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“Look at me,” I commanded, holding his face with one hand. “I’msureabout you. And neither one of us is breaking up with True. You don’t have to choose. And she doesn’t, either. We’ll figure out something that works for all three of us. We’ll have each other and she’ll have us too. Look at her parents, I don’t think we’ll have to worry about convincing her this is something that can work.”

He didn’t look immediately soothed by my monologue, but seconds later, he nodded, taking a step back.

Duchess interrupted my next string of reassuring words, meowing as she snaked between our legs.

“You missed me, pretty girl?” Noah cooed, bending to pick up the fluffy ball of fur. “Imma go call True and see if her or Ms. Ruby need anything from the store while they cook tonight.” Then he walked down the hall to his room, leaving me in the kitchen with my whiskey and my thoughts.

The weight of my secret had finally fallen off my shoulders. I could breathe easier. I could look at him without wondering if I’d ever get a chance to say he was mine.

Now, we just had to make it through this visit from his parents and convince True to stay here in Bliss Peak. For good. Preferably in our house. I wanted her and Noah within arms reach, always. Because as much as I knew they were mine, I was theirs and I’d never been more sure of something in my life.

“Why do you like puzzles so much?” True picked up a piece of the jigsaw puzzle we were working on at her grandmother’s kitchen table and squinted in concentration, trying to figure out where it belonged.

“Something about it scratches my brain the right way,” I replied. I liked seeing it go from scattered pieces to one big picture.” The finished product was always my favorite part. It was why I had some of my favorites framed in my room.

I snapped another piece of the border in place, lifting my gaze to see Ms. Ruby walking over with two mugs.

“Eggnog,” was all she said before walking away. Whipped cream and a cinnamon stick floated above the rim, making me lick my lips.

True’s eyes twinkled when I just stared at my cup. “I’ll take yours if you don’t want it.”

“Nah, I’m just tryna figure out if it’s spiked.” I lowered my voice, leaning over the table to whisper. “Every time I come to your grandparents’ house, one of them tries to get me drunk.”

True snorted and picked up the mug closest to me. “Sorry, I think that’s their love language. But I watched her make this earlier, I don’t think there’s liquor in it.” The sip she took left a mustache on her top lip before she licked it away. “No alcohol,” she reported. “But damn, that’s good.”

She pushed it back over the table to me, careful to move around the puzzle.

Greyson and I had driven here after wrapping up at the resort today and we’d been here ever since. The chef on staff at Wolfe Summit had prepared a Thanksgiving spread for the guests and staff who wanted to join, but we left to have dinner here once the second-shift manager showed up.

Now, Greyson was on the other side of the living room, playing around on Mr. Pauly’s old organ. Mr. Pauly was on the bench beside him, his pipe dangling from his mouth while he watched Greyson with a crooked smile, trying to name the tune he was playing.

Ms. Ruby and Lady were on the couch, watching TV.

There were only five of us here, but the house felt full. Like there was too much warmth to be contained inside these four walls.

Greyson’s family was the same way whenever I went home with him. No explosive arguments, no backhanded compliments, and no cold looks. Just family members who loved the fuck out of each other.

I didn’t know that existed until I started spending the holidays away from home.

“What you thinking about so loud over there?”

True peered at me over her mug, a puzzle piece held between the fingertips of her free hand.

“I like your family,” I answered truthfully. A lot about True’s personality made sense when you knew who her family was. She came from love, so it wasn’t a surprise she had so much of it to give.

Her eyes softened. “My grandparents love y’all.” She dropped her head to one side with a soft smile. “And my mom can’t wait to meet you.”

“You told your parents about me?”

Nodding, she pushed her new box braids from her face. “Yea. Like the second day after I met you. She calls you “pretty boy” every time we talk,” she added with a shake of her head.

“You told your mom about meandyou told her I was pretty?”

True was laughing on the other side of the table and I was soaking up the sound.

“I didn’t tell her that. She just does a lot.” Her laughter quieted before she hid half her face with her mug again. The heat of her stare made me clear my throat as I sat up straighter.

Talking about her parents made me think about my parents’ upcoming visit. And thinking about that made me think about Greyson. I needed to tell her about both, but I went with the easier one, swallowing hard around the unease clawing up my throat.