“Hey now,” Cage said, pretending to cover his ears as everyone laughed.
“I’m actually the one who predicted they would end up together,” Burke said, and Gracie smiled at her brother, who was home from school in Italy.
“You also predicted that Cutler would go onThe Bachelorand become a famous reality star,” Gracie said with a smirk.
Burke laughed. “Hey, that could have happened during his college years. Listen, this is a dream come true for me, because I’ve never liked any of the dudes you’ve dated, and now you’ve hit the jackpot.” Her brother high-fived me.
“I’m the one who hit the jackpot,” I said as I wrapped my arms around her a little tighter.
We spent the rest of the afternoon watching football and hanging out with family. When we got back to her parents’ house, Gracie helped her mom unload all the leftovers that her grandmother had sent home with us.
Burke said he needed to go lie down, as he was jet-lagged and still on Italy time.
Cage and I each grabbed a beer, bundled up in our coats, and went out back to light a fire.
“Is this a good time to talk to you about something?” I asked, clearing my throat.
His expression turned a bit more serious, and he leaned forward in his chair. “Of course. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is great,” I assured him.
Why am I suddenly nervous?
“Yeah? I’m sure the distance isn’t easy, Cutler. But I want you to know that I appreciate you encouraging Gracie to do this,” he said, giving me a steady look. “I know she regretted her choice to go to Paris, but I really think she’s gotten her confidence back now. It was too good of an opportunity to turn down. And you guys are young, and you’ve got your whole lives ahead of you.”
“I agree. And I’m proud as hell of her for doing this.” I intertwined my fingers, resting my elbows on my knees. “She doesn’t know it yet, but I’ve started the process to get licensed in New York City. I don’t want to wait until she tells me it’s where she wants to stay permanently and then have to start the process. I want to be ready. The ball is in her court, and when she says jump, I’ll just ask how high.” I chuckled.
“You’d really close down your business and move across the country, wouldn’t you?”
“It’s not even a question. I’d do it right now, but she’s not certain she wants to stay there. So we’ve agreed to give it six months, and see how she feels,” I said. Gracie’s lease had been extended for three more months, so she’d make the decision in the next few months.
“You’re a good man, Cutler Heart.”
“Well, not sure about that, but I’m certainly a lucky man.” I exhaled. “And what I wanted to talk to you about is my commitment to your daughter.”
“I don’t have one bit of hesitation about your commitment to one another,” he said confidently.
“That’s good to hear, because I need you to know that I’d walk through fire for that girl. She’s the first person I want to talk to when I wake up in the morning and the last person I want totalk to before I go to sleep. She’s always completed me in a way. I want to give her everything her heart desires, and then some. She’s my girl. Always has been. Always will be.” I looked him in the eyes, and I mean I really looked him in the eyes. Wanting him to see all the love that I had for his little girl. “I want to propose to her in the near future, and I want to make sure I have your blessing. You know how much respect I have for you, so knowing that you’re on board with this would mean a lot to me.”
“I thought Presley getting me a new set of golf clubs was going to be the best Christmas gift this year.” He pushed to his feet and tugged me up to stand. “But you just made me a very happy man.”
He clapped me on the back, and we just stood there hugging for the longest time.
Cage Reynolds had always felt like family to me. And now we were going to make it official.
We both sat back down. “Do you know how you’re going to do it?”
“I’m working on that right now,” I said. “We’ve been through a lot together, so I’ll need to make it really special.”
“Well, damn. You’ve got me all choked up, so I think you could just speak from the heart like you did tonight, and you’ll be just fine,” he said. “But knowing you the way I do, I have no doubt it’ll be something we’ll all talk about for years.”
“That’s the plan,” I said.
“What’s the plan?” Gracie came walking outside wearing her white ski jacket and white hat with a big pompom on the top of her head.
“The plan is that we wake up tomorrow and go get some pancakes at the Cottonwood Café,” Cage said, thinking quickly on his feet.
“Oh, I haven’t seen Mrs. Runither in a few months, but Mom said she’s still working there on the weekends. And you knowhow much she loves you, Cutler.” Gracie settled on my lap and chuckled.
