"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Hawkes," Hattie says sweetly. "Um, thanks for having a son like Sidney. He's the best thing that ever happened to me."
"Oh, sweet girl." Tears spring to Ma's eyes as she cups her cheeks. "Thank you for giving the big oaf a chance."
"Ma! Jesus!" I grumble. "I'm standing right here."
Soph throws her head back, cackling.
"Well, it's true, dear," she says, waving one hand dismissively. "Honestly, Sidney, I had two sons, and both of you are the biggest pains in my—"
"Ma!" I growl.
Hattie covers her mouth with her hand, trying to hide a smile, but there's no hiding the way her entire body shakes.
"Oh, so this is funny to you, huh, butterfly?" I ask, cocking a brow at her.
"Who me?" she asks, trying to play innocent. The act is spoiled by the way she giggles. And that sound?Fuck.I could die happy, hearing that sound.
"Yeah, you." I sweep her up into my arms, planting a hard kiss on her mouth. "You're lucky I love you, butterfly. Otherwise, we'd be having a talk about you siding with my ma."
"But…I like your mom," she says, her eyes bright and bottomless. "She gives the best hugs, Sidney."
Ma grins at me like she just won a war.
"Doesn't matter. You're supposed to be on my team."
"I don't see a ring on her finger, Sidney Bronson," Ma says. "You aren't the boss of her."
"Yeah, Sidney Bronson," Hattie says, smirking. "What she said. There's no ring on my finger, so you aren't the boss of me."
I grunt, taking a step back. She wants a ring on her finger? Done.
Ma gasps, her hands flying to her lips when I drop to my knees in the driveway at Hattie's feet, reaching into my pocket.
"W-what are you doing?" Hattie asks, her eyes wide.
"You want a ring on your finger, Hattie baby?" I ask, meeting her gaze as I pull hers out of my pocket. "Will this one suffice?"
"Sidney," she gasps.
"Holy shit," Soph mutters.
My mom just covers her mouth, sobbing quietly.
"Didn't plan on doing this here," I murmur, my voice a thick rasp. "I wanted to wait until we were in Aspen. But I've been carrying this around since the day after you asked me to date you." I swallow hard. "I've been dying to put it on your finger.Hearing you talk about it…I can't wait." I reach for her hand, mine shaking. "You're everything I've been dreaming about, and so many things I never would have thought to ask for. You complete me in ways I didn't know it was possible to be completed. I love you, butterfly. And I'm going to keep on loving you for the rest of my life. Marry me."
She nods wordlessly, tears streaming down her face.
"I need to hear you say it, Hattie baby," I whisper. "Tell me that you'll be mine forever."
"Yes," she sobs.
Who knew you could contain the entire universe in one tiny little word? I didn't until this very moment, but mine is right there, quivering on her lips.
I choke out a breath, slipping the ring onto her finger.
She blinks at it and then at me, and then she dives for me, flinging herself against my chest like the beautiful storm she is. I catch her, wrapping myself around her.
"You s-still aren't the boss of me," she sobs, smiling and laughing and crying all at once.
