“It’s perfect and you know it. We can make this ours. The four of us,” he says with conviction. “We lost how many years that we could have had with her? We did so many things wrong. I want to show her all the things we can do right.”
“Don’t sell me on it,” I say, finally meeting his eyes. “Hope’s the one who needs to see the future and want it.”
HOPE
I scratch at the blindfold as Jax hums next to me. “I like seeing you in a blindfold. So many possibilities.”
“None of you are going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask.
“That would ruin the surprise, sweetheart,” Knox says.
I know we’re driving somewhere. I’ve felt a few potholes and turns, but that doesn’t tell me much.
“We should tell her, Knox,” Dimitri mumbles.
“Don’t worry,” Jax says in my ear. “I don’t know what’s going on either. We’re in a neighborhood, I think Ben lives around here somewhere, and—”
“Hey! Don’t spoil it,” Knox warns. “It’s important.”
They’re not… No. They wouldn’t propose. Not when we’ve finally had some calm. I just want normal. I want to ease into it and relax with my three men. I want us to actually be in a relationship without constant distractions and threats.
When we come to a stop, Jaxon whistles. “Ooh, you have a way with surprises, Knox.”
I reach for the blindfold, but when I get it off, Knox is standing in front of me. “It’s an option. A… a promise with immediate follow-through if you want it.”
“Way to build it up,” Dimitri says, but he’s teasing. There’s some excitement rippling between them. Even Jax is pumped. Dimitri shrugs. “You’ll love it or you’ll questionhissanity.”
“This was a joint decision,” Knox argues. “That’s how things work now. We decide together.”
“Okay, I’d like to help decide… by knowing what’s going on,” I say.
Knox takes one of my hands and starts walking backwards. He blocks any view, but the way he strokes my hand, how Jax keeps grinning, the mix of anticipation, nerves, and excitement have me close to squirming.
“Please stop stalling. I’m getting anxious,” I insist.
Knox moves and reveals a house. He starts telling me all about how we can organize things. Dimitri mentions a few things himself, and Jax is clearly picturing a new version of the house, painted on the outside, fixed up with lights and done in a fresh new style.
They want to buy a housetogether?
At least they’re not proposing.
“Well?” Knox asks. “Do you want to go inside?”
“But we just got the apartment,” I murmur. “I can’t afford a place like this.” Damn, it’s… massive. “Why do we need a new space?”
“All we have is yours, Hope,” Dimitri says.
“A fresh start, a place where we can all breathe, have our own space, and grow,” Jax says.
Knox nods, his gaze focused on me.
Dimitri hasn’t said anything.
Because my opinion is what matters. I’m tempted. I’ve wanted to have a house of my own with no memories, nothing bad or terrible clinging to it. A fresh start. My throat tightens at the idea. We’re moving fast, but I’ve been living with them and we haven’t done anything the traditional way. Why start now?
“Okay,” I whisper, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Okay?” Knox asks.
