“I’ll be better when I get her home,” I admit. “How’s the girl?”
Ben’s whole demeanor has changed since yesterday. After Kilduff was dead, Ben still did a check around the apartment complex and found the fucker’s car. In the trunk was a girl with her hands bound behind her back. I guess when he made his escape the other night from the raid, he’d taken one of the girls with him.
The young girl Ben rescued is only two doors down from Addilyn’s room. This is actually the first time Ben has left her, and I’m not sure this counts since he can see the door from where we’re standing.
“She’s good,” he responds.
“But are you?” My easygoing brother is no longer there. This girl has changed him. A switch has been flipped inside him, and that’s something I can understand.
“No,” he answers honestly. “Do you need anything?”
“Nah, go do what you need to,” I tell him, understanding that expression on his face. He’s done for.
“Thanks.” I grab him, pulling him into a hug.
“You need me, I'm here. No matter what it is.”
“I know,” he responds before he heads back toward the girl’s room. When I look back to Addilyn, she’s staring my way as the girls gush over her ring again.
Thankfully, the doctor shows up, and I usher everyone out of the room. She goes over a few things with us about Addilyn’s pregnancy before giving her the all-clear to head home. Finally, when she leaves, I’m alone with my girl.
“So ready to go home.” She pats the bed, wanting me to come and sit next to her. “You know you never asked me.” She holds up her hand, wiggling her fingers. I snag her wrist, keeping her hand up. The giant pink diamond is on full display. It fits her perfectly.
“You want to tell me how the ring box ended up in your pocket?”
“Oops?” She gives me a sweet smile that she knows will work on me. “You left the safe open.” I can’t help but chuckle. I kiss her hand.
“I was going to ask you yesterday after we got all moved in.”
“I was wondering why you hadn’t asked me to marry you yet.” She chews on her bottom lip, something she does when she’s unsure of things.
“The diamond. I was waiting for the jeweler to get it in. I had it custom made for you. Only got it the night before.”
“Really?” Her eyes fill with tears.
“Yeah, really. Been killing me not having a ring on your finger. We’re getting married tomorrow.”
“But—”
“Already got it set up. You can plan something bigger later, but after everything that went down, I want this done. Then the lawyers can work on making sure Carter’s custody is airtight. We need to be married to start the adoption process.”
She gapes at me for a long second, soaking in everything I said.
“I know he’s seventeen, but anything can happen. We learned that yesterday, and if I need to make a split-second decision when it comes to him, I need to be able to do that. If I’m one of his parents, then I have that ability.”
“Okay,” she sniffles. Tears spill down her cheeks.
“Babe, you’re killing me.” I cup her face in my hands, kissing away her tears. “Thank you,” I tell her as I continue to kiss every inch of her. Grateful for so many things. That she’s still here living and breathing. That she’s agreed to marry me. And last but not least, that she’s made me a father.
“Why the heck are you thanking me?” I place my hand on her belly.
“For waking me up to life. For giving me life. Before you, everything was so black and white. You showed me there is so much more out there and I want it. I need it. All of it.”
“All the shades of pink?” She smiles up at me.
“All your shades of pink.”
When it comes to my Addilyn, I want it all. I won’t settle for less. She was a pure temptation that I could never resist.
Epilogue
Addilyn
Years Later
“Addilyn Hart.” The commencement announcer calls my name. “Graduating Summa Cum Laude.”
I can hear my family cheer in the audience as I cross the stage to accept my diploma. I glance out to the crowd to see my family all standing and cheering. Kane holds Violet in his arms so that she can see. She claps her little hands together excitedly. I love that she gets to see me walk across this stage.
A few tears escape down my cheek seeing everyone here to celebrate this with me. I’ve graduated college, something I never thought would be in the cards for me. Then again, I didn’t see any part of this amazing life I’m living in the cards for me. Five years ago, life had been about getting through each day. My main goal had been to make sure my brother Carter was taken care of.