Chapter Eleven
Darian opened the door the next night for Gage and Brylee.
“Come on in. We’re so glad you guys could make it tonight.”
Gage and he shook hands, and he hugged Brylee.
Darian saw Gage nudge Brylee with his shoulder.
“Sir,” Brylee said and cleared her throat. “My daddy and I talked, and he … I mean, we decided that I should apologize for how mean I was to you in the hospital.” She seemed to take in a big breath. “I’m sorry,” Brylee said.
Darian cupped Brylee’s chin. “Don’t be. You gave me the much-needed kick in the pants I needed, but I don’t want it to happen again because it made sitting down a bit hard for me for a while. Figuratively, of course,” he joked.
Brylee and Larkin giggled.
Darian hugged her again and then turned to Larkin. “Why don’t you go on up to your playroom? I’ll call you when dinner is ready.”
****
Larkin balanced on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips before she grabbed her friend and pulled her up the stairs.
They raced down the hallway and into Larkin’s playroom.
Brylee grabbed her hand after the door was closed. “Tell me what happened? I cried so hard when my daddy told me you guys had made up. I was so happy.”
Larkin grinned. “Well, we talked things out, and he”—she threw up her left hand to show Brylee—“gave me this.”
Brylee screamed before she jumped on her, both of them laughing and crying together.
“Oh. God, I’m so glad,” Brylee cried. “It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. What happened after?”
“We spent the rest of yesterday and night in bed just being together. It was the most romantic thing.”
“This is so great. When are you going to tell our group of friends?”
Larkin bit her lip. “Darian talked about having an engagement party here in a few weeks, but I don’t know if I can wait that long to tell our friends.”
Brylee giggled. “It would be hard. You could tell them but not show them the ring until the party.”
Larkin brightened and smiled. “That’s a good idea.”
They sat on the floor and played cards, talking about the wedding plans and what was going on with their friends.
Both girls jumped when Darian cleared his throat from the doorway. “Are you two hungry?”
They both sprang up. Brylee took Gage’s hand, and Darian wrapped his arm around Larkin’s waist but didn’t move.
“We heard her scream,” Darian said and grinned. “I hope it was a happy one?”
Larkin giggled. “Oh, yeah. She is very happy for us.”
“She’s a good friend.”
“Yes, she is. The best.”
Darian kissed her temple as they walked down the stairs. “For being so small, she’s a tough little thing. Scary when she’d being protective.”
Larkin laughed. “I’d do the same for her.”
Darian stopped her before walking into the dining room and tipped her chin up. “And I would do the same for you.”
“I would do it for you, too, Daddy.”
She hummed when he started kissing her. Brylee’s giggle brought them back.
“You’re my miracle, and I never want to lose you. We’ll finish this later, baby. Right now I want to celebrate with our good friends. I love you so much.”
“You bet we will, Daddy. I love you, too.”
The End