“That’s how it should be,” Alan nods, placing his hand over his heart as Andrea looks over at him. “Marriage, for the most part, is lovely on its own–but to do it with your best friend? I think it’s the greatest gift life has ever given us.”
“So you really don’t mind?” My voice sounds small, but the nerves have been replaced by hope. “Even if it feels fast? I knowit hasn’t even been two years, and I don’t necessarily believe there’s a timeline for these things, but I want to honor Aaron, and you, and–”
“Abby,” Andrea says soothingly. “All we want in this world is for you and Erin to be happy. And if Jack is the one to make that happen? It’s just an added bonus.”
“He’s always felt like a second son,” Alan says, voice tight with emotion. “He and Aaron were inseparable, and we knew his parents weren’t around. He’s as welcome in our home as you are, and knowing you’ve found solace in one another, well.” He clears his throat before continuing. “Well, that’s just the best thing I can imagine.”
Erin crawls over, pulling herself up by the hem of my pants, smiling brightly when I scoop her into my arms and kiss her on the forehead.
“You are so loved, baby girl,” I murmur. “I hope you never question that.”
“Not on our watch,” Alan grins, once again stealing her away. “Not for one second.”
We spend the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing, and fawning over our dear Little One. Andrea asks a million details about how exactly Jack and I realized our love was more than just friendship (obviously some parts were glossed over, she does not need that much information about either of us), and Alan spends the majority of the time ignoring Andrea and I completely. Apparently he only has eyes for one girl now, and we’re not even a remotely close second.
When we realize Erin can hardly keep her eyes open, we say our goodbyes and I place her in her carseat as gently as possible.
“Come on, Little One,” I whisper, sweeping the lightest kiss across her forehead. “Let’s go home to our Jacky boy.”
Chapter 54
Jack
Eleven Months
"Do you want to get married?"
Abby drops the sippy cup she's washing into the sink with a loud clatter, spinning around abruptly and staring at me wide-eyed.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Do you want to get married?" I repeat through a mouthful of turkey sub leftover from lunch earlier.
"Are you proposing to me through a mouthful of food in our kitchen?"
Our.It's music to my ears every time she says it.
"Sorry," I say, swallowing hastily. "No, this is not a proposal—I meant, do you want to get married, ever? Or is that not something you want to do again?"
She leans against the counter, drumming her fingers on the butcher block countertops.
"I think if you'd asked me a few months ago, I would have said no," she says thoughtfully. "But I also think if you'd asked me if I ever thought I'd fall in love again, I would have said no to that, too."
"And what about now?"
She purses her lips and cocks her head contemplatively. After a few moments of quiet pondering, I decide to break the silence.
"It doesn't make a difference to me, I hope you know that," I say reassuringly. "All I care about is getting to love you and Erin. I don't need a piece of paper to do that. I just want to make sure you get everything you want, pretty girl. I want to give you the world—whether I do that as your husband or your partner or just your Jack is irrelevant."
"You perfect, sweet man," she says softly, crossing the room and sitting in my lap in the dining chair. She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me gently on the mouth. "I think I'd like very much for you to do that as my husband someday. If that's somethingyouwant."
"I want it all," I say, pulling her in for a deeper kiss. "As long as it's with you."
She runs her fingers through my hair, smiling at me affectionately.
"You've got it, Jack Robbit," she says. "All of it."
"And don't tell me to stop calling you that," she adds when I open my mouth to retaliate, as per usual. "If you want to give me the world, the least you can give me is a silly nickname."
