Page 85 of What About Now

“Baby, we could live anywhere. You are what makes it a home. The love we share, but this is your family home, and Ijust assumed this is where we would settle. We can do some updating, and over there is the perfect spot for a swing set.” He points to the corner of the yard. “It’s in perfect view of the window over the sink to watch the kids play.”

“Yeah, and maybe we could update the primary bathroom,” I say, thinking about our shower habits. It’s nice that we’re forced to be so close since we usually can’t keep our hands off each other, but a little more room would be nice too.

“We can do that. There’s a lot of open space not being used in the current layout.”

“What about you? Anything you’d like to change?”

“Maybe build a garage that my truck will fit in,” he says, laughing.

“What about your house?”

“I say we put it on the market, unless you want to live there.”

“It’s small,” I say, wrinkling my nose. “I can’t see us raising kids there.”

He nods. “I’ll call the realtor tomorrow.”

“Will it always be like this?”

“Like what?”

“You agreeing with everything that I say or suggest.”

“I’m sure there will be times we disagree. When that day comes, we’ll talk it out. But I’m an easygoing guy for the most part. I need you, and when we have kids, I’ll need them. I want my friends who are my brothers to always be involved. My parents, too, and other than that, I don’t care. I don’t care where we are, whose house we invade, or what we have to eat while doing it. That’s all just noise.”

“You know, I think maybe my dad has a little something to do with us meeting.”

“Yeah?”

I nod. “He loved this place. His parents loved this place, and Briar and I always looked forward to visiting here when we weregrowing up. When we lost him, and had to sell the house in Nashville, we both just knew this is where we would go. Moving here helped us feel closer to him being in one of his favorite places. We liked the slower pace of small-town life versus the busy streets of Nashville. Dad made sure this place was in our names and we didn’t even know he did it.”

“So not just fate, my father-in-law had something to do with it.” He tilts his head back and looks up at the evening sky as the sun starts to fade. “Mr. and Mrs. Pearce, my name is Maddox Lanigan, and I’m in love with your daughter. Six months ago, she married me, and there hasn’t been a single day since that I’ve not thanked God for her coming into my life.”

“Maddox.” I place my hand over my mouth to keep my sobs from breaking free.

“My wife tells me that you two might have had something to do with us meeting. You specifically, Mr. Pearce, and I’d like to say thank you. Thank you for bringing me the love of my life.”

He peers down at me and smiles. “I love her. Brogan is my entire world, and from all the stories she’s told me, we would have gotten along really well.” He kisses my temple and looks back up at the sky. “That’s good, because I have a question to ask you. Sir, I’d love your permission to marry your daughter. I know what you’re thinking, that we’re already married, and that’s true, but she didn’t get the wedding of her dreams, and I want to give her that. Whatever that day looks like, she’ll have it.”

I’m openly sobbing, but he doesn’t stop staring up at the sky, but he does tighten his hold on me.

“I know you can’t answer me, but I wanted to ask you all the same. I love her with every fiber of my being, and I promise to love her for all the days of my life.” He stands and offers me his hand. I place mine in his and allow him to help me stand aswell. I don’t know where we’re going or what we’re doing, but I’d follow this man anywhere.

Maddox kisses the corner of my mouth, then drops to one knee. “Brogan Lanigan, you are my sun and my stars. You’re my everything. My wife. My best friend. Will you do me the incredible honor of spending your life with me? Baby, will you marry me? Again?” he asks, smiling up at me.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out the most beautiful diamond engagement ring I’ve ever seen. It’s shaped like a heart, with a band of diamonds on either side. “You’re my heart, Brogan. You own every piece of me.”

“I don’t want another wedding.” His face falls, so I’m quick to keep talking. “I don’t remember the first one, but we have the video, and we looked really happy that day, Maddox. It might have taken alcohol to get us to take the first step, but I’m glad we took it.” I wipe at my cheeks as he stands with his hands still holding mine. “That’s our story, and I don’t want to erase it.” I hold my left hand out to him, and he doesn’t waste a single second to slide the diamond on my finger right next to the diamond band he gave me that night in Vegas.

“I don’t need anything but you. We have video proof of that day, and who knows, maybe one day we might remember, but if not”—I shrug—“we have a lifetime of memories to make.” I smile at him. “I just want to be yours.”

He doesn’t reply with words; instead, he shows me with his actions. His lips mold to mine, and he kisses me so tenderly it brings tears to my eyes. When he pulls away, I tear my shirt off over my head and reach for the button of my jean shorts.

“Brogan. We’re outside.”

“There is no one here, and the back patio is private.”

“The lake,” he reminds me.

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