Page 150 of What About Us
“I’m sorry it took me so long,” she mutters, her mouth peppering mine with kisses and her hands fisting in my hair.
“I’m sorry, too. For everything. For not telling you how I felt sooner, and for the stuff with your mama’s cremation. I’ll fucking do anything to make it up to you. I’m sorry for letting you go for even one second,” I whisper back, and then kiss her fully again.
I spin her away from the wall and carry her into the barn, our lips never leaving each other’s.
“Where are we going?” she asks breathlessly. She’s clinging to my neck and shoulders, her breath a whisper over the skin there, making me shiver.
I don’t answer, just continue kissing her until we make it to Hank’s office in the barn. Once inside, I cross the room and set her on the worn leather couch Hank had brought down from the den when Pop got his fancy new recliner.
I kiss her once and then straighten. Going to the desk, I yank open drawer after drawer, looking for something, anything I can use.
“What are you looking for?” she asks with a laugh.
I rifle through pens, papers, push pins, business cards, and every office supply imaginable, but come up empty. Worthless piece of shit desk. Then, it hits me.
Crossing back over to her from the desk, I reach out. “Here,” I say, “give me your hand.” She does, and then I drop down to one knee between hers where she’s perched on the edge of the couch.
“What are you doing?” Her hand flies up to her mouth and tears gather in her eyes.
“Finnley,” I start before choking on the words. “Fuck.” I swipe at my own watery eyes and try again, looking up into her big brown ones. “It’s you and me. You're my…” I let out a strangled grunt and shake my head once, clearing my throat. “You’re my first everything. My first crush, my first date—even if it was completely one-sided.” She chuckles. “My first best friend, and my first broken heart. You’re also the first person outside of my family to look at me and see more than just the funny fuckup.”
Her hand comes up to my face, stopping my words with one adoring look. “You were never a fuckup, Huddy.” She holds my gaze, and then her lips tip up in that sassy smirk I love. “And you’re only a little funny.”
I huff out a chuckle. “You always see the best parts of me, Finnley Hayes, and if you’ll let me, I’d like to be your husband for real this time.” I slip my finger in next to my watch and pull out a black hair tie. I make a loop with it three times, and then take her finger, sliding it into place. It’s bulky as fuck, but it’s perfect. I raise my eyes to hers. “Will you be my wife?”
A sob breaks from her chest, and she throws her arms around my neck. Her voice is choked with emotion when she whispers, “I already am.”
Chapter 55
Finnley
Laughter filters out intothe entryway when we step inside the ranch house. The entire family is here, and my heart is so full it could burst. My hand is tucked firmly into Hudson’s as we take the hallway back to the kitchen and dining room. I’ve been in this house hundreds of times over the years, but it’s never felt like this. This time, I’m not stepping foot inside as Hudson’s best friend, but his wife. And just on the other side of this hallway is our family.
My stomach flips a little when I think about it. I have a family. A huge, loud, and sometimes obnoxious, but always loving and welcoming family.
As we step into the kitchen, Wrenley sees us first. Her wide smile stretches across her face and she nudges both Paige and Hank with an elbow. Paige looks up at her aunt, and when Wren tips her chin in our direction, her face lights up and she bolts out of her chair.
“Mama Finnley!” she says, running around the table toward us.
Tears stream as I crouch down and open my arms to her. When she collides with me, it’s the most incredible feeling I’ve ever felt. Gone are myworries of her being upset with me and my insecurity that she might blame me for her parents not getting back together.
“Hi, sweet girl,” I say and breathe her in. “Holy smokes, you feel like you’ve grown a foot since I saw you last.” And she does. Has it really only been days?
“You only saw me the other day,” she giggles, pulling back to look at me.
I run a hand over her hair and kiss her temple. “I know and I missed you so much,” I say, my voice wobbly with emotion.
“I missed you too,” she says. Then, as if it’s just a normal day, she pulls out of my arms and bounces back over to the table. “Come and feel the babies move! I felt a foot. At least, we think it was a foot. The babies are so small that you can’t really tell, but come feel!” she rambles, making us all laugh.
I stand and Hudson takes my hand again, leading me over to the table. All eyes are on us, and I suddenly feel so overcome with emotion that my eyes prickle with tears. Hudson senses it and wraps an arm around my back, rubbing small circles there.
“We have something to tell you all,” Hudson says, and I glance up at him, a bit of confusion creasing my forehead. “We’re getting—” he says, then shakes his head. “No, we’restayingmarried?” he asks, looking down at me with a laugh.
I nod and grin at him before holding up my hand, palm facing me, to wiggle my fingers and show off the black hair tie wound around my ring finger.
The family erupts into congratulations, with simultaneous squeals from Nat and Hayley, who both jump up and come around the table first, followed shortly by Norah.
Hutch is next, wrapping me in a bear hug and lifting me up off my feet. Then, he claps Hudson on the back, pulling him into a bro hug. “Maybeget her a real ring this time, dumbass,” he says, biting back a smile, making us both laugh.
