I want my ring on her finger. I want to bind myself to her and her to me and make promises and commitments and build a future and dream new dreams together. I want that morning I imagined so clearly in my beach house. Us wrapped in fuzzy robes, enjoying coffee while watching the world go by.
Next to me, King drops to one knee.
Katherine stumbles back a step, but Alex is quick to steady her.
“Now you’re following the plan?” I grouse, shoving a hand into my pocket.
Retrieving the ring, I lower my right knee to the floor, passing a rising Kingston on the way down.
“We—ll—” he stutters, flustered.
His cheeks turn pink beneath his tan, and I can’t help but want to kiss him. How freaking adorable.
“We might need some extra rehearsal time before the ceremony,” Alex says from my left, then joins me on one knee. He holds out his hand, and a silently laughing Katherine takes it.
“Times three,” I add. “One per groom.”
“Now who’s jumping the gun?” King asks, playfully shoving me into Alex.
My rock of a best friend doesn’t budge, just wraps an arm around my waist, keeping me upright. Then he reaches over and tugs King’s tuxedo pants. “Get down here.”
When we’re at last shoulder to shoulder, each of us holding part of Katherine’s left hand, I twist the ring around my other thumb. I’d imagined this moment dozens of times. How she’d look. The expression on her face when she saw the ring we had made. Every little detail planned out and ready to execute, but for some reason, I’m tongue-tied.
“This is like ultimate finger Jenga,” King whispers.
I immediately reach out and lock my pinky around one of Kingston’s fingers, tighten my thumb around Alex’s pinky.
“More like Lincoln Logs,” Alex murmurs.
“Never had those,” King replies.
Thank goodness she’s still grinning down at us, eyes sparkling with good humor. In fact, she looks like she’s about to burst.
“Princess,” I say, drawing her attention to me. King and Alex sober, suddenly all business. “This may be the most unconventional proposal ever. But nothing else would suit us, would it? And though ittook us a bit to get here, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be and no one I’d rather be with than the three of you.”
“Ditto,” King whispers.
“Same,” Alex adds. Then, “Will you marry us, Katie Bird? Build a life with us?”
We glance over at King, waiting for him to add his heart words.
KINGSTON
Oh, shit. I’m up.
It doesn’t matter that I’ve played this moment out in my head a hundred times over the years. Now that it’s here, my thoughts dive out of my head like my brain is on fire.
I take a deep breath and glance to my left.
Gabe’s blue eyes lock with mine, so steady and understanding. The tight fist around my chest loosens a bit. That’s better. They’re not rushing me. In fact, I’d bet this yacht that Gabe can read the momentary panic in me. And he’d support me through it.
Beside him, Alex watches, waiting patiently.
Honestly, if I couldn’t have Katherine all to myself, there aren’t two better men on the planet to share her with.
“Wildfire… Katherine…” I tear my gaze from the men at my side and stare up at the woman who’s had a lock on my soul from moment one. “I was too young to understand all the wild feelings the first time we met. But you’ve always been it. My true north. The sure place to put my feet.”
I feel Gabe’s finger loosen as that brilliant brain tries to puzzle out what I’m talking about. I’ll explain the ins and outs of precision jumps later. But Katherine knows because she knows me.
