Full House (The Gamblers Book 3)

by Sarah Curtis

  She fluttered her eyelashes. “My hero.”

  They climbed back on the bed and got into their usual position—him on his back, her curled into his side with her head in the crook of his shoulder. Her finger made a pattern on his chest, spelling something, but he couldn’t make it out.

  They were silent for a while before he said, “What’s on your mind?” He always knew when something was troubling her.

  She took another minute to answer. “I’ve come to a decision.”

  He knew what she was talking about. There was only one decision she needed to make.

  She didn’t drag out the suspense. “I’ve decided to take the part.” She popped her head up, staring at him. “Are you upset?”

  He chuckled. He couldn’t help it. “Of course not. I think it’s wonderful.”

  “You do?”

  She sounded so uncertain he couldn’t help but chuckle, again. “Tori, all I ever want is for you to be happy. Acting is your lifelong dream. And you’re so good at it. You shouldn’t give it up.”

  “You’re my lifelong dream,” she said conviction in her voice.

  He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Who’s to say you can’t have two lifelong dreams.”

  “Is that being selfish? You’ve decided to stay home.”

  “No, you’re not selfish. I’ve been acting years longer than you. I’ve lived my dream, and now I’m ready to live a new one. I’m having fun being home with Luke, so much fun that maybe after you wrap up shooting, you’ll agree to add another rugrat to the mix.”

  She smiled. “I’d love that.” She traced something else on his chest, and this time he made out the shape of a heart. “So, you’re planning to retire, permanently?”

  She sounded surprised, but he knew she wasn’t. They’d talked about this before. But he knew what she was doing. In her own subtle way, she was giving him an out if he wanted to change his mind. And he loved her even more for that.

  He shrugged a shoulder. “I’ve been thinking, maybe in a few years I’ll try directing. I’ve always been interested in that.”

  She nodded, agreeing. “You’d be a great director.”

  He positioned her back on his shoulder and snuggled her close. “We’ll cross that bridge later on down the line. For now, I’m happy the way we are.”

  It wasn’t long until he heard her breaths even out, and he closed his eyes, drifting off to the peaceful sound, knowing everything he’d said was true. His wife made his life perfect.

  “How are we getting all of this home?”

  Nate, sitting on the bed with his back propped against the headboard, looked over the top of his computer to his wife. She stood across the room, staring at the mountain of gifts they’d received. Some from guests that had come, others from people that couldn’t make it and had been shipped there. “I’ve got it handled, don’t worry.”

  “Oh, look. Here’s one we forgot to open.” She paused a moment. “That’s weird. It doesn’t have a tag.”

  He frowned watching her turn the box this way and that.

  He saw her shrug. “Maybe it fell off.”

  He got off the bed, a sick feeling filling his stomach. “Don’t open it.”

  She looked over her shoulder at him, raising her brows. “What?”

  He walked over to her, holding out his hands. “Let me see it.”

  She handed it over. A sense of déjà vu overcame him. The box was the size of a shoebox, but instead of a happy birthday theme, it was wrapped in lace print paper stamped with silver bells. He took it to the desk and carefully opened it. He felt Victoria at his back, watching from around his shoulder.

  He pulled off the lid and frowned at what he saw. Pictures of him with a photoshopped Chrissy, tons of them. And that wasn’t all. What looked to be love notes, written to Chrissy from him, only not in his handwriting but in hers, as if she’d written them and then pretended they were from him. Trinkets and what looked like keepsakes—movie ticket stubs, dinner receipts, some dried flowers—also filled the box.

  “What the fuck?” He didn’t know what the hell he was looking at.

  But apparently, Victoria did because she started laughing.

  “What’s so funny? What in the hell is this?”

  She was hanging on his arm, her face pressed against his chest. “It’s a…” she kept laughing unable to get her sentence out. “It’s a breakup box.”

  “A what?” He honestly had no idea what she was talking about.

  She took a deep breath trying to calm herself, but her eyes were glassy, and a big smile still stretched her lips. “A breakup box. Chrissy has broken up with you and sent you everything from your time together.”

  He frowned. “We were never together.”

