Six months later…
“There you are.” I hear Sebastian’s voice seconds before his arms wrap around me from behind. “I’ve been looking all over for you. It’s freezing, what are you doing out here?”
I take a moment to appreciate his scent that instantly engulfs me, breathing him in deeply before responding, “Hey.” I lean my head back against his chest and look out over the expansive lake that sits at the back of the Baxter property.
It’s the first time I’ve been here in years, and so many memories have come rushing to the surface in the twenty minutes since I found myself standing on this dock.
“It’s so beautiful out here this time of year.” I sigh in contentment, loving the way the moon hits the frozen water just right, making the lake look like it’s speckled with diamonds.
“It is,” Sebastian agrees, running his hands up and down my arms in an effort to warm me. “Still doesn’t explain why you disappeared on me.” His lips brush the spot just below my ear. “Had enough Baxter family fun have you?”
“How you ever grew up with parents like that I’ll never understand,” I admit, turning in his embrace to look up at him.
“Please. Those two people in there are nothing compared to what I grew up with.”
Sebastian’s parents, at some point while he was away at school, seemed to have rekindled a relationship they had long since lost. While they are still nearly unbearable to be around, it’s clear to see that life in the Baxter home is a lot better than it used to be. And I know how much that means to Sebastian. It’s been a long and messy road, and while I don’t think they’ll ever be the type of family Sebastian deserves, I think it’s enough for him that they’re at least trying.
“Even still, if I have to listen to your mother tell me one more time that I don’t have the body for a strapless wedding dress, I might end up stabbing her in the forehead with my dinner fork.”
At this Sebastian laughs, a deep rumble vibrating through him. It instantly brings a smile to my face. It’s my favorite sound in the world.
“Well, you better get used to it. In just a few short months you will be an official Baxter, and old mom and pop up there will be your family.” He gestures up toward the house.
“Can I reconsider?” I joke, earning me a quick squeeze to my side.
“Not a chance. No take backs.” He tightens his grip around my waist and pulls me closer. “I’ve been waiting years to marry you, Tessa Wilson. There’s no way I’m letting you slip through my fingers now that I’m so close.”
“Then perhaps the next time your parents’ invite us up for a long weekend we should reconsider,” I tease.
“Speaking of which, I wonder how your mom is doing in there. Some daughter you are, throwing her to the wolves like that.”
“Please. My mom can handle her own. Besides, Jeff is in there with her. He’ll make sure my mother doesn’t kill yours. I mean, at least I think he will.” I laugh at the thought.
“Remind me again how we ended up with all of them in the same house?” He chuckles in response.
“I have no idea. They must all have a death wish.” I shake my head. “I just can’t believe my mom brought her new boyfriend over here. I guess she figures if he can handle a night with your parents’ then he’s a keeper.” I reach up, wrapping my arms around Sebastian’s neck.
“Well, if I had to guess, I’d say he’s passing with flying colors.” He leans down and lays a light kiss to my lips, smiling against my mouth. “I remember the very first time I brought you out here.” He changes the subject.
“Me too.” I pull back slightly, grinning up at him. “Thought you were gonna get lucky.”
“Oh, I did get lucky.”
“That’s not the way I remember it.”
“Are you kidding me? I got to hang out with the most incredible girl I’d ever met, watch her drink whiskey like a boss, and then spent two blissful hours watching her sleep—all the while thinking how I’d never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life. If that’s not getting lucky I don’t what is.”
“Are you trying to butter me up, Mr. Baxter?” I pull him down for another kiss, letting my lips linger against his.
“That depends, is it working?”
“Keep talking and we’ll see,” I tease, dragging my tongue along his lower lip.
He pulls back just enough to look down at me, his hand reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear—something he’s always done. “I love you, Tess.”
“I love you more,” I practically cut him off.
“Not possible,” he argues, continuing the tradition from when we were teenagers.
“So possible,” I retort.
“Don’t argue with me, Tessa,” he warns, his eyes playful.
“Don’t argue with me, Sebastian.” I give it right back to him, laughing when he swoops me up and cradles me to his chest, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck.
“Thank you.” He suddenly falls serious, his hazel eyes locked on mine.
“For what?” I question, confused by the abrupt shift.
“For spending Christmas in this shit show. For moving to California with me. For agreeing to be my wife. For making me the happiest man in the entire world. The list goes on and on.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “I imagined this life, being with you like this. For years I dreamt of it, prayed for it, but I don’t think I ever really thought it would actually happen. Being here with you like this, remembering how it all started and how far we’ve come, it just makes me appreciate it all that much more.”
“Me too,” I agree, my voice shaky, emotion bubbling inside my chest.
“What do you say we ditch the wedding? Let’s get married now,” he suggests, a wide smile spreading across his handsome face.
“What do you mean now?” I choke.
“Tomorrow. Let’s get married right here on this dock. Just you and me.”
“I’m pretty sure Bree and Courtney would kill me,” I object, convinced he’s not actually serious.
“Well, they can try, but they would have to get through me.” He shifts, slowly lowering me to my feet. The instant they hit the dock his hands are cupping my face. “I’m mean it, Tess, let’s do it. Why wait?”
“You’re serious?” I finally manage to speak after a long moment.
“I am. I don’t need anyone to show up but you. All I want is for you to be my wife, and I want it now. Hell, I’d marry you this very second if I had someone who could perform the ceremony.”
“Sebastian,” I start, but he instantly cuts in.
“Over six years ago I fell in love with you on this very dock. I fell in love with your smile and your laugh, with the way you viewed the world like everything had beauty and purpose in it even though you had no reason to believe it so. I fell in love with you right here, and I’ve only fallen harder every day since then. Marry me, right here, where it all began. What do say, Tess?”
“I say you have some phone calls to make, and I have a dress to buy.” It takes a moment for my statement to register, but once it does that incredible smile of his slides into place.
I squeal when he lifts me off my feet and spins me around, our fogged breath clouding the air around us as we laugh and kiss, losing ourselves in the moment.
An outdoor wedding on a dock overlooking a frozen lake in the middle of winter would not have been my first choice, but looking at Sebastian—seeing the sheer happiness etched into every feature of his face—I can’t imagine doing it any other way.
Because at the end of the day, all that really matters is Sebastian, becoming his wife, spending my life with him. It’s all I’ve wanted from the moment he took my hand on that balcony over six years ago.
Sebastian pulls my mouth down to his, delivering an earth-bending kiss before lowering to my feet. “Tomorrow can’t come soon enough,” he mutters against my lips.