Page 157 of Falling Back to You

“That’ll happen the day pigs fly,” Myles said dryly.

“We should do a couples’ night,” Cal burst out.

“The four of us?” Greyson arched an eyebrow.

Cal rolled his eyes. “Obviously with Jules and Pais, too. Maybe before my nephew makes his appearance. I’m thinking something with silly string—”

“No!” the rest of us shouted in unison.

“Kidding.” Cal smirked, holding up his hands. “But it was worth the look on your faces. Dinner and board games for old times’ sake? Grey can cook.”

Greyson grunted but shrugged in a why not? manner.

“The Fabulous Four becomes the Spectacular Six?” Myles asked.

“Huh, not bad,” Cal mused. “We need T-shirts. Oh, and a group chat!” He lifted his mug. “Here’s to friends, marriage, new beginnings, and crushing Myles in Mario Kart. May we always be fabulous.”

“Dream on, Cap.” Myles raised his cup.

“It’s about time,” Greyson added, saluting.

I squeezed Cal’s hand and smiled up at him. “To new beginnings.”

Life looked a lot different from the one we’d dreamed up around the campfire thirteen years ago. Our hopes and plans had gone sideways. We’d grown and our dreams had grown with us. But the core thing had stayed the same—a friendship that could last.

And it all started with taking the road home. It was the grandest place of all.

Chapter fifty-seven

Noelle

6 weeks later . . . New Year’s Eve

Christmas had always been my favourite holiday, and this year was the best one yet.

It was just like old times, yet so much better. Snow fell all week, turning our town into a snow globe–worthy getaway. Christmas Eve was full with a candlelight service at church before the Shepherds and Satterfields crammed into Mama D and Pops’s house for food, fellowship, and so many games.

My dad and Ruby headed to Boise later that night to spend Christmas morning with Quinn’s family. She wasn’t ready to see me yet, and I could respect that. So I spent Christmas morning with Cal and Khia in matching pajamas. It was everything I wanted and so much more.

Even though we’d only reconnected two and a half months ago, Cal and I were seriously discussing marriage and a future. We’d made sense once, and we still did.

And there was nothing more I wanted for Christmas than to make it official. We were on the same page. I didn’t know when he was planning on popping the question—Cal took surprises seriously—but I did have an inkling it would be soon.

“Daddy, look, it’s Olaf!” Khia squealed and pointed to the inflatable snowman standing beside a trellised pergola, wrapped in Christmas lights.

Cal started. “What? Oh, yeah, look at that.”

True to his word, Cal had arranged to bring me to the botanical gardens during the Christmas season—on New Year’s Eve specifically. And dare I say it, they were prettier with the Christmas lights and candy canes edging the walkways than they were back in October. Pure magic.

We oohed and ahhed at appropriate intervals, but Cal was distracted as we meandered down the pathways, Khia scampering ahead of us.

I nudged him. “What’s up with you?”

He chuckled, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Nothing. Why?”

“Liar.” I poked his stomach—which he flexed, smirking at me the whole time. Show-off.

“I was mesmerized by your beauty.”