling much better after a good night’s sleep.” The hope I had for her dies a little. Either she’s decided not to make a big deal about the pressure our parents put on her the day before my wedding, or she’s decided to go back to dealing with that long, straight line. To just putting one foot in front of the other without recognizing how unhappy she is. I stare at her for a second, trying to see if I can figure out what’s going on behind that big, fake London smile. But of course, she’s just as good at hiding what she’s really feeling as I am. Whatever. It doesn’t matter which of the two things she’s chosen. I’m still going to make it my mission to help her find some happiness. We all spend the morning walking on egg shells around each other, smiling too big and laughing too loudly. But after a few hours, everyone settles down and things feel almost normal again. It’s an easy day, and I choose to spend it out on the beach with Max and Charlie. We build sandcastles and find shells and watch as the ocean laps up around our ankles and drags the sand away from around our feet. Our wedding rehearsal is this evening and I giggle through the whole thing. Not because I think it’s funny, but just because I can’t contain my joy. My laughter is contagious and before I know it, my whole family is just as happy as I am. Even Maya. I think. Afterwards, we pile into two cars and head to Moore Good Eats for our rehearsal dinner. I watch the sun set over the ocean as we drive out there, trying to drink as much of it in as I can before we leave tomorrow evening. I can’t believe the wedding is tomorrow. I can’t believe that in less than twenty-four hours, I’ll be Chelsea Santoro. I hate to admit it, but it’s almost a relief not to be a London anymore. I love my family, but maybe, just maybe, the Santoro family will be a little healthier and happier than the Londons. The restaurant is absolutely perfect. Warm and inviting. Simple and sophisticated. We check in with the hostess and as she’s looking up our reservation, a tall man with sandy hair and a warm smile walks up to greet us.

“I assume you’re the London and Santoro party?” His voice is low. Subtle and quiet. “None other,” I say, smiling widely. The man dips his chin in greeting. “I’m Harry Moore, the owner. I just wanted to take a moment and personally welcome you to Moore Good Eats.” Assuming the dark-haired man we met this morning at the café was also a Moore brother, I have to say that I understand why they’re so popular here in Bliss. They all have a certain magnetism about them. Not anything like my Max, of course, but it’s still there. An undeniable charisma and charm. No wonder they’re akin to royalty here in Bliss. Harry instructs the hostess to show us back to the special occasion room while he puts a hand on Max’s arm. “May I speak with you for a moment?” Max agrees and the rest of us follow the hostess while I peer over my shoulder to see Max and Harry, heads close, speaking in low tones. The look on Max’s face is incredulous and then we pass through the doorway and I lose sight of him. “What was that about?” I ask in Max’s ear when he joins us a few seconds later, pulling out his chair to sit down next to me. “You won’t believe it if I tell you.” “Try me.” He glances around the table at the family and finds them all totally engrossed in conversation or scouring the menu for dinner options. He leans in very close. “He told me he knows how intense these family things get and that if you and I end up needing a private moment, there’s a place out on the deck where no one will see us after the sun sets.” “He didn’t,” I say, shocked. “He did.” “Do you think he meant it like that? Like, do you think he just told us we can go have sex on his deck?” “I do.” Max nods his head. I sit up, eyes wide. “No way.” Max shrugs and flares his hands. “I mean, I’m not going to lie. I appreciate the information and knowing we have permission is going to take some of the pressure off...” He winks at me. “Are you saying you think we’ll end up needing that private moment?” He looks around the table. Mom’s busy insulting Dakota and Dad already has Maya’s jaw dropped in shock over something he’s just said. Dominic looks lost as to how to help and Charlie’s just quietly studying his menu, oblivious to it all. Then he brings his eyes to me, lets them linger on my breasts as he runs his hands up my thigh under the table. “There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that we’ll be taking advantage of that private moment.”

Chapter Nine The next day, I spend the morning getting ready for my wedding. It’s not the big fancy affair I imagined as a little girl. I’m doing my own hair instead of hiring a hairdresser. My dress is tasteful and something I’ll wear again rather than something inspired by too many Disney princess movies. Something that will spend the rest of its life in my closet. But, simple or not, I’m laughing with my sisters as we do our hair and makeup in the master bathroom at the house. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the morning of my wedding. Wait. I take that back. I can most definitely think of a better way to spend the morning of my wedding. I could be in bed, making babies with Max. But seeing as how we’ve done that already today… “Where did you and Max disappear to last night?” asks Dakota, interrupting my thoughts. I blush, partly because I was busy thinking of Max naked and partly because of Dakota’s question. “What do you mean?” I ask, trying to look like someone who did not have sex on the deck at her own rehearsal dinner last night. Maya sets her curling iron down with a light thunk. “You are one hell of a bad liar.” “I’m not lying.” And I’m not. At least not yet. I’m just not actually answering the question Dakota asked me. “You guys didn’t have bathroom sex, did you?” Dakota wrinkles her nose, but there’s a gleam in her eyes that makes me want to circle back to that question. None of us Londons are very good liars. I lean into the mirror to check my eyeliner. “I most certainly did not have bathroom sex.” I consider leaving it right there, but what the hell? It’s my wedding day. Why not be a little shocking? “We had sex on the deck overlooking the ocean.” The look on my sisters’ faces is so totally epic I wish I had a picture of it. “No way,” breathes Maya. “Maybe we actually are related.” There’s that look on Dakota’s face again. Impish. Secretive. And totally ready to spill the beans on a secret that’s been in her head for too long. “What makes you say that?” I ask sweetly. Dakota’s got her mouth open as she sweeps on mascara. She closes her mouth but doesn’t look our way. “Oh, nothing,” she says to her reflection. “Not buying it.” Maya grabs Dakota by the shoulders and spins her around. “Not

even a little.” Dakota smiles and bites her lip. “Ever heard of the mile-high club?” She tilts her head to the side. “You’re looking at a card carrying member.” We laugh our way through the rest of getting ready and before I know it, it’s time to get married. Max is already out on the beach with Charlie, Dominic, and my mom. Dakota and Maya walk out of the house ahead of me and dad offers me his elbow. “I love you, Moo,” he says as we reach the door. I try not to flinch, but I do anyway. He pauses, pulling me back into the house. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I didn’t realize that nickname hurt your feelings. When I look at you, I still my baby girl, all chubby cheeks and massive smiles, pigtails streaming behind you as you run up to me for a hug. That’s my Moo. My daughter. My little girl. That’s what Moo means to me.” I look up at my father and, as if his words weren’t enough, the look in his eyes brings tears to my own. There’s so much love. So much pride. So much tenderness. I remember him sweeping me up into his arms when I was little, singing silly songs and chasing me around the yard. “I just want to be good enough for you,” I say, choking on the raw truth of the words, the root of all my insecurities, a need so strong, it’s shaped me into the woman I am. “Oh, sweet Chelsea. You’ve been more than I can ever ask for since the moment you arrived in this world.” He kisses me on the forehead and smiles down at me, tears glimmering in his eyes. And then, without another word, he walks me outside, down the beach and gives my hands to Max. “Take care of my daughter,” he says, his voice low and gruff with emotion. Max smiles at him and gives a curt nod of his head. “With all that I am. With all that I have. For all the rest of my years.”

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Also by Abby Brooks The Moore Brothers Series Blown Away (Ian and Juliet) Carried Away (James and Ellie) Swept Away (Harry and Willow) Break Away (Lilah and Cole)

Love Is… Love Is Crazy (Dakota & Dominic) What Happened in Vegas (Dakota & Dominic’s Wedding) Love Is Beautiful (Chelsea & Max)