Page 74 of Forever Mine

“And I love you too, kid.”

Oscar hugged him. “I love you too, Liam.”

Liam pulled him back to look at him again. “How would you feel about me being your dad?”

“I guess if you and mommy are together and we're building a house to all live in, you kind of are?” Oscar asked with a hopeful voice that made me want to cry.

“I mean, how about we make it official. I'd like to adopt you. How would you feel about that?”

“You mean it? You really mean it?”

“Yes, I do. I want you to be my son. A real Westin. Would that be okay with you?”

Oscar threw his arms around Liam with tears in his eyes. “I love you, Liam.”

“I love you too, kid. And before we get too crazy celebrating, I have something else I need to ask.”

“There's more?” he asked. I was thinking the same, still trying to wrap my mind over what just happened. Liam wanted to adopt Oscar and give him his name

I wiped my damp eyes and looked up to see Liam kneeling before me. “I want you to know, I heard you. Both of you”—he included Oscar—“and I want to do this right in every way. So, Madelyn Amanda Collier, will you make me the happiest man alive? Be my mate, and my wife?” He held out a beautiful diamond ring between shaky fingers.

I was so overwhelmed I couldn't speak, only nod and smile as the tears fell. He kissed me as Oscar cheered us on.

“I love you, Maddie. I've always loved you. For better or worse. I'm all in.”

It amazed me how quickly life could change. One week. It had been one week since the moment my eyes connected with Liam's and my whole world changed. It was all happening so fast, and yet it didn't scare me one bit. I was excited for our future and knew it was exactly right.

Liam

Chapter 23

I called E and asked her if she'd mind watching Oscar for about an hour. She said she didn't, and both she and Lily arrived at my office to pick him up.

“Guess what?” Oscar announced the second he saw them, before even saying hello. “I'm getting adopted!”

Both girls looked at each other, confused, then turned their attention to me and Maddie, but Oscar was quick to fill them in further.

“Liam wants to be my dad. My real dad. He's adopting me to make it official,” he said proudly.

My sisters looked at me. “Really?” Lily asked.

“Really,” I told them.

“And he's marrying Mommy, too!” Oscar finished the announcement for us.

Elise snorted. “You're getting married?”

“Yup,” I said.

“Why?” Lily asked. “I mean, I don't have anything against marriage, but you're mated, you'll be bonding soon, you don't need marriage.”

“Wait, like white dress, flowers, party, the whole deal?” Elise asked.

“That's the plan,” I told her. “And why, Lil? Because it's important to Oscar. He's new to our ways and if it's easier to understand for him, then we're going to do it.” They looked at Maddie to see how she felt about it. “Oh, she already said yes, no take-backsies.”

Maddie giggled. “It'll be fun.”

I knew the moment it sank in and Lily heard what we were telling her. She squealed and clapped, jumping up and down. “I get to be the maid of honor!”

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