Page 188 of Delicate Storm

“Paige, are you okay?” I pause and spin around, checking on her.

“Sorry, do you need anything before I go and find him?”

Rochelle smiles knowingly before shaking her head. “I have a feeling you’re about to give me everything I’ll ever need. Go. I’ll be okay.”

I stare at her in question, puzzled, until she laughs. “Go, Paige. I’ll bet wherever Easton is, he’s waiting for you. I think he’s been waiting his whole life.”

I search the house and find Isaac and Keeley, but Easton’s nowhere to be seen. I’m about to interrupt their game until I notice him through the back window, stalking across the yard, making his way to the back gate that leads to a park.

I rush through the house, making it outside as he reaches for the lock.

“East, wait.” He pauses and spins, his face lighting up when he sees me, though it doesn’t hold the same happiness it usually does. He’s still worried. Not that he’ll admit it too often.

I jog toward him, and he opens his arms as I reach him, pulling me into his hold. “Hey, you. Did she like it? I bet there were tears.”

“You’re right. But they were mostly mine. Your mom is one tough woman.”

Easton laughs as he nods. “You’re not wrong. Stubborn as hell too. Kind of like someone else I know.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I laugh because he tells me that on a daily basis, and now I’m about to shock him. “I want to get married.”

“What?” He coughs, seemingly choking on nothing, and I laugh louder.

“I want to get married, and I want to adopt Isaac. Officially. As your wife. As a family.”

Easton’s jaw drops and he stares at me in shock. “Did Mom threaten you with something?”

“No.” I give him a shove and scoff. “She was all for usnevergetting married. Practically encouraged it.”

“Sounds like her.” He laughs.

“So…” I pause, waiting for him to give me an actual response—maybe tell me it’s a good idea or that I’m crazy—but instead he raises a brow with a smirk.

“Are you proposing?”

“What? No.” I burst out laughing. This is not a conversation I ever thought I’d have. “I just realized I want it all. I want to marry you.”

“Okay. Well, that’s great. But there’s one little issue.” He grimaces and I roll my eyes, knowing what’s coming. “I haven’t asked.”

“I know.” I wink. “But you will. And I’ll be waiting. It better be good, Wilder.” I spin on a dime and walk away, leaving my words hanging between us while he chuckles behind me.

I’ve made it halfway across the yard when he calls out and I pause.

“I’ve already got the ring.” I turn so fast I get dizzy. Meanwhile, he shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“When did you buy that?”

He shrugs again as he walks toward me, but there's a hint of mischief in his expression. “It’s something I’ve had lying around.”

“For how long?” My brows furrow. We’ve never spoken about marriage other than one early conversation to admit that neither of us wanted it. I’m a little confused.

“I got it about five months ago.”

What? “Five months? Even though we spoke aboutnevergetting married.”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

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