Page 27 of What About Now

“I’m trying to find something to wear,” I mumble against his chest. Something I’ve learned over the last week about my new husband is that he’s a touchy-feely guy, and he loves hugs. Not only does he love them, but he’s damn good at it. It’s been a week, and already his arms around me have a calming effect, like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

“You’d look beautiful in a paper sack.”

“Stop.” I playfully swat at his chest.

“Tell me what’s really going on, Brogan?” His voice is soft, soothing almost.

I exhale loudly, but I don’t pull away from his hold. “It’s the first time we’re doing something with other people since the morning we woke up married.”

“And?”

“And… I don’t know. I’m just… nervous, I guess.”

“You have nothing to be nervous about.” He pulls back and places his index finger beneath my chin so that I have to look at him. “You and me, Brogan. That’s how we face this. Together. I’m your huckleberry, baby. If you want to leave at any time, we will, but, baby, this is our future. You don’t go to these things alone anymore. And it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing. Everyone is going to be happy to see you. You’re the same Brogan you were two weeks ago, only now, you’re also a wife. My wife, and trust me, there isn’t a single piece of clothing in this house that you would look bad in.” He bends and kisses the tip of my nose.

“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, feeling mollified at his response. I pull out of his arms and look down at the black leggings andoversized sweater I’m wearing. I guess this will have to do. I know I’m freaking out for nothing, but I don't know how to stop it.

“You’re beautiful, Brogan.”

I look up to find him watching me intently. There is nothing but honesty staring back at me, and that look, the one I’m learning to know and trust, mends another small broken piece of me. “I just need to grab my shoes and I’m ready to go. I’ll deal with all of this”—I wave my arms around the room—“when we get back.”

“I’ll help you when we get back. The truck is already running, and I put the brownies you made for the girls in the back seat.”

“Thank you, but I could have gotten them.”

“I know, but I was heading out to the truck, anyway.” He moves toward the bedroom door. “I’ll be in the living room when you’re ready. Take your time.” He gives me a smile that feels kind of like a fist reaching into my chest and squeezing my heart.

Once in my closet, I grab my black ankle booties and shove my feet into them. I don’t bother looking in the mirror. I’ve done that enough today already. Maddox is right. This is my sister, and my nieces, and my brother-in-law. They’re not going to judge me or judge us. The only judgment I’m going to get is avoiding my sister’s calls or cutting them short all week, telling her I had to get back to work. Not a complete lie, but I wasn’t ready to talk about my current situation. I’m still not ready, but I can’t avoid her forever.

“Good choice,” Maddox says when I enter the living room. He stands from the couch and holds my coat open for me. I know better than to tell him I can put my coat on by myself. Instead, I smile, say, “Thank you,” and slide into my coat with his help.

“You want me to carry you to the truck so you don’t get your boots in the snow?”

“What? No.” I chuckle. “They’re boots.”

“They look fancy. I think I should.”

Before I know what’s happening, Maddox has me in his arms, bridal style, just as he did the day we got home from Vegas a week ago and carries me out to the truck. “I can get the door,” I tell him when we reach the passenger side.

Somehow, we manage to pull open the door, and he sets me inside on the seat. I open my mouth to say thank you, because what else can I say? But he surprises me when he leans in and pulls my seat belt across my chest and latches it.

“I’m going to go lock the house. Be right back.” He drops a kiss to my cheek, shuts the door, and jogs off toward the house.

I was so lost in being in his arms I didn’t even think about the front door not being shut. That’s what he does to me. He scrambles my brain and makes me forget who I am and how to act. Case in point, waking up married after a drunken night in Vegas. Maddox Lanigan has super powers.

“Stay there,” Maddox says as he parks his truck in Forrest and Briar’s driveway.

“You are not carrying me to the house,” I scold him.

He grins. “I just want to get your door.”

“I can do it. You don't have to treat me like glass, Maddox. It’s going to be a long six months for you if you do.”

He turns to face me. His expression is hard. “I’m not treating you like glass, Brogan. I’m treating you like my wife. With the respect that you deserve, nothing more, nothing less. And it’s going to be a long, happy life of me taking care of you, treating you the way you deserve to be treated. You might as well go ahead and get used to it. I’m not going to stop now or in fifty years from now.”

He doesn’t wait for me to reply, which is good because I’m speechless. I wouldn’t know how to respond to that if I tried. Instead, he removes his keys from the ignition and climbs out of the truck. I remain seated just as he asked me to while he comes to my side to open the door. He opens the back door first and grabs the container of brownies, before closing it and opening mine. He offers me his free hand, and I take it, allowing him to help me down from the truck.

His hand rests on the small of my back as he leads us to the front door. He doesn’t knock. Instead, he twists the handle and shouts, “We’re here!” The pitter-patter of giggles and little feet fill the room, and there they are. River and Rayne cheer and launch themselves at me. I barely have time to kneel to accept their hugs.

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