Page 49 of The Weight of Your Wishes

I know what’s going on, but it has to be a mistake because there’s no way in hell that this is really happening. A lump forms in my throat, and fire licks the back of my eyes.

Grant clears his throat. “Hendrix, you know I’m not great with words, but I’m going to try my best. I’ve loved you since forever, and that hasn’t changed. My love for you has grown into something new andmorethan I ever imagined possible. You crashed into my sad life, and it’s been heaven when I look at you ever since.” He sucks in a deep breath and pulls a small, velvet box from his pocket. A single teardrop rolls down my inflamed cheek as he opens the box to reveal a thick, silver band. “Will you marry me?” he rasps.

I fall to my knees in front of him, launching my arms around his shoulders, nearly barreling him over. “Of course, I will,” I whisper in his ear, trying not to let everyone in the bar hear my choked sobs. He grabs my trembling chin and presses his lips to mine in a bruising kiss. Then, he leans back, pulling the ring from the box. When he slides it on my finger, warmth washes over me. Everything inside of me is screaming and jumping and crying, but on the outside, I’ve never felt so calm.

His breath ghosts across my ear as he growls, “You’re stuck with me for life now, baby boy. I refuse to do it without you.”

I nod my head over and over again. “Yes, Daddy.”

Whistles and cheers sound from every direction as I look down at the ring.

The thing is, I already intended to be with him forever. I never wanted or even expected him to want to marry me, but I know this is a major step for him. It’s something he was taught that he needed to do when he grew up. He holds on to some of his more traditional beliefs, and I find it adorable.

I remember that my mom’s here and Patty probably took off work for this, too, and it makes even more feelings well up in my chest. Patty doesn’t take off work foranything,and it’s only been some time in the past few months that my mom started coming to terms with our relationship.

It means more than I would’ve ever thought to have her blessing. I extract myself from Grant and walk toward her, wrapping her in a firm hug. “I’m glad you’re here,” I say.

She looks at me, eyes rimmed in red and face blotchy all over. “I’m so proud of you, and I’m so happy for you. I know it took me a long time to come around, and I’m still a work in progress, but thank you for giving me grace when you shouldn’t have to.”

I know what she means. She’s finally starting to realize that I’m not a kid anymore and that maybe I wasn’t ever as troubled as she thought. It sucks that it took this long for her to see it, but it’s okay. We’ll work through it together. I squeeze her again and plant a quick kiss on her cheek before turning around. Grant is bent nearly in half to hug Patty. She strokes his back and whispers words to him that only he can hear.

Sky comes from around the bar and slaps me on the back. Their eyes are red-rimmed, too, and the rare display of emotion catches me by surprise. “Congratulations, man. He deserves it, you know—happiness. And so do you.”

I know how much Sky cares about Grant. All of the teasing and shit-talking Sky does is the only way they know how to show it. “We love you, too, Sky,” I say.

I’m scanning the room, returning smiles when the door to the bar opens again. My brows furrow and then nearly fly off my face when I see her. “Marina!” I shout, speed-walking toward her.

“X!” she shouts back as she leaps up into my arms, her legs coming around my waist.

“How are you even here right now? Did you know about all of this?” It’s been months since we last saw each other in person. We’ve been so busy with our own lives, but we still manage to video chat at least once a week.

The soles of her high-top Converse hit the floor with a thud as she slides off of me. I tug one of her curls out of instinct; it’s just something I’ve always done since I first met her. They're so tightly coiled, and I love making them bounce.

“Duh,” she says. “Yourfiancégot my number from your phone and invited me. I decided to keep it as a surprise though.”

Tears burn my eyes once more. He’s so thoughtful, and Marina’s such a true friend to me. I’m surrounded by so many people who are rooting for me that sometimes, it feels unreal. Only one person in this room is blood-related to me, yet everyone in here is my family.

Grant’s arms wrap around me from behind; his chin dips to my shoulder. “Glad you could make it, Marina.”

“I’ll be here all weekend,” she beams. “Grant promised to take me out on an airboat.”

I roll my eyes, relaxing into Grant’s front. My eyelids are heavy, and my cheeks are sticky from too many tears. “I hate to cut our own engagement party short, but can we please go home? All of this excitement has me beat.”

I catch Marina eyeing Sky as they slide drinks to people with smooth efficiency. I know that look—she likes what she sees. “You guys go ahead,” she says, eyes still fixed on Sky. “I’ll be there in a little bit.” And then she walks right past us, heading straight for the bar. I wonder if she’ll manage to melt through Sky’s icy aura. It seems doubtful, but that will only egg her on. Marina loves the chase.

Grant whispers in my ear, “Let’s go home, baby boy.” He grabs my hand, bringing the finger now adorned with a ring to his lips.

The air is slightly cooler as we make our way to our cars. “Just ride with me; I’ll bring you to get your car tomorrow,” he says, and my heart pangs. He doesn’t want to be apart from me, not even for a five-minute car ride.

I give his palm a squeeze and climb up into his truck. Classic rock music plays through the speakers and crisp air billows in through our open windows as he drives us home, never once letting go of my hand. It’s surreal to think that I finally have everything I ever wanted and more—things I hadn’t realized I even needed.

We enter the house, leaving the garage door open for Marina, and Grant’s on me immediately. Our clothes land all over the house in our haste to get them off, while still staying connected through touches and kisses.

By the time we make it to our room, we’re both panting. One wall in here now holds all of my posters. I was nervous that Grant wouldn’t want them hanging in his house since all of his walls are bare, but he told me I could before even seeing them. He’s like that. If something matters to me, then it matters to him. It was surprisingly hard to get used to that fact, but I’ve come to accept it as the natural way of things over time.

I watch his thick thighs move as he grabs the lube from the nightstand before drizzling it on his hand and immediately wrapping it around his heavy cock. He strokes it quickly, slicking it all up for me, but I want something different tonight. I step closer to him and seal my lips to his neck, inhaling his spicy cologne. “Let me inside you this time, Daddy,” I whisper.

His fingers tighten in my hair, pulling me back to look at me with an assessing gaze. “Have you wanted to do this for a while?” he asks.

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