The Snuggle is Real (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

Epilogue

THREE YEARS LATER…

Mason

I sipped my daiquiri in the Swallow’s Nest Resort pool while Ford smirked at the little umbrella sticking out of my glass.

“Enjoying your hot girl summer?” he teased.

“Shut up!” I said with a laugh. “We’re on vacation. I’m trying to embrace it.”

We’d all packed up and driven down to the Ozarks to see my family—and enjoy some time at the lake. Charlie loved going out on the lake with Sawyer, so we came down every summer.

Ford’s eyes roamed over my bare chest, just visible above the water and more tan than it had been in years. “I’m enjoying it too.”

He relaxed against the side of the pool, arms spread over the ledge, broad chest on display. Water droplets glinted in his chest hair. I licked my lips. Yeah, I was enjoying the view even more than the drink.

A wave of water smacked us both in the face. “Cut it out,” LuAnne said. “I swear you two are worse than me and Zach.”

Likely story. LuAnne and Zach were still in the honeymoon phase a year into their relationship.

But she’d certainly earned her happiness.

LuAnne’s first year of recovery had been rocky. She had been inconsistent, making plans to visit Charlie then not showing up, and within six months she’d had a relapse and started abusing amphetamines, buying street versions of prescription pills.

“I just needed a little boost to keep up with my night shift,” she’d told Ford later. “I thought I could handle it this time. I could just not take it too much or become too reliant.”

Of course, she couldn’t keep it under control. That was the whole challenge of addiction. She’d ended up back in rehab a second time—a longer stay with more therapy.

Thankfully, it had seemed to help, and she’d been sober two years now.

She met Zach at an NA meeting a few months after she’d moved to Springfield to get away from negative influences and be closer to Christmas Falls. They’d hit it off right away, but they hadn’t started dating until they were both in a good, stable place.

He’d been sober seven years to her two, and he seemed to be a really good influence in her life. He worked a steady job, he supported her sobriety, and he was a genuinely good guy.

When she’d first brought him along for a visit, Ford and I had both gotten nervous. What if LuAnne wanted Charlie back now that her life had stabilized? What if Charlie wanted to go? The custody agreement meant that LuAnne couldn’t just take her daughter, but if Charlie wanted to go, we’d never stop her.

Even if it did break our hearts.

Luckily, we’d seen that everyone was happier this way.

LuAnne and Charlie were always excited to see each other. They gabbed like best friends for the first day, went shopping, and caught up on missed time. But by the third or fourth day, LuAnne was anxious to move on, Charlie was annoyed by her mom’s “drama,” and they seemed content to part ways again.

“You and Zach are way sappier than us,” I told her. “I think everyone here has seen you make out.”

“No lies there,” Brooks called from the bar. “I caught an eyeful just last night.”

He was one of Sawyer’s good friends and helped run the resort in the Ozarks with his boyfriend, Skylar.

LuAnne stuck a tongue out at us, and I did the same to her. We’d become pretty good friends—she was like the annoying sister I’d never had. It was an unconventional family, maybe, but it worked for us.

“Guys!” Charlie came charging over, looking sunbaked after a day out on the lake with Sawyer. “You should have come today. It was so fun!”

“It’s pretty fun here too,” Ford said.

She wrinkled her nose. “It’s boring.”

I laughed. “You’ve got the bug, huh? Wakeboarding for life?”

She sat down, dangling her legs in the water. “Yeah, I wish we lived here.”

“Eh, the lake is cold all winter, and you’d miss the festival in Christmas Falls.”

“Yeah, that’s true,” she said. “Plus, I think Ryder Evans has a crush on me.”

“What?” Ford said, eyes bugging out. “Do I need to have a talk with this kid?”

I laughed. “He’s ten years old. Calm down.”

“I’m gonna go change for dinner,” Charlie said, oblivious to the turmoil she’d set off in her father. “Is it okay if I pop into the kitchen to say hi to Grandma Vera?”

“Of course,” I said. “She’ll be disappointed if you don’t.”

She hopped up. “Okay, see ya!”

“She’s only ten,” Ford grumbled. “She’s not supposed to notice boys yet.”

“Just wait until she’s a teenager,” LuAnne said.

He groaned. “Why would you say that?”

She cackled. “Just remember, you signed up for this! Don’t come crying to me when she gets her first boyfriend.”

LuAnne climbed out of the pool and grabbed her towel. Zach followed her, as he always did, a quiet shadow at her side. He sent us a reassuring smile.

“Let me know if you need backup in scaring off boys.”

Ford chuckled. “Will do.”

They slipped on flip-flops and headed inside. I turned to Ford, wiggling my eyebrows. “Alone at last.”

I kissed him, stroking my thumb over his beard.

He pulled back. “I’m not going to mess this up, right? With Charlie? She’s too young for boys.”

“Ford,” I said sternly. “Charlie’s fine. She’s got two dads, three if you count Zach. Those boys will be terrified to come anywhere near her.”

He grinned. “You always know just what to say.”

“Of course I do. She’s my daughter too.”

“I know she is,” he said softly. “We’re both so lucky to have you.”

I kissed him again, and this time he gave me all the enthusiasm I wanted. Ford drew me closer, our legs entangling, while he sucked the daiquiri flavor from my tongue.

“Wanna go up to the room before dinner?” he asked.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

We both scrambled out of the pool, holding our towels to hide our excitement, as we rushed up to the room to fall into bed together.

We’d have dinner with our big Ozarks family tonight and the next before heading back to Christmas Falls. Back to Peppermint Bark, who was staying with Dottie while we were gone. Back to our jobs and our responsibilities as fathers.

But for right now, we were just two men loving each other.

Enthusiastically.

With all the joy of Christmas and all the heat of summer wrapped up together with a nice shiny bow.