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Sighing, I pull her closer to me. “Have you ever heard of a firefly friendship?”

“No.”

“I hadn’t until my mom mentioned it shortly after we moved to Garnet Valley.” I remember leaving school that day and hating that I had to part from Lennon. Being near her was the best part of my days, and apparently, I never stopped talking to Mom about my new best friend.

“Okay…”

“It basically describes the type of friendship that is instant, the kind that burns so bright you can’t help but be pulled into the magnetic force of it all. You know, much like seeing a firefly light up the sky right in front of you.” She nods, and I continue. “That’s what our friendship felt like back then, Lennon. Meeting you, having you offer me your loyalty and kindness without a second thought, changed the entire course of my life.”

She rubs my hand with her thumb. “I feel the same way about you, Easton.”

“The thing is, those types of friendships often fade, just like a firefly’s light. I think that happened to us after prom. But now the light is back, and she’s right here, bringing us together again.” My hand returns to her bump as our baby girl kicks my palm.

Lennon’s eyes grow wet. “Easton…”

“There was a time when I never knew if you and I could find that light again, Lennon. I wanted it, I wanted you, but I think we both needed space to figure out who we were without the other person.”

She nods. “I think so too. In fact, there’s something I need you to know.”

“Okay…”

I feel her hesitation as she gathers her thoughts. “I think the only reason I was so brave as a kid was that I knew you’d protect me if anything happened. When we stopped talking, I felt like my confidence went with you.”

“That’s not true. You’ve always been strong, Lennon.”

“I know that now, but I think because in the midst of facing this challenge you were there for me again, it gave me the courage to find my footing again—to know without a doubt that I am capable of handling anything on my own. Being apart from you helped me figure out who I am, but being with you makes me feel whole. And the truth is, the reason I love you so much is because I know that we are stronger together, that we can get through anything life has to throw at us when we’re a team.”

I frame her face with my hands. “I agree, sweetheart. And that’s why I brought you here.” I hop down from the tailgate and drop to one knee. Lennon’s eyes fly wide. “Will you promise to marry me again?”

“What?”

I draw her hand to my mouth and kiss it. “I want to marry you for real, in front of our friends and family, with our daughter beside us. I want everyone we love to know I’m yours, Lennon. I never got to propose the way I imagined, so I’m doing it now. What do you say?”

She blinks away the tears filling her eyes, but her smile is anything but sad. “I think I recall us talking about a real wedding to placate our families when this whole thing started, didn’t we?”

“We did. But now, this wedding will be for us too—real and honest—because we both know where we stand and what we want our future to look like.”

And for once, I can say those words about what lies ahead without fear holding me back.

Because as long as Lennon and I are together, we can handle whatever life has to throw at us—no questions asked.

“I promise to trust you, support you, and protect you and our daughter for the rest of our lives, if you’ll let me.”

Her index finger slides against my wrist.

Circle, circle. Tap, tap.

I smirk. “Does that mean yes?”

“It means…you’re the only person I want by my side, Easton. Forever.”

I stand from the ground and crush my mouth to hers before whispering against her lips, “Same, baby. I choose you. I always have, and I always will.”

Chapter 30

Easton

Time to Have a Baby