Go Away, Darling - Alexis Anne Page 0,63

back with Linc at his side. My son had the hugest grin on his face. He followed Chris down into the boat and looked up at him expectantly.

“Olivia, right here on this very boat we met and I was so struck by you that I fell overboard. So I think it’s pretty amazing that right now the three of us are standing here ready to take the next jump into the unknown together. I love you so much and I love you too, Linc.” He broke his gaze away from me and looked down at the boy by his side.

“I love you too, Chris.” Then Linc leaned closer, cupped his hand beside his mouth and whisper-yelled, “Now ask her already. Come on!”

“I’m on it.” He winked at Linc. “Go stand by your mom.”

Linc scurried to my side and took my right hand. Chris got down on one knee in front of us. “There’s a reason we get down. It’s to humble ourselves and beg for your hand because we know we’re not worthy. At least I’m not. You amaze me everyday, Olivia, and it makes me want to be a better man for both of you. So I’m down here on my knee today, asking you to welcome me into your lives because I can’t imagine living another day of my life without you. I want to be the man who stands beside you, who builds a life with you, and always comes home to you.”

He opened a black velvet jewelry box. Instead of a ring in the center, there was a pin of the infinity symbol. “Lincoln, will you let me become part of your family?”

Linc let go of my hand and threw his arms around Chris’s neck. I tried not to cry at the sight of the man I loved and my son holding each other so tight. Then Linc stood back. “Welcome to the family, Chris.” He took the box from him and grinned up at me. “Now do her!”

Chris’s eyes glinted with mischief. “Olivia?”

“Yes, Chris?”

“Will you marry me?” He slipped a second box out of his pocket. This time a beautiful diamond sat right in the center of the box. He pulled it free and held it up, an eyebrow cocked as he awaited my response.

Meanwhile Linc vibrated beside us, clapping his hands and chanting, “Yes! Say yes! Say yes!”

It was fast and crazy and perfect. I fell to my knees in front of him, grabbed his face in my hands, and kissed him hard. “Yes I’ll marry you.”

21

A cruel joke

Chris

We waited long enough. That much was true. Linc was more than ready for us to be a family. He insisted I sleepover that night and move in immediately. I agreed to stay the night, but Olivia wanted to break the news to Beau before we got too far down the road.

Plus, there were other things to discuss.

Linc sat at the counter, his legs dangling and kicking the wall as he munched on pancakes. “So will your boat stay at your dock, or will you move it to ours?”

“I’ll leave it at mine.”

Linc chewed thoughtfully. He had been grilling me for thirty minutes. “I guess the only thing that’s changing is where you sleep.”

“Pretty much.”

“I’m really happy.” He grinned up at me, mouth full of the last bite of pancakes.

“I’m really happy too.” I took his plate and rinsed it. Then jumped when a FaceTime call rang through on Linc’s iPad. We knew it was coming. That was part of why I was so jumpy.

“Hey Dad!” Linc crowed. “How are you?”

“I’m good. Did you sleep well?” Beau asked.

“Not really. I was too excited.”

“What were you excited about?” Beau laughed.

“I’m not supposed to tell you. Mom said she will.”

“Oh really?”

I put my head in my hands and sighed as quietly as possible. Linc...he was a force. When he used his powers for good I was all for it, but when he wielded them against me...not a fan.

“Lincoln!” Olivia admonished as she came rushing in from the bedroom. She was dressed but her hair was still wet from the shower. “Hey Beau.”

“So what’s this big news?”

Liv shot Lincoln a look and then nodded at me. I cautiously walked into the shot. “Oh hey Chris. How are you?”

“I’m good.”

“So…” Liv took over. “We have news.” She held up her left hand, displaying the diamond I just gave her. “I’m getting married.”

I held my breath, completely clueless how Beau would react. We were friends and he knew Liv and I