Lover Boy: All American Boy

“Ryker, please meet your half-sister Avery and you know Logan.”

“Avery,” he says as he tugs her into a tight embrace similar to their father’s. “Welcome to the family.” He pulls away and shakes Logan’s hand, then lugs him forward to slap him on the back in a manly hug. “You too, Logan. You’re officially a member of this clan.”

“Thanks, man,” Logan replies before once again tucking Avery under his arm.

“Alright!” Ryker exclaims. “So when do we eat?” he asks, dramatically rubbing his taut abdomen.

As they erupt in laughter, they follow Amy and Joseph into the dining room. Avery looks around the room, taking in the conversations between her siblings, her father, Amy, and Logan, and then glances down at her sparkling ring.

Avery has never been more thankful for the people in her life.

Epilogue

CHRISTMAS MORNING, AVERY INTRICATELY wraps her gift for Logan. She searched and searched for something to get him, but truly, the man never asks for anything. It took her a while, but one day the idea came to her and she couldn’t think of a better item to surprise him with.

They’ve already exchanged a few gifts but were planning to take the remainder to her parents’ house when they leave in a few minutes, along with the gifts they purchased for her brothers and sisters. Avery had no trouble shopping for most of them; Jameson was the most difficult since he hasn’t tried very hard to communicate with her. Instead, she relied on her sisters to give her ideas. She keeps her fingers crossed, hoping he is happy with her choice.

She stares at the wall where the picture from Aria hangs, and she can’t help but question how her sister was able to capture so much of her future in one drawing. As if she knew all along how her life would turn out.

“Hey, sweetheart, are you ready?” Logan asks as strolls in from their bedroom, dressed in dark denim and a fitted maroon sweater, the dark color highlighting the green in his hazel eyes.

Avery licks her lips as she gazes at him.

“Don’t look at me like that. You know I would do whatever you want, but we can’t be late today.”

Following his sly wink, she replies, “I know. I know. You just look so handsome.”

Grabbing the last of the gifts, Avery stands on her toes and kisses him gently as she passes by to grab her coat. Logan helps her wrap the new scarf he gave her around her neck, the soft cashmere rubbing her cheek. He returns her kiss and deepens the embrace, their tongues dueling against each other. Avery reluctantly pulls herself back and smiles, knowing if they don’t stop they won’t ever make it to her parents’ home.

They arrive at the same time as Cassidy, and Logan and Avery walk with her into the house, Logan helping to carry all the gifts. Joseph and Amy welcome them and usher everyone into the living room around their magnificent Christmas tree. The decorations look like something you would find in a Country Living magazine. The tree and mantle draped in burlap, lace, and soft white ornaments; Christmas music playing gently in the background.

Joseph instructs the entire group to stand around the tree while he sets up his camera. Avery stands to the side between Logan and Austin, Joseph planning to stand beside Logan.

They take a series pictures, the first formal, and the remainder extremely candid, by use of the remote Joseph hides in his hand. Ryker has them all cracking up as he tells a story about a roadie trying to board the plane in the nude.

After the pictures, they move into the dining room to eat a large meal cooked by Amy herself. The ham is sweet with hints of brown sugar and pineapple. To Avery’s surprise, Amy passes her a bowl of Kraft mac-and-cheese. When Avery looks at her in question, Amy shrugs and nods her chin in the direction of Logan who sits beside Avery, conversing with Austin. Kraft mac-and-cheese is Avery’s absolute favorite dish, ever. A comfort food Mila made that she never grew out of. The thought Amy put in to making sure Avery had something that she enjoyed amongst the rest of the gourmet meal is enough to bring a tear to her eye and she quickly swipes away the wetness.

After placing a heaping amount onto her plate, Amy pats her hand on top of her’s and whispers, “Merry Christmas, Avery.”

Avery watches the new members of her family joking and talking throughout the meal, and though her heart aches for the family she’s lost, she has never before felt so much at peace.

Dessert moves them to the living room, where Ryker and Jameson spread out the slew of gifts, divvying them out amongst the family. Avery is truly surprised to find such a large amount placed in front of her legs.

Amy and Joseph instruct everyone to go ahead and open their gifts, acknowledging that if they went one at a time they’d be there until next Christmas. From Sydney and Everleigh, Avery receives a gift card for a spa in Asheville, and from Cassidy, a custom designed dress for use at Avery’s rehearsal dinner, though she and Logan had yet to set a date. It’s a pale pink, A-line dress with hints of cream-colored flowers covering the chiffon – absolutely remarkable. Much to Avery’s surprise, the boys chipped in and bought her a Kindle and a $200 gift card to purchase books. Avery had only mentioned once that she loved to read, but that she rarely found time to make it to the library to check out books.

As she finishes her gifts, she turns to find Jameson opening his present from her and Logan. It was hard to come up with something he would enjoy, but with her current project in the works, Avery couldn’t think of anything he would want more. As he opens the slim box, Avery glances nervously at her sisters and waits for Jameson’s reaction. The girls had let it slip that since Jameson had graduated college he longed to start his own company that designs games and apps. Avery took the idea and ran with it.

“Is this for real?” he inquires as he looks at her.

Avery hears Ryker and Austin asking questions in the background, but the thumping of her heart in her ears drowns out the excess noise.

“It’s real,” Logan states for her. “We knew you needed the space and she wanted to help.”

Jameson’s paper states that he will occupy the upper story of the building that will house the pediatric clinic on the lower level. The second story rema

ins unleased. Jameson will be able to use the space rent-free until he wants to move to another location.

“This is…” he begins as he makes his way over to them. “This is awesome. Thank you, Avery.”