Page 33 of Endlessly Yours (The Wilder Brothers #10)

Elijah and Maddie lay on the ground with their newest baby, both of them looking lost in the world and in each other’s eyes as if they hadn’t a care in the world.

While Sidney danced in my cousin Elliot’s arms before being twirled toward her other husband Trace’s arms, the three of them a unit in a way that I hadn’t even imagined possible when I had first moved here.

Aurora lay on Ridge’s lap, his hand protectively over the swell of her belly, as they had just announced their pregnancy as well.

After everything that my brother had gone through in the past, it was good to see him creating a family once again.

And I knew Aurora, a widow just like I was, had found this second phase of her life difficult at first, and yet, she was thriving.

Wyatt and Ava ran around the room chasing Faith, who had a piece of cake she probably shouldn’t have had, but as Aurora had been the one to make it, she just winked at the little girl and helped block her from her parents.

Everybody laughed, looking happy and excited to be there. And I watched as Rory gathered Cameron and Alice into her arms for a deep hug before going to sit over with my parents and listen to a story.

A familiar, tall shape sidled up next to me, and I looked over as Callum took a sip of his beer and frowned into it.

“Not up to your liking?” I asked the man who had slowly become my friend, even though it had taken a bit longer than it might have in other cases.

“Mine’s better.”

“We do have some of your beer here,” I added dryly.

“True, but I like to taste the competition.”

“And I guess there is no competition?”

Callum shrugged. “Not so much.” He gestured towards his sister who stood laughing with Gabriel, and a now calmer Wyatt and Ava.

“She looks happy.”

I nodded. “She is. I know they don’t get to stay down here often because Gabriel’s on tour, but we’re taking care of her.”

“So I hear. It’s good that she has you guys down here and even the Montgomerys in Denver. She doesn’t need to come up to Ashford Creek. It’s better here.”

I wanted to ask him why, to wonder why the lines between his brows kept deepening over time, but I didn’t. This wasn’t the time or place, and I didn’t think Callum would tell me anyway. Instead, the other man took another sip of his beer, winced, and gestured toward another familiar face.

“Who’s that?” he asked, pointing at the woman with newly bright red hair and a bright smile who pulled both Rory and Briar into her arms for a laughing hug.

“Kira. She’s the drummer for Gabriel’s band, remember?”

Callum nodded. “Oh, yeah. She looks different.”

“New hair color, I think.” I raised a brow. “Need me to introduce you?”

Callum just snorted. “What is it with happy people in relationships wanting to make everyone else happy in a relationship?”

“Honestly, this isn’t the case. I had to deal with people setting me up for years after my first wife died. I’m not going to do that to you.”

“And thanks for that, but no, I was just trying to remember where I saw her before. I remember now, though. She’s not for me. Don’t worry.”

“You ever going to tell your sister or any of us who is?” I asked softly.

“There’s nobody for me. But I’m fine with that. I’m going to head out soon, though as much as the Wilder reunion is welcoming, there’s another reunion I need to attend soon.”

I raised a brow, curious. “Everything okay there?”

“Not in the slightest, but don’t worry, it won’t fall back on the Wilders.”

“That scares me, Callum. If you need anything, you call. You’re not alone.”

“Funny coming from you, the man who said he was better off being alone. But I’m glad you’re not. Rory’s a good person. Good for you.”

“Don’t make me get growly.”

“No need to mark your territory. She’s good for you.

And not mine. And on that note, go kiss your future wife, and I’m going to say goodbye to my sister.

Be safe, Wilder. You earned this.” And with that, Callum walked off, and I frowned, wondering exactly what that particular Ashford had up his sleeve.

Rory came to my side then, wrapping her arms around my waist.

“Everything okay?”

I pushed her hair back from her face and nodded, a small smile playing on my lips.

“You’re here. Everything’s damn good.”

“Now that’s a line,” she teased.

“I try. Do you want to dance, future Wilder?”

“So that’s what you’re going to go with?”

“Come on, let’s go make out in the corner and annoy the girls.”

“You are going to have fun with this whole guardian thing, aren’t you?”

“Oh yeah. And we have plenty of people to show us the ropes so we don’t mess up too badly.”

“I love you, Wilder.”

“I love you too, future Wilder. Thanks for taking a chance on me, even when I’m such a damn idiot. I almost lost it for both of us.”

She cupped my face then and went on her tiptoes to brush her lips along mine. I groaned into her, wanting to deepen the kiss, but I knew this wasn’t the place.

“We might’ve both had our heads deep in the sand for too long, but now we’re stuck with each other. And this very rambunctious family.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.”

“Okay, pick up football game on the field. Nobody’s allowed to back out,” Eli called.

“That means I’m playing,” Eliza said with a laugh, and Rory tugged on my arm.

“Come on, I love watching you play football.”

“You just like to see me shirtless.”

“I said what I said. But I get to play too.”

“Anyone tackles you, I’m going to have to beat them.”

“I trust you to take care of me,” she teased, and as the girls ran to us and we made our way to the field, I held my family close, knowing that this wasn’t the end, only the beginning.

And never something I could have ever wished for.

But something I would be grateful for till the end of time.

Because I was a Wilder, and so were the women in my arms.

And finally, finally, we could rest and look forward to whatever came next.