Page 153 of My Favorite Holidate
“Stop it! I love it!” I cry, touched by his gesture. “It’s the place where we fell in love.”
“Let me put it on you.”
I turn around and hold up my red hair. He positions the necklace just so, clasping it, then running a finger along my neck. When I let my hair fall, I catch Mac smiling our way, like a Cheshire cat.
“I was right,” she says proudly.
“You were,” Wilder and I say together.
Together—like how we’ll spend the rest of our days and our holidays. And on New Year’s Eve, he takes me to that private rooftop dinner and helicopter ride above the city.
A real date, planned by our matchmaker.
EPILOGUE: A NEW SIDE HUSTLE
Fable
The bell above the door to Made By Fable jingles and I say goodnight to the last customer as she leaves the shop a few days before Christmas. Then I flip the sign to closed and turn around. I take a moment to savor the scene, as I’ve been doing for the last few months since I opened my first shop in Russian Hill on Polk Street, like I’d envisioned. I wanted to do it on my own, and I was able to with enough money saved up to start my first eco boutique. I didn’t need a cent from my billionaire boyfriend and I’m proud of that. He gives me so much and it was important I open this shop on my own.
Everything I carry here is recycled and I’m still a little amazed I’ve pulled this off. But dreams have a way of coming true if you work hard for them. My grand opening in September was a hit, and it’s been a busy few months. I stepped down from running merch at the Renegades to focus on the shop and, well, on my fantasy football team.
News flash: I’m winning again.
Tomorrow morning, we’re heading to Evergreen Falls for the holidays, so I finish up, then drive home.
It once was Wilder’s home but it’s become ours. I live with him and Mac now—our little happy family. In the morning, the three of us head up to the little snowy town together.
A couple days later, we toast to Charlotte and Leo winning the Christmas games on their first anniversary.
On Christmas morning, we’re in the main living room in front of the tall tree, opening gifts with Mac, Bibi, and Elizabeth, who moved from London to San Francisco to be closer to family. Wilder’s dad is here too and he has his one-year chip. That’s the best gift of all.
When the tree is empty and wrapping paper is strewn everywhere, Wilder says, “I have one more thing.”
Then my boyfriend gets down on one knee and flips open a sapphire blue velvet box.
I gasp, my heart swelling as he says, “Fable Calloway, you’re the woman of my dreams, my favorite date, my one and only. I adore you, and I want to keep treating you like the center of the world because you’re the center of my world. Will you marry me?”
Tears well in my eyes—happy ones. “I love you so much. I can’t wait to be your wife.”
He kisses me and when he breaks the kiss, he slides a brilliant, four-carat diamond solitaire on my finger. As he puts it on, I catch a glimpse of his new ink for me on his forearm. The wordreal.
I gaze at my ring, then kiss the man who’s going to be my husband.
We spend the day sledding, and eating, and hosting an impromptu snowball fight, and when everyone’s gone to bed, Wilder turns on the tree in the room in our honeymoon suite. As if surprised, he points to a brand-new gift sitting under the tree.
A small, wrapped box.
I already have the kind of gift that comes in a small box so I have no idea what it could be.
“Looks like Santa brought you something else,” he says, amused as he picks it up and brings it to me on the couch.
I’m wildly curious. “What is it?”
“Find out.”
With excitement pinging in my veins, I tear off the paper and open the red box. Inside there’s a piece of paper with the words Deal Memo across the top.
Then, I read the terms.