“Oh shut up. You’re happy. Maddie’s happy. I was right.” Kate peered at the screen. “Are you on the porch? It’s like five in the morning.”
“Thorne wanted to watch the sunrise,” Maddie explained.
“Of course he did. So romantic. See? I knew you two were perfect for each other.”
“The compatibility algorithm knew,” I corrected. “You just lied about why we were meeting.”
“Potato, po-tah-to.” Kate waved her hand dismissively. “The point is, it worked. So, have you asked her yet?”
Maddie looked at me. “Asked me what?”
I glared at Kate. “I’m going to kill you.”
“What? I’m just asking. It’s been a year. That’s long enough to know.” Kate’s grin was pure big sister. “Unless you’re waiting for something special. Like maybe a meadow full of wildflowers? In the same place where you picked her wedding bouquet?”
Maddie’s hand flew to her mouth. “Thorne. Are you—”
“I was planning it,” I said, shooting Kate another death glare. “Before someone ruined the surprise.”
“Planning what exactly?” Maddie’s eyes were suspiciously bright.
I leaned the phone against the porch post, knowing I’d never hear the end of it if I ended the call. I took Maddie’s hand, and suddenly it didn’t matter that this wasn’t the romantic moment I’d planned. Didn’t matter that my sister was watching via phone, probably recording this for posterity.
All that mattered was Maddie, looking at me like I’d hung the moon.
“Planning to ask you to marry me. Again. For real this time.” I pulled the ring box from my pocket—I’d been carrying it around for two weeks, waiting for the perfect moment. “Not because of some fake inheritance clause. Not because Kate manipulated us. But because I love you. Because you’re my best friend. Because I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
“You had the ring in your pocket this whole time?” she asked.
“I’ve been carrying it around. Waiting for the right moment.”
“This is the right moment.” She was crying now, tears streaming down her face. “Yes. Obviously yes. Did you think I’d say no?”
“With you—"
She threw herself in my arms, kissing me. I could taste her tears and her smile. “Yes, I’ll marry you, again, mountain man. Now put the ring on me before I combust.”
I slid the ring onto her finger—a simple band with a small diamond that reminded me of the wildflowers I’d picked for her. Nothing flashy. Just honest and real and permanent.
Like us.
“I’m crying,” Kate yelled from the phone. “This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I’m a matchmaking genius.”
“You’re also fired from being my sister,” I told her.
“You can’t fire me. We’re family.”
“Watch me.”
Kate stuck out her tongue. “You’re going to need babysitting services, big bro, so watch that tone.”
Maddie laughed, still staring at the ring on her finger. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect. This is all perfect.”
“Marry me?” I asked.
“Already did.”
“Do it again. Properly this time. With your family. My family. Everyone we love.”