  She placed a hand on his arm. “But she thought you were. This is her way of telling you it’s over.”

  “Well, thank fuck for that.”

  She gave him a sassy little smirk. “I’m sorry you got dumped. Do you need a pint of ice cream?”

  He felt his lips twitch but only shook his head at her. “Sweetheart, if you’re offering to console me, at least make it worth my while.”

  “Soooo, what are you saying?” And there went that little smirk again.

  “I’m saying, we have one more night here and grandparents on babysitting duty. Let’s make the most of it.”

  “Another adventure?”

  “Baby, with you, life is one big adventure.”

  Five years later…

  “And the Oscar goes to… Victoria Reed.”

  Applause filled her ears, none louder than the man’s sitting one seat away from her. Victoria sat, unmoving, stunned that her name had been called. She looked to her right, and a pair of warm, brown, smiling eyes were gazing back at her.

  Nate gave her a head jerk. A signal to get her ass in gear.

  Her eyes fell to her twin girls, sitting on their father’s lap, amidst a sea of pink lace both girls had insisted on wearing. Ammy had her thumb in her mouth—a habit they’d been trying and failing to break—and her head resting on Nate’s shoulder. Emma was wide-eyed and alert, in awe of her surroundings. They’d be three in a few months and, on a good day, were a handful. Both had their father wrapped around their little fingers even though he swears he doesn’t spoil them.

  Sitting next to them—in the seat beside hers—was her little man. Just turned five, he looked so grown up in his tux. He was clapping enthusiastically, his small body dwarfed by the large, padded chair he was kneeling in.

  She leaned over Luke, Nate meeting her halfway. “Congratulations,” Nate whispered before his lips sealed hers in an exuberant kiss. Pulling back, he smiled and said, “I love you, baby. Now go get your Oscar.”

  Victoria stood and gingerly passed three people, trying not to knock into their legs as she made her way to the aisle. Hitting the stairs leading up to the stage, she looked over her shoulder, taking another look at her family. Their smiles filled her heart to bursting. She was one lucky lady. Raising the hem of her gown, she carefully climbed the stairs and made her way across the stage to the podium where she was handed the most coveted award in Hollywood.

  She leaned into the microphone, her heart galloping, and said, “Thank you so much.”

  She waited for the applause to die down before she tried to speak again. After quickly thanking the people associated with the movie and her manager, April, she took a deep breath and said, “There’s one person in this audience who without him, I don’t think I’d be standing here tonight. He lifts me when I’m down, pushes me when I’m ready to give up, and loves me even at my most unlovable. He’s given me the courage, the means, and the support to fulfill each one of my dreams of wanting to be a wife, mother, and actor. My husband, my lover, my very best friend, Nathan Reed.”

  Her eyes scanned the crowd, locking on Nate—five rows back, center of the auditorium—and spoke directly to him, a single tear falling down her cheek. “You never once doubted I’d be standing here one da
y, I love you so much. Thank you for believing in me.”

  Holding her award high, she stared right at Nate and the three beautiful children they’d made together, and with the love she was feeling clearly filling her voice, she said, “Babe, we might have started off as a pair but ended up with a full house.”

  Author’s Note

  A quick thank you to some really awesome people….

  Layla and Brynne, for late night Saturday nights, grammar checks, recipes I will never make nor eat, moral support, and girl chats. I can’t get through a day without you. Thank you for being my friends.

  Carla, for keeping me sane during the long writing process, you’re one of the first to read my words. It’s a scary job. Thank you doesn’t seem enough for the time you give me.

  JR, you’ve been with me since I started this crazy ride. Your friendship means the world to me.

  My betas, Mari, Cicely, Nichole, and Nicole your insights are invaluable. Thank you for dropping everything to read me. I couldn’t do this without you.

  The bloggers, I know your schedules are busy, so thank you for taking the time to read me. You guys are greatly appreciated.

  To everyone in my reading group. You guys are awesome. Thank you for your support.

  And to everyone who reads this book, I know I thanked you in the dedication, but I really can’t thank you enough. So, thank you for giving this indie author a chance.

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