Cody laughs, then shifts, hoisting himself up and hovering above me. “I just need five minutes,” he says, grinning. “She’ll be alright.”
His mouth finds mine again, deeper this time, hungrier. My legs wrap around his waist, and my fingers slip beneath the waistband of his boxers, tugging him closer right before everything else fades.
Four minutes later…
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
Cody and I both freeze. He lifts off me just enough to meet my eyes.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” he mutters, out of breath, his sweaty forehead dropping to my shoulder.
Then he groans and rolls off the bed, already reaching for his clothes.
“No,” I whine, my hands flopping back against the sheets. “We were literally almost done. This is a crime, Cody.”
He pulls on his jeans and grumbles, “I know. And it better be an emergency, because if someone’s showing up with a confetti cannon to wish us a happy new year, I’m fighting them.”
And with that he’s pulling our bedroom door open and shutting it behind him.
I contemplate if I should stay put or not. Then a voice sounds—loud, chirpy, and way too much energy for this hour. “We’re engaged!!” I know it’s Addison.
I jump out of bed and grab the first articles of clothing I can find.
The bedroom door creaks back open a second later and Cody sticks his head in. “It’s my sister. Wesley proposed last night.”
“I heard, I’m coming,” I say, out of breath but still smiling.
I’m excited for them. When Cody said Wes asked permission a few weeks ago, I couldn’t stop thinking about it, wonderingwhen he was going to do it. All we knew was he had a ring and a plan, but he kept it to himself.
I follow him out and to the front door, keeping my arms crossed over my chest. I didn’t have time to put a bra on.
“Look!” Addison exclaims, holding her left hand out and showing me a sparkly, gold-banded diamond ring.
“Shh!” Cody hisses. “Emma’s still asleep.”
“Oh my word!” I whisper and step closer to get a better look. It’s stunning; suits her perfectly. I look to Wesley. “You did good!”
“Thanks.” He smiles.
“Ask him how long he’s had it,” Addison says, crossing her arms and flashing Wesley a look. I’m not entirely sure what it means.
He laughs once and looks to me. “Three years.”
My eyes bug out and Cody says, “For you or someone else?”
I swat his arm but Wesley laughs. “For her,” he assures us.
“That’s crazy,” I add.
“Right! He’s insane!” Addison snorts.
“What were you…fifteen? Is that even legal?” Cody presses.
“Sixteen, and yeah.” Wesley shrugs. “Guy was a little confused, but I didn’t care.” He laughs.
Another few minutes of conversation, and she tells us the whole story. How they were just hanging out as usual in the barn by the woodstove, curled up with a blanket, the ball drop playing on one of their phones. When he pulled her up off the couch, she thought maybe he was going to start dancing with her, but then he dropped to one knee right there. It wasn’t fancy, but it was them. And it sounded absolutely perfect.
One last congratulations out of both of us and we shut the door gently on them and they are on their way. Cody looks to me, then down my body,
