“Dani, I have possibly been in love with you from the moment I met you—or at least since the firs
t time I tasted your cupcakes. When you walked into my life, I didn’t realize that something was actually missing. Even though you claim that I saved you and put you back together, I know that it was really you. You saved me by showing me what it meant to really love someone and to be loved by someone. Maybe, in a way, we saved each other. You bring out the best in me and I in you. You are the light in my darkness. Life is never going to be easy as we both know that from the journeys that brought us here, but with you, I feel as though I can face anything and everything that is thrown at me. I love you so much. I know you hate my jokes and my apparent bad taste in movies, but I want to spend the rest of my life proving to you that Office Space is, in fact, a funny movie.”
Dani laughs through her tears, and I can’t help but wonder what the hell she has against Office Space—it’s a great movie.
Kyler gets down on one knee and pulls out a small velvet box with the ring. Damn, Haylee did good helping to pick that out.
“Danielle Kathryn Jacobs, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”
Dani looks around, and her eyes go wide as she must finally notice our families sitting in the back. When she turns to face Kyler again, she nods.
“Yes, baby, a million times yes!”
Wow, I don’t think I have even seen Kyler move as fast as he does then when he stands, sweeping my sister into his arms, and kisses the shit out of her. Our family has gotten up from their seats and moved toward us.
“You do realize that that song is about having a baby and we—” Dani turns to our family, throwing her hands up innocently. “—are not expecting, just to clear that up.”
Everyone laughs, but I see this as a sign to make out the announcement. I look at Haylee with raised eyebrows; she can’t deny this moment either.
She speaks first, shouting, “No, but we are!”
So much for the waiting part.
I wave my hands in the air. “Surprise!”
Well, so much for not stealing the thunder from the newly engaged couple. Oopsie.
Everyone stares at us as if they are trying to process what we just said before bursting out in celebration again.
Kyler steps beside me and pulls me into a hug, slapping my back. “Holy shit, you’re gonna be a dad!”
When we pull apart, I see Dani and Haylee jumping up and down in excitement. The Lawsons, Hanks, and my parents all hug everyone. I’m sure anyone that just happened to be in here tonight is probably like what the fuck is going on.
While the moms, Kate, Lauren, and Haylee inspect the shiny new ring on my sister’s finger, the men all pull extra tables over to join ours.
I take a seat next to my fiancée, who is glowing even more now that the news is finally out in the open. A weight lifts from my shoulders as well.
I sit back and look around at where our lives have ended up. My sister is happy in love and engaged to my best friend, and I couldn’t be happier for the two of them. They deserve all the love and happiness in the world.
Haylee and I will one day tie the knot, and the craziest of all is that there is a little Jacobs baby growing in her belly. I did that. I’m going to be a dad. Something that should be terrifying isn’t because I know that I have the love of the most amazing woman next to me. At that moment, she glances over at me and smiles that perfect smile, and I know that life is good.
“Hails!” I call out, emptying my pockets onto the dresser. She isn’t in the kitchen or living room, but her car is in the driveway.
“In here.” I follow her voice to the bedroom that used to be Kyler and Dani’s. We haven’t figured out what to do with it just yet, so it sits completely empty still.
“What are you doing in here?”
I find her sitting in the middle of the floor, legs extended in front of her and crossed at the ankle, her hand rubbing over her still-tiny belly. She says that she sees it growing already, but she still looks small to me.
“Just thinking.”
I prop myself against the door, trying to keep the gift bag hidden from her view.
“Care to share with the class there, future Mrs. Jacobs?” My smile widens at her with the knowledge that she will one day be my wife.
Wife—nothing makes me happier than calling her future Mrs. Jacobs. Wait, nope, I will be happier when I can drop the “future” and she is just Mrs. Haylee Jacobs, my wife and the mother of my child. Wow, when did I, the manwhore, as my fiancée called me many times, become romantic and whipped? Probably about the same time I fell in love with this girl in front of me.
“About the nursery. I want to turn this room into it.” The corners of her mouth turn up.