Cal’s grin turned sharp, that competitive fire lighting up his eyes.
“Don’t think I’m gonna go easy on you, though. I’m not losing that belt without a fucking fight, Reed.”
I smiled, feeling the adrenaline spike in my veins. The future wasn’t scary anymore. It was ours.
“Give me everything you got, Deadlock.”
EPILOGUE: JUNE - THE REED LAND, NORTH CAROLINA
Now playing: Don’t Blame Me - Taylor Swift
“Gottasay,Si,I’mglad you went back to the clean cut and the short hair. Don’t get me wrong, the longer hair and the face scruff didn’t lookbad, but you really did look like your dad with a fake tan. It was creepy,” Evan said with a laugh, leaning over the porch railing next to me.
“Wow, thanks, you dick,” I said sarcastically, looking out at the yard.
We had four days off this month, and we were taking advantage of it. Cal opted not to go back up to Philly yet, his sister confessing she’d sent way more of Cal’s shit down here than she probably should've, all of which was still in boxes scattered across the living room. We hadn’t had the mind to unpack them yet, especially since Evan and Lena both decided to come with us to North Carolina for the break.
Evan coming wasn’t anything new, he always did in the summertime. But having Lena and Cal? It was a fever dream.
We were having another bonfire tonight. It was all set up, though the sun was still too high to light it. Lena was with the twins, dancing in front of a phone, definitely making TikToks. Maverick and Scott were messing around with the four wheelers that I was trying to convince Cal to let me take him out on. Jayme and Shannon were sitting in the lawn chairs, watching my brothers kick a soccer ball.
AndCal… Cal was playing with them, smiling and laughing, like he belonged right here. Like this was his home.
“So,” I said, my palms sweating against the wood of the railing. “I’ve been thinking.”
“Well, that’s never fucking good,” Evan said, straightening up to look at me.
I glared at him, but my gaze went back to Cal. Colin was play attacking him, and Cal had him thrown over his shoulder as he scooped Vega into his other arm. They were all laughing, the sound carrying across the yard.
“I’m gonna ask him to marry me,” I blurted out.
“You’re gonna what?” Evan asked, wide eyed. “Si, you two have been back together what? Five months?”
“I waited almost ten years for this, Ev. I’m not waiting any longer,” I said, looking at him.
“You’re fucking insane,” he said, shaking his head. “And so is he. Because I know he’s going to say yes.”
The certainty settled in my chest, warm and solid. I felt that way too, but hearing someone else say it, someone who knew us both, made the anxiety ease just a fraction.
Evan frowned, looking confused. “I’m kind of confused, though. I just figured when this happened, it would be Cal that asked. Like… isn’t that his job?”
I frowned. “Why? Is this like a ‘cause it’s the man’s job’ thing? Cause we’re both men.”
“No, no!” Evan stammered. “I just meant like… isn’t that theman man’sjob?”
I burst out laughing. “What the fuck is a ‘man man’?”
Evan turned bright red. “You know! Like… The one who… drives the car!”
“So in your mind,” I said, grinning, “whoever the top is, it’s their job to propose?”
Evan pointed a finger at me. “Yes! Exactly. That logic holds up.”
I stared at him. Then I started laughing harder. “So… you think Cal should propose?”
Evan paused. He looked at Cal, who was currently wrestling two teenagers with effortless strength. Then he looked at me.
“Wait,” Evan whispered, horror dawning on his face. “You… you don’t top that prick?”
