“You can’t be serious,” Seb mutters.
“Without Maddie, I will never be whole again. The void is too big to ever fill. This is my penance for my mistake…loving her from afar.”
Leo crouches in front of me, shaking his head. “Not going to happen. Timing has never been on your side, but we will fix this. I’m going to fix this. Tell me what to do.”
I reach for Harrison’s drink and take a large gulp. “What could be done?”
“You stop the fucking engagement,” Harrison suggests.
“Or,” Leo cuts in, “you finally get your chance to explain. You make it so she has no other choice. Remind her how much you love her.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing for all these years, Leo?”
He pushes me in the chest. “No, stupid. You won’t do anything, let me do this for you. I’ll get her here and make it so she can’t resist.”
“And how will you do that?”
He grins, eyes lighting up. “I offer her a job at M-Squared that she can’t turn down. I’ve always wanted her to work with us. She’s brilliant.”
“She’s perfect in every way.”
“Whatever you say,” Leo chuckles, stands to help me up, then brings me in for a bear hug.
I glance between my brothers, and fuck, I love these guys.
It doesn’t matter that Seb hasn’t said much; he rarely does, too much in his own head. But him being here by my side is enough.
Harrison, a grumpy pain in the ass on the outside, but on the inside has the softest heart, and Leo, my best friend, is the funniest fucker between us all, but when it comes down to it, I can rely on him for anything because he’ll always have my back.
I couldn’t imagine a better family if I asked for one.
But getting Maddie back and making her mine again would be the only thing to make my family complete.
Maddie
“You’re all packed up.” Addie flops back onto my bed in an exaggerated manner. “NYC, here we come.”
I sigh happily, falling backward next to her. “I’m finally doing it.”
My eyes drift around my now-empty Atlanta studio apartment, letting reality sink in. The timeline might’ve been off, but the dream I chased for years is finally happening.
I’m moving to New York City, and just the thought makes my insides flutter with excitement. A small part of me wishes I’d made this move in my twenties, but honestly, I think I appreciate it more now. I’ve worked my butt off and earned a job among the very best.
“Yeah.Finally. I thought I’d be old and gray by the time you got your act together.”
I pick up a strand of her hair. “Hmm. I think I see a gray or two already.”
“Oh screw off.” She swats my hand away, then sits up abruptly. “If I lie down any longer, I’ll be out like a light.”
“We can leave in the morning,” I suggest.
I’ve hired a moving company to move most of my belongings to Mase’s penthouse, where I’ll be staying for now, but Addie and I are driving up my more fragile possessions that I wouldn’t trust with strangers.
“Nah. We should leave soon and see how far we get. Aim for Richmond, Virginia. If not, at least Charlotte.”
“Sounds good.” I follow her lead and stand to do one more walk-through.
“Where’s the tape? The box of your glass-making material isn’t secure enough.”
