Page 84 of What About Now

“Why?” Monroe asks him.

“To see if there is a long-lost chance that twins run in our family. We can’t let them win, baby.”

We all crack up laughing, and a rightness I’ve never felt washes over me. I love my friends and their wives, but having mine here makes nights like these even sweeter.

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

Brogan

Six months ago today, I woke up in Vegas realizing that I was married. Married to a man who I’d wanted from afar but was too afraid to tell him. It was more than just the fear. It was me not thinking I was worthy enough to have him in my life as more than just one of my brother-in-law’s best friends.

Six months ago, Maddox asked me to give him a shot. To give him six months to prove to me what he claimed he already knew.

That we belonged together.

So much has changed in those twenty-six weeks. I’ve changed. Some might say it was the therapy, which I know was part of it, but I also know I never could have seen the growth that I have without my husband.

He’s the greatest man I’ve ever known, and no matter what hurdle we faced, he was next to me, cheering me on, telling me that we’ve got this.

One hundred and eighty-two days ago, I didn’t believe him. I never thought we would be here, but we are. I still have moments where I’m insecure about deserving this much happiness, but Maddox is always right there to remind me that I am.

And I believe him.

I believe in his love.

I believe in my love for him.

I believe in us.

The patio door opens, and Maddox walks out. He’s in a pair of khaki cargo shorts and a tight-fitting Everlasting Ink T-shirt. It’s summer in Tennessee, and the weather is beautiful, so we decided to have dinner out here tonight.

“Are you ready for me to toss the steaks on the grill?” he asks.

“I’m still full from lunch.”

He nods. “Me too. That pan crust is filling,” he says, of the large meat lover's pizza we had from Dough Daddies on our way home from the grocery store. We’ve settled into a routine, as an old married couple, if you will, and I love it.

“What’s bringing that gorgeous smile to your face?” Maddox asks. I scoot over on the double lounger to make room for him to join me.

“I was just thinking about how we have a routine. If neither one of us works, we do our grocery shopping on Saturdays, and clean on Sundays.”

“We’re very domesticated,” he says, laughing. “I love our routine.”

“I do too. I was just thinking we’re an old married couple already.”

“It’s fucking perfect,” he says, wrapping his arms around me as I settle on his chest. “I love it here.”

“Yeah?”

He nods. “I always loved this house.”

“So, you think this is where we’re going to stay?”

“Do you not want to?”

“No, I do, but I wasn’t sure what you wanted.”

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