Page 41 of Blindsided

I pat her leg when Matthew sets my plate down in front of me.

Conversation flows around the table, everyone vying for space to speak. Multiple conversations are happening at the same time, almost too many to keep up with. I find myself listening to this hilarious family instead of joining in.

I grew up having family dinners, but with only four of us, it was never this lively. I don’t have much in the way of extended family either. I have a couple of aunts and uncles with kids, but we didn’t spend much time with them growing up.

When the meal is finished, Cindy brings out two perfect cheesecakes, as well as strawberry and blueberry sauces to go on top.

“Damn, Mom. What’s the occasion?” If Nolan was a cartoon, he’d have drool dripping from his mouth.

“Adam requested it for tonight.”

“You take requests? How did I not know that?” Nolan asks.

“I’ve always taken them. Whether I make them or not is a different story. And everyone gets a piece before you get a second, mister.” She narrows her eyes at Nolan, and he throws his hands up in surrender.

“I’d like to say something before we all get distracted by dessert.” Adam stands. The entire room grows silent, all waiting to hear what he wants to talk about.

“For a long time, I believed I had everything figured out. I had a career I loved, the best family a guy could ask for, and thought my life was exactly what I wanted. And then this hurricane of a woman came into my life and showed me just how boring I’d truly become.” Adam drops down on one knee. Gasps echo around the room, and Ellie slaps a hand over her mouth.

“Elliana, I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. You’re the best thing in my life, and I would hate for you to ever believe anything less. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Yes!” Ellie squeals, launching herself at Adam. He loses his balance when he catches her, and they both go sprawling onto the floor. Ellie starts giggling. The two of them murmur to each other, taking a quiet moment alone despite the rest of the family staring at them.

“Can we see the ring? I need to know which one he picked!” Sara yells from the other end of the table.

They get up, Ellie’s face flushed beet red. She holds her left hand out for Adam to slide the ring on, squealing a second time once it’s in place.

“It’s beautiful!” Ellie turns to look at Sara. “Did you help him?”

“I went with him, but I didn’t get to see his final choice.” She moves closer to Ellie to get a better look. I’m able to see it now, too, and Ellie is right. It’s gorgeous.

“You did good, brother.” Sara hugs Ellie first, then Adam. It sets off a chain of hugs from everyone.

Matthew puts a hand on my back and leans down to whisper into my ear. “He’s been agonizing over when to ask her.”

“That explains a lot. Ellie was worried about how distant he’d become. She thought he had regrets about her moving in.”

“That’s so fucking cute.”

“Right? I’m glad this was the real reason. I would’ve hated to have to punch him.”

Matthew laughs. “I would’ve loved to have seen that, pretty girl.”

Everyone sits back down at the table, and Cindy starts cutting the cheesecake. Everyone is happily chatting about Adam and Ellie. The stories about when they first met are hilarious. I knew Adam could be a grump, but I had no clue it was that bad.

Throughout the rest of dinner, Matthew keeps his hand on my thigh. I’m not sure if he just doesn’t care if anyone sees him or if he’s forgotten he’s supposed to keep his hands to himself. Either way, I am not complaining.

I’ll take Matthew’s hands on me however he wants to use them.

CHAPTER18

Tilly

“Igot you something.” Matthew’s statement pulls me from my book. We’ve been lazy today. I’ve read most of the day, and Matthew has bounced between playing video games and reading next to me.

“You did?” I set my e-reader on the arm of the couch.

“It’s in a box in my room. Go look at it.”

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