Page 87 of From Our First

“What? I’m just telling the truth,” Arden sing-songed.

I couldn’t hold back my laughter. I loved Nate’s twin, and I was so happy that she was going to be my sister again.

I looked down at the shiny ring on my finger and smiled. I had pulled it out of my jewelry box when I came home from the hospital, and Nate had been right beside me as I did, looking down at the ring that he had once worn. We both looked at each other, and without words, had slid the rings onto our fingers. There was no need to propose, to ask each other to be with one another for the rest of our days. We would have that, and we would take the next step when it was time.

We were a family now, and as I looked at the people around me, I smiled.

“I would welcome a large table in my dining room. The one that I have now might fit everyone, but as the families grow, I might need a larger one.”

“I’ll fit one to your style perfectly,” Cross said. He looked over at Liam. “And I’ll make one for you, too. That way, we don’t always bug Myra and Nate.”

“I take it I’m moving into your place,” Nate said, giving me a look.

I blushed and shrugged. “I need my studio. Plus, where’s the table going to go?”

Nate snorted and then kissed me softly. “Okay, sounds like a plan.” He kissed my ring finger, and everybody oohed and aahed, even Joshua, who came back, puppies immediately piled on top of him.

Cross sighed. “Looks like I’ll be busy for a while.”

“I don’t mind. It just means we’re going to be together for a long time,” Hazel said. “I mean, the pact is over, I guess. Everybody got their blind dates.”

I looked around at the others. The girls grinned. “Even if it didn’t come about the way we planned.”

“Hey, I’m everything you planned,” Nate complained.

“Of course, of course, my love. What was I thinking?” I rolled my eyes, and everybody laughed.

“Be nice, he still has stitches,” Paris admonished.

“See? Even Paris says you need to be nice to me.” Nate paused. “If she agrees, maybe you don’t need to be nice.”

Paris narrowed her eyes. “Hey, Prior, hit him for me, will you?”

“Nobody is going to be hitting anybody. Behave, children,” Mrs. Brady said, winking at me.

“I’m so glad we’re moving back,” Mr. Brady added. “That means I get to know the new ladies in my boys’ lives, and Liam, and this little one over here.”

Joshua beamed at his new grandpa. “And all the puppies. And kittens. We have a lot of cats.”

Macon rolled his eyes, and their father grinned. “So I hear. I can’t wait to get to know all of them. You guys have created a pretty spectacular family here. Thank you for letting us join.”

I wiped away tears as the other girls sniffed. Nate looked at me and shook his head.

He leaned down. “Dad is good with the speeches. He’s like Captain America in that way.”

I laughed like he wanted me to, and then leaned into the man I loved.

The pact sisters and the Brady brothers, as well as Arden and Liam, had found their way to each other, even if it wasn’t in the most conventional of ways—or easy.

But as I held up my glass and cheered and toasted the three women I had made a promise to, I knew that no matter what past we each came from, the future would always be paved with family and hope and greater promises.

And, of course, a very special Brady.

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