“Too bad she doesn’t have a sister,” he says with humor in his voice.
“You looking to settle down, little brother?” I tease. He’s always joking about taking Alyssa away from me; at least he did before I pulled my head out of my ass and told her how I feel.
“Looking? No. Not really. Would I if the right woman came along? Most definitely.”
“You’ll find her when you least expect it. Just be careful when you do. Don’t let Blake find out. She’s ruthless. She told me at breakfast this morning that I needed to smile more to find a wife. That her dad smiled a lot when he found Kennedy. I ended up showing her the ring to convince her I was all set on the finding a wife front.”
“That girl. I’m telling you, she’s a handful and so damn smart for her age. I feel sorry for her first boyfriend when we’re all there sitting on her front porch.”
“She’s—” I stop when I hear another car. “Tink’s home,” I tell him.
“Good luck, brother. We’ll all be waiting to hear from you.”
“Thanks.” I end the call and toss my phone on the couch. I don’t need it for what I’m about to do. I head toward the door and open it for her. “How was girls’ night?”
“Eventful, but it always is when we get together. Especially if Blake is there.” She smiles and tilts her head back for a kiss, and I deliver.
“I was just talking to Rush about her. She’s a handful.”
“Right? But she’s so damn sweet.”
“Yes. Yes, she is.” I pull her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her. “Are you tired? I thought maybe we could sit out on the deck and talk.”
“Is everything all right?” She leans back to peer up at me.
“Perfect. It’s been a whirlwind the last couple of weeks. I just wanted to spend some time with you. Talk about the basement remodel and any changes you want to make to the house, that kind of thing.”
“Sure.” She steps back, and I let her, motioning for her to lead the way.
“On second thought, let’s go to the basement so we can measure it all out while we’re down there. Get a plan together.”
“Are you sure you’re all right with me building a library down here?” she asks, pulling open the door, and starts to descend the stairs.
“This is your home too, Alyssa. I want this for you.” She steps off the bottom steps and gasps. She looks up at where I’m still standing, with a few steps left to go to reach her. “What is all of this?”
“This is us,” I say. I look around the room and try to see it from her eyes. My brothers and I spent all day hanging up twinkle lights and blown-up images that cost me a small fortune of our life together, but the smile on her face makes it all worth it.
“This was our kindergarten graduation.” I point to the picture hanging from the fishing wire from the ceiling.
“We were so little.” She grins. “And what is up with my hair? My mom and I need to have a talk. Remind me never to do that to our kids.”
My heart hammers in my chest at the comment. Maybe she’s figured out what’s about to happen. Telling Blakely might not have been my best plan, but she was hounding me about needing a wife, and the ring was in my pocket, and I just went for it. Afterward, I told myself it would throw Alyssa off, not expecting it tonight. Either way, she’s here in our home, and after we take this trip down memory lane, this ring in my pocket will be on her finger.
“Was this our fourth-grade field trip?” she asks as we move through the photos.
“Yep.”
“I remember sitting in bird poop, and you gave me your jacket to tie around my waist.”
“It was hot as hell that day. I don’t know why I even had a jacket. I guess it was fate.”
“My hero,” she coos. She keeps walking, stopping to study each picture. She comments about the memory as we look at our life together. When she makes it to the other side of the basement, there’s a picture of us that Ramsey snapped. The same weekend everyone helped us move Alyssa in.
This one is the biggest of all of them. We’re standing on the front porch, her back to my front, my arms around her, and we’re not smiling at the camera. We’re smiling at each other. The love between us is clear as day.
“We’re framing this one,” she says, turning to look at me, but she has to look down. “What are you doing?” she asks, tears already welling in her eyes as the reality of what’s happening hits her.
I have her ring in one hand, so I take her palm with the other. “I love you. You are a part of me. These pictures are just a snapshot of the life we’ve lived together. And they’re barely a chapter in the book we’re about to write.”
“I love this story,” she says, smiling through her tears.
“Me too, baby. I want to make more memories. Add more chapters to a story that will never end. My love for you is endless.” I swallow hard. Letting go of her hand, I open the ring box and present it to her. Her hands fly to cover her mouth, and I can see a slight tremble. “I don’t want to wait another minute to start the rest of our story. Will you do me the incredible honor of being my wife? Will you marry me, Tink?” She blinks back tears and offers me a wobbly smile.
She’s nodding before I get the question out. “Yes. Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes.” I slide the ring onto her finger, and she bends to kiss me. I fall back onto the mound of pillows and blankets that my brothers help me set up earlier and kiss her with all the love inside my heart.
“You’re my dream come true, Tank.”
“You’re my dream, my past, my present, and my future. You’re my everything.” I press my lips to hers, savoring how this woman will be right here in my arms for the rest of my life. We need to call our families, but that’s going to have to wait. This is where we’re going to stay tonight.