Page 80 of Blurry Little Lines

“Nah, we need to give Laura a playmate close to her age. We definitely need one more.” She looks at me like I’m delusional.

“Who are you, Max Dawson?” Her eyes stare into mine.

“Everything I wished for as a child.”

Epilogue

Kelsie

9yearslater

“I miss summer break already.” Max comes up behind me and kisses the back of my neck. “That week you and I spent on the yacht passed too quickly.”

“Max, we just had sex an hour ago before the kids got home from school.” I finish adding noodles to the pot of boiling water and turn around. I wrap my arms around his neck and rise onto my tiptoes for a kiss.

“You know I can never get enough of you.” His lips move with mine, and as I deepen the kiss, the front door opens to Mallory returning from school.

“Ugh, I get you two love each other, but I don’t need you to dirty the dinner.” She rolls her eyes.

“If this island could talk.” Max wiggles his eyebrows.

“Carson and I fooled around on top of there too before I dumped him.” She crosses her arms and dishes it right back to Max.

“He better not have fucking touched you, Mal.” Max points a finger at her.

“I’m almost eighteen, but relax.” Mallory tosses her schoolbag on the couch. “No, we didn’t have sex on a cold countertop. I’m not Aunt Lauren.” She rolls her eyes.What the hell do she and her aunt talk about?“I’ll be in my room.”

“You handled that decently, Max Dawson.” I smile and kiss him once more.

“All thanks to you, Little Wheaton.” Max and I never married, and it was never something we really talked about in depth. After a string of sleepless nights when Laura was a baby, I had a breakdown, scared he would leave like Benson did because, once again, Max’s past view haunted me. I even tried to give him an out, which really pissed him off.

Max took my hand as we made our own vows to each other, surrounded by unfolded laundry and burp cloths. It was our sweet personal moment and a night that I still think about every so often.

“No way!” Max and I share a smile at hearing Mallory’s gloating screech as she enters her room.

Laura and our eight-year-old daughter, Maddie, run down the hallway to greet their sister’s commotion. Max and I ended up having another daughter shortly after Laura turned one. It was a crazy few years, but this man has been nothing short of hands on and overjoyed by every moment with our four children. There is no doubt the universe kept him by my side for just a friendship. He’s my entire world and more than anything I could ever deserve in life.

“Mom. Dad.” Mallory walks down the hall holding a large envelope. It didn’t take long after Laura was born for her and James to start calling Max“Dad”by choice. “Do you know what this means?”

“Open it, Mallory.” I smile, feeling my heart overspill with joy.

“The University of Edinburgh.” Her long brown waves frame her face as she reads the letter. “I got in. I can’t believe I was accepted into my dream school!” She beams as Max and I wrap her in a hug. “I still cannot believe how all of my wishes seem to be coming true!”

“You already go to school,” Maddie mentions, puzzled.

“This is my senior year, Maddie. I’m headed to Scotland in the fall, which means old stone castles, crisp leaves, overcast skies, and medieval vibes,” Mallory gloats before her face starts to fall. “I’m going to miss you guys.” For seventeen, Mallory is strongly family oriented. She is over the top with taking care of her sisters and always there to cheer on James at every football game he plays.

“You’ll always have a place back home. Go explore the world and live a little, Mal.” Max kisses the top of her head.

“I guess the plus side is that I will no longer have a class with Julien Beaumont or see his face again. I’ve waited my entire school life for this moment.” She takes both her sister’s hands. “Come on, girls, let me tie those ribbons in your hair before we head to James’s game.”

They head to Mallory’s room and Max shoots me a strained knowing look that makes my gut twist. He must have also seen Willow’s social media post, bragging about her nephew’s university acceptance this morning. What are the flipping chances…

“Are you gonna tell Mallory?” He raises an eyebrow with his boyish grin, one that still never fails to light my body up.

“Not a chance in hell.” I smirk and wrap my arms around Max’s neck as he starts laughing. “Don’t be mean.”

“She has been so thrilled with all her wishes coming true.” Max’s chest shakes against mine with continued laughter, and I pull back.