Chapter-Thirty-five
The trip to the hill where we sled takes longer than usual. Its my fault, since I need to be either carried or pulled on a sled.
Austin pulls me on a toboggan, smiling.
"You know, I couldn't think of a better way to spend today than to be with you," he says, hiking up the hill. My brothers and friends are ahead of us, laughing and throwing snowballs at each other.
"What about your family?"
"You are my family," he says, making my cheeks blush.
"That's sweet," I say, smiling. I open my eyes to say something behind Austin catches my eye. Jude gathers snow in his hands, making a snow ball. He smirks and launches it at Austin. "Duck!"
Austin squints, looking around. "What? Where?"
The snow ball hits him smack dab in the back of the head.
I burst in a fit of laugher and Austin curses,, demanding who threw the snow ball. Jude is walking fast up the hill, getting to the top before anyone. He can't hold his laughter in, bending over.
"You'll pay for that," Austin says as we reach the top.
"Yeah," Joey say, sticking up for Austin. "That wasn't nice."
Jude narrows his eyes at his littlest brother, scoffing. "You dared me to do it!"
I roll my eyes, ignoring them and look at the view.
Its stunningly beautiful. Snow blankets everything. The hollers from my brothers rip my focus away from the view. Jude and Joey are in a race to the bottom against Quinn. Daniel and Beatrice are laughing on their way down, followed by Logan and Cassie.
"We'll race you," Andrea challenges, gesturing to herself and Henry.
"Oh, you're so on," I say, grinning.
Andrea gets on her sled beside me, sitting down onto it.
"Are you sure about this Em?" Austin asks, getting onto the back, behind me. I lean into him, laughing.
"Of course," I say, rolling my eyes. Austin pushes us to the edge of the hill.
Henry smirks. "Last one down is a rotten egg."
"One, two, three," Austin shouts, my eyes focused on the bottom. "Go!"
The toboggan lurches forward, sending us soaring down with Andrea and Henry close beside us. I laugh until I see the large snow drift at the bottom.
"We have to swerve," I say, but the wind takes my words.
Austin says something, but its too late. We hit the drift, flying up into the air before crashing down into the snow. I fall off the sled, implanting into the snow on my back.
There is a collective yell of "Emma's".
Austin scrambles over and looks down at me.
"Are you hurt? Is leg hurting?" he asks, frantic.
I laugh. "I'm fine, I promise!"
My brothers catch up to us, joined by Andrea.
Austin narrows his eyes. "Don't scare me like that," he says, but ends up joining in laughter. He helps me onto my feet and leans down and we kiss.
"None of that," Logan says and we jump back.
"Why do you guys kiss all the time?" Joey asks, sighing. "Don't you get tired of it?"
Jude laughs, lifting him onto his shoulders. "They're in love, Joe," he explains, and Joey's face crinkles. "You'll kiss someone someday and feel the same way."
"Can I kiss Bella?" Joey asks, shocking all of us.
Austin's lips twist up. "Over my death body, little man."
Joey just smiles, sticking out his tongue.
Everyone laughs, heading back up the hill. Austin carries me, one of my brothers taking our sled.
"Joey is going to be your brother-in-law someday," I say, smiling.
"Yes, we will be. One way or another."
***
Diane went all out to decorate and prepare for New Years.
The counters are filled with different kinds of finger foods and it takes all my mothers strength to hold my brothers back from digging in as soon as they see it.
"Boys, go mingle," she says, shaking her head. "Don't be such pigs, you have more manners." She scolds Ben, Aidan, and Quinn. My oldest brothers Jude, Logan, Owen, and Daniel have gone to a new years party with old friends with Beatrice and Cassie.
Joey runs to Isabella, Austin's sister as soon as we enter the house. They hug and exchange gifts before Isabella leads him away to show what she got from Santa.
Austin lingers behind his mom and step-fathers, watching me.
"You look gorgeous tonight," he says, once my parents and brothers have gone into the living room. I look down, glancing at my blue dress with tights. The only thing wrong is the crutches, which I can't wait to get rid of.
I blush. "Thanks, you look charming," I say, checking out his dress pants and black dress shirt. He has a red bow tie. "Love the bow tie."
"Are you guys just going to linger out here all night," the voice of my best friends hisses. I glance around Austin. Andrea is peering around the kitchen hallway, staring at us. "Come on, we're ready to kick your ass at Monopoly."
We join Aidan, Ben Quinn, and Seth at the kitchen table.
An hour later, Aidan and Quinn are in an argument who is winning.
Austin chuckles, looking at me. "Come here, I want to give you something," he says, leading me into the kitchen, away from everyone else. I follow him, hobbling on the crutches.
Austin kneels down, grinning wildly.
"What are you doing," I stage-whisper as he reaches into his pocket, taking out a black box, similar to what a ring would be carried in.
I cover my mouth, unsure of what is going on, but realize he's giving me a ring.
Austin looks up at me, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Emma, my love, I know this year has been hard for you but I will always be here for you."
Austin opens the box and I peer at what's inside. "Someday, I'll give you a diamond ring, but for now, I think this will do," he says and reaches for my hand and I give it to him.
On my middle finger, a silver ring is placed by Austin.
A promise ring.
"I don't know what to say," I mumble, nervous laughter bubbling out. Austin laughs, standing back up and kisses my forehead, then my cheek, down to my lips.
"Then don't say anything," He says, leaning back to rest his forehead against mine. "You're the only girl I want to spend every second or everyday with Emma."
My heart is swelling by the minute and it feels as if it will burst any minute.
Diana calls out. "Its almost New Years everyone!"
"Emma, I love you," he says, leaning down.
People begin to count down to the New Year.
"I love you too," I whisper.
"Happy New Year," everyone cheers, laughing.
And to many, many more.
I'll comb through later and check for errors and mistakes!
This is the last chapter before the epilogue!
Thanks so much for reading!
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