Page 121 of Except You

Seems people can change.

Seems I just needed a healthy dose of reality and a beautiful man to help me open my mind.

“I kind of want a flamethrower now,” I say, and Sem hears me.

“It’s a good investment.”

“It is a terrible idea. Do not let him have it,” Magnus chimes in. “Pretty soon, it’s not just a flamethrower but a potato gun and homemade bomb material.”

Beau laughs and shakes his head.

“Yeah, I don’t think that would fly where we live. The HOA would probably riot,” Beau says, and Magnus shifts on Sem’s lap.

“Oh, do you guys live in the same place?”

“Beau just moved in, actually,” I say, and Magnus grins widely.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, I’m really happy he agreed to it. It was touch and go there for a minute.”

Beau sighs loudly. “I just wasn’t sure if it was the right decision but realized it was. Very quickly.”

“Couldn’t sleep without me, huh?” I tease, and Beau grins over at me.

“I couldn’t. Worst sleep of my life. Probably the mattress.”

“It was me. You missed me.”

I hear Magnus sigh and tell Sem, “They’re so happy. Remember when we were like that? So in love?”

Sem grumbles. “Still am, Maggie. Don’t know about you.”

I laugh at his response and then press a kiss to Beau’s cheek.

“Did you take Sem’s last name?” I ask my brother.

Magnus leans back against Sem and nods. “Yep. I’m officially Magnus Van Beek.”

“Yeah, I think I’m gonna take Beau’s last name.”

Beau shakes his head. “He’s insistent that we marry right away, but he’s lost his damn mind.”

I shrug. “It makes sense. We live together. Might as well.”

“That’s so unromantic!” Beau cries out with a laugh and tries to stand, but I hold him against me.

“Want a proposal, Bow-tie? I can do that.”

“Oh my god,” he says and then chuckles. “You are ridiculous.”

“Not ridiculous, Bow-tie. Completely serious.”

Magnus gasps and then leans forward. “You’re getting married? Sem and I did an impromptu one. Last minute and everything. It was thrilling.”

I lean forward too, eager to hear this. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. Got married right away. Why wait? If you know, you know.”

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