Page 91 of Hat Trick Daddies

I squeeze her hand, feeling my chest swell with pride. “The feeling’s mutual,” I say softly, earning a chorus of good-natured teasing from the guys.

As the celebration begins to wind down, I lean in close to her ear. “Let me drive you home. You’ve had a big night, and we can celebrate properly.”

Ally shakes her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “I have some paperwork to finish up first. But I’ll come back with you and the twins afterward.”

I nod, respecting her decision, though I’m already counting down the minutes until we’re home together. “All right. We’ll wait for you.”

We gather our things, and I can feel the twins watching us, their gazes unreadable. I know they’re proud of this moment, but there’s something unspoken lingering between us.

As we make our way toward Ally’s office, the corridor is eerily quiet.

I seize the moment, glancing back at Nick and Tyler, who follow a few steps behind.

“Can I ask you guys something?” I say, halting and hopping a little to catch my balance on one foot. I angle one of my crutches a little to support my weight as I turn to look back at them.

Tyler raises an eyebrow. “What’s up?”

I shove my hands in my pockets, the cool fabric brushing against my skin. “Do you feel left out...at all? I mean, this whole thing with Ally, me proposing.”

Nick shrugs, but his expression is thoughtful. “Honestly? No. We knew this was how it was going to be.”

Tyler nods, his usual smirk softening into something sincere. “Yeah. We’re good. It’s all working out the way it’s supposed to.”

Their words ease something in my chest, and I give them a grateful nod. “Thanks, guys. Really.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Ally

The car ridehome feels strangely quiet.

I sit in the passenger seat, the glow of the dashboard lights illuminating Brooks' profile as he focuses on the road. Nick and Tyler sit in the backseat, their whispers so quite I can’t make out what they’re saying.

The quiet is suffocating in a way, and I can’t help but wonder if I’m the only one feeling awkward.

Brooks reaches over, his warm hand cupping mine on the console. His thumb strokes small, soothing circles against my skin, and he glances over with a soft smile. “You okay?” he asks, his voice low but steady.

I nod, though my stomach twists in knots. Neither Nick nor Tyler seem upset. In fact, Tyler’s leaning back with his usual relaxed grin, and Nick is scrolling through his phone, his expression neutral.

So why am I the only one who feels so weird about this?

The houses blur past in the dark, their porch lights flickering like fireflies. I let out a shaky breath, trying to shake the nerves that keep bubbling up.

Brooks’ hand doesn’t leave mine the entire ride, and somehow, that keeps me grounded.

The driveway feels like a refuge as Brooks parks the car. The moment the engine dies, I hear the satisfying clunk of doors opening and shutting.

The guys each grab their bags from the back, and I follow them inside, the familiar scent of Brooks’ home, clean laundry, and cedarwood, wrapping around me like a hug.

Once inside, they each disappear down the hallway to drop off their things. I linger in the living room, the soft glow of a floor lamp casting a warm light on the leather couches and neatly arranged bookshelves.

My heart races, and it’s all I can hear in the quiet space. The room feels too big, too empty, even though I know it won’t stay that way for long.

I sink into the couch, the cushions soft and cool beneath me. My mind spins, replaying everything that’s happened tonight. The proposal, the spotlight, the cheers of the crowd, it feels surreal. And now, sitting here, all I can think about is how this is going to work.

The sound of footsteps pulls me from my thoughts, and I glance up to see them all coming back, one by one. To my surprise, they don’t spread out.

Instead, they crowd around me, their smiles warm and genuine. Nick settles on my left, Tyler on my right, and Brooks sits close by on the edge of the coffee table, leaning forward slightly.

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