“That sucked,” I groused, burying my face into his neck and relishing the feel of his huge arms pulling me close and holding me tightly.
We sat there by the side of the road for several minutes before I pulled back to look him in the eye.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this card you’d thought we’d need to play?” I demanded. “That’s a pretty big plan to keep to yourself.”
He looked me in the eye, his hands moving to either side of my neck so his thumbs could stroke my lower lip. “Because I wanted to be able to propose to you properly,” he shared. “I love you. I love Maddox. I want to have more babies with you. I want you to have my last name. I want to share my life with you. Marry me.” His voice was thick with emotion.
My eyes filled with tears as I tried to grapple with my world tilting on its axis. “And it’s not because you feel like you have to?” I hedged, admitting my worst fear aloud.
He grinned. “It’s the only thing I could thank your father for, baby. He pushed up my timeline. This way I get a ring on your finger now rather than later. Marry me, Sophie,” he whispered, pulling me closer still.
In the end, there was only one answer to that question. Despite everything, I’d never felt so sure of anything.
“Yes,” I grinned at him before he took my mouth in a searing kiss.
His mouth opened up over mine, our tongues tangling as his fingers raked through my hair. My entire body liquefied as I pushed myself closer.
“I love you,” I murmured against his mouth as our ragged breathing steamed up the windows.
“I love you, too, baby,” he replied, pressing his forehead to mine. “If we weren’t on the side of the road, we’d celebrate. Tonight,” he promised, his eyes dark with desire.
I nodded, biting my lip in anticipation.
“Let’s go get our boy.”
“Yeah,” I grinned.
Maddox greeted us with a gummy grin as Kat passed him off to me.
“How’d he do?” I asked, kissing his chubby cheek and holding him close.
“Great,” she beamed. “It’s good practice for us.” Sal came to wrap an arm around her shoulders.
“Not looking forward to changing all those diapers.” He shook his head as she poked him in the side. “Fuck! How are they so rank? He hardly eats any solid food.”
“Get ready,” I teased.
“Did you guys have fun?” Kat asked.
I blushed furiously and looked up at Axel. “We did.” He confirmed for me with a sly grin. “So much fun I got this girl to agree to marry me,” he added proudly.
“No shit?” Sal smiled as Kat squealed.
“No shit,” Axel nodded, accepting the handshake my brother extended.
I saw Kat look down at my bare ring finger curiously. Axel must have noticed as well. “The proposal I’d been planning got moved up due to an unexpected call on the way here from your mother,” Axel replied, looking pointedly over at Sal.
“What?” Sal demanded, his eyes narrowing.
“It’s time to throw down the gauntlet, man. Her father is fucking losing it. Thinks she’s still gonna come back and marry that Benjamin kid.” He shook his head in disbelief. “You knew I was already gonna propose, but I had her say we’re already married.”
“Good idea,” Sal agreed. “You guys are gonna have to act quick then.”
“Yeah,” Axel nodded.
“What location can we pull together on such short notice?” Kat thought aloud.
“I know the exact spot,” I put in, the image already clear in my mind.
