I shot my gaze between the two of them, then down to Everly’s bare left hand, before settling on my brother’s shocked face.
Everly rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t look so surprised. Is that not where this is going?”
Beck cleared his throat. “No, it is. I just figured it would be more of a surprise than you casually dropping it like it’s no big deal.”
“Well, you’ve basically peed a circle around me every day for the past two years, and we’re building a house together on your family’s land. I don’t think marriage is going to be a surprise to anyone, sweetie.”
“I mean, she’s right,” I said. “Youhavebeen super obsessed with her that whole time. Like, disconcertingly so.”
Beck shot me a glare. “Why are you still here?”
That was a great question. I snatched the box off the counter and placed the ring back inside before offering them a two-finger wave. Then I hustled out of the diner, ready to find my wife, that beautiful little liar, and put to rest any uncertainty she had over exactly how I felt about her.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
QUINN
I hadno idea where to search for Ford, but starting by asking Beck was probably my best option. I was sure he knew everything that had happened between my husband and me—he and Ford didn’t keep many, if any, secrets. Which would mean he’d know how I’d jumped to conclusions and left. He’d know all the hurtful things I’d said to Ford. He’d know that I’d let my insecurities get the better of me and hadn’t seen Ford for the amazing man he was.
But that was something I was going to have to deal with, something I needed to face head on. I didn’t want to go another night without my husband. Didn’t want anotherhourto pass without telling him everything I was feeling. And if I had to spill my guts to Beck in order to find his brother, so be it.
I stepped out of the cottage and into the late-summer sun. Giving myself an internal pep talk, I locked up before smoothing my hands down my sundress. Beck wasn’t a scary guy—okay, he kind of was. But only in that he was protective of those he loved, and the only person he loved more than his twin was Everly. What I had to tell him was probably going to be a hard sell, but I was going to do it. I’d make him see exactly how much Ford meant to me.
Exactly how much I loved him, and exactly how sorry I was for everything.
With my head down, I took a deep breath and spun around on the porch, intent on making my way to the diner to spill my guts. Hopefully Beck was in a good mood today. Hopefully he was feeling generous. Hopefully he—
“Hey, kitten.”
I jerked my head up at the sound of Ford’s voice, all throaty and rough, and there he stood. He wore jeans and a gray T-shirt, his hair in disarray as if he’d been running his fingers through it without thought. As if maybe this separation had been just as hard on him. God, had it really only been a day since I’d last seen him?
As I looked my fill of him, it took me several moments to realize what he’d said…what he’d called me, and I snapped my gaze to his, my voice caught in my throat as hope bloomed in my chest.
He slowly walked toward me, ascending the stairs of our front porch, until suddenly, he was standing in front of me. He ran his gaze over me, his eyes cataloging all my features, running over every inch of my body. And I had no idea how I’d never seen this before. How I’d questioned this man’s feelings. How could I when he looked at me like that?
“I was looking for you,” I said, finally finding my voice.
He studied me, his eyes holding an apprehension I wasn’t used to seeing with him. Normally, he jumped in headfirst. Doubt didn’t register in his thought processes. But there was no denying it was there now. No denying I’d been the one who put it there. “Why?”
I bit my lip, wondering how much I should say. Wondering where to start… “I heard what you said. To my father.”
He froze, his entire body going stiff as he stared down at me. As he tried to read more into my posture. Into my words. “I’m sorry if I overstepped and—”
“You didn’t,” I said, my words already coming out shaky. “I can’t even tell you what it felt like to hear you do that for me. To support me. Even after…”
He made a gruff sound in the back of his throat, his hand lifting toward me before falling back to his side. “I’ll always support you, kitten. Always protect you. No matter what.”
“I know that now.” I shoved aside my nerves, forcing myself to say what I needed to. What he deserved to hear. “And I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner. I’m sorry for not seeingyousooner. Seeing the man I know you are. The man I’m in love with.”
There was a beat of silence, and then Ford’s mouth dropped open, his gaze locked on my face, wide eyes darting to every inch of it as if he couldn’t believe the words I’d spoken. That was my fault, for not making him feel seen or heard. A mistake I hoped I’d get the chance to work the rest of my life not to make again.
I swallowed, trying to force down the tears, but it was no use. They clogged my throat and filled my eyes, spilling over as they ran down my cheeks. “Me lashing out yesterday and immediately going to the worst-case scenario was more about me than it ever was about you.”
Ford let out a low, rough noise as if my tears physically pained him and shifted to step forward, but I held up my hand, holding him back. I needed to get this all out in the open so we could hopefully start over. Start fresh and build something permanent. Something real.
Something forever.
“You know how I grew up,” I said. “The things my parents said to me—hell, you got to witness it firsthand.”
