Page 43 of What About Now

“Brogan, I want every piece of you.” I reach over and rest my hand on her thigh. “There isn’t a single hobby you could have that would make me not want to be right next to you while you do it.”

“Right.” She laughs. “Like you want to sit beside me while I crochet each night?” She says it like the thought is preposterous, when in reality, we could be staring at the blank wall, and I’d be thrilled to be next to her. That’s how far I’ve fallen for my wife.

“Why not? You enjoy it. Of course I’d want to watch you do something you love. Maybe I can even convince you to make me something.”

“You don’t have to say that.”

“I mean it. It’s cold as hell this time of year.” She’s quiet for several minutes.

“What kind of wife would I be if I didn’t make something for my husband?”

My heart hammers in my chest and I swallow hard. Fuck me, does she understand what it does to me when she refers to me as her husband? “Mine,” I tell her. “You’d be mine, and no pressure,” I answer.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you.”

“You haven’t even seen it yet,” she says, and I can hear the humor in her tone.

“I’ve seen yours. I know you’re incredible. It’s going to be great.”

“What about you? Any secret hobbies I don’t know about?”

“Nah, I like to draw. Hence the job, but other than that, just hanging out with the guys. We used to go fishing a lot when we were younger, but once we were old enough to drink, we’d just chill at someone’s house, usually Forrest’s because he would have Emerson.”

“I’ve never had a lot of friends. I had Briar, and that was enough for me. However, I can admit it’s nice to have Emerson, Monroe, and Maggie added to that list.”

“And me. Did I make the list?”

“Are you my friend?” she asks, teasing.

“If by friend you mean I get to kiss the air from your lungs and touch every inch of your sexy body, then, yeah, beautiful, we’re the best of friends.”

Her laughter fills the cab of my truck, and I wish I could record the sound to play for times when she’s not with me.

“Mario’s. We’re going to Mario’s,” she says, as I pull my truck into the lot.

“Your favorite, right?”

She nods, tears welling in her eyes. “The last time I was here was our high school graduation. Right before our dad was diagnosed with cancer.”

“We can go somewhere else.” Fuck, I didn’t think about this place bringing up painful memories for her.

“No. Please, no. I want to be here.” She takes off her seat belt and turns to face me. “I don’t know how you always know what I need, Maddox Lanigan, but this, it’s perfect. This was our special place, and now I get to share it with you.”

Pride swells in my chest that I get to share a good memory of her past with her. Maybe we’ll make this a tradition with our kids, a special place to go when we celebrate. We can tell them it’s where their grandpa used to take their mom, and where we went on our first date. I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but I can see it. “He would be proud of you and the woman you’ve become.”

She blinks her tears away, and fans at her face with her hands. “Don’t make me cry before we go in there.” She smiles. “This is perfect, Maddox. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, stay put. I’ll get your door.”

“I’d expect nothing less from the man I married.” She gives me a watery smile, and I feel that smile in my chest. It fists my heart, gripping tightly, refusing to let go. Not that I want it to.

I rush around the truck, open her door for her, then lead her into the restaurant with my hand on the small of her back. When we reach the hostess, Brogan speaks for us, which surprises me.

“Reservation for Lanigan.”

I squeeze her hip because fuck, each day she accepts this, us, a little more, and my hope builds. We’re building a life together. We’re working on forever.

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