and, even though we weren’t together, we were never really apart, either.
“We’ve shared so many little moments together. Moments that seemed trivial at the time, but have ended up meaning the most. Moments that dug deep and latched on, making it impossible for either of us to let go. Moments that made me love you even more than I thought possible.”
“Hayden…” I pull her to me, my hands sliding back into her hair, needing her close. Needing to breathe her air because I can’t get enough of my own.
But she presses a finger to my lips, pushes back, and drops to one knee in front of me.
I swear to God the world tips a little in that moment, because the crowd blurs and my knees shake and, holy shit, she has a ring.
“Jesse Aaron Enders, you are not only my partner and my son’s father and now my prince, but you are the love of my life. I’d be honored and blessed if you’d consider becoming my husband, t—”
I pull her to her feet and claim her mouth with mine before she can even finish the sentence, because hell. Fucking. Yes.
Vaguely, I hear the crowd erupt even louder than they had earlier. Hands pat me on the back, too, but none of it matters as much as the woman in my arms. The woman I have wanted and dreamed about and built my life around. The woman I want more children with. The woman I want to grow old with. The woman I’ve wanted as my wife for so damn long.
“Is that a yes, frat boy?” She smiles against my lips when I break the kiss to catch my breath.
“I don’t know, city girl…” I dig out the diamond I’ve carried in my pocket for the past month—and have kept in my drawer for four years—and hold it up for her to see. “Is it?”
“Fucking finally!” one of my brothers hollers before the Cole Creek festival grounds turn into the mosh pit minus the actual moshing.
Hayden jumps into my arms, her legs going around my waist as I spin us in circles and kiss her until everything but the two of us fades away.
“I love you,” I promise her, slipping the ring on her finger and then holding mine out so she can do the same.
“I love you,” she promises back. “Are we really doing this?”
“Was there ever a doubt?”
She laughs. “I don’t know. Things were kinda shaky there for awhile.”
“Just wanted you to be sure.”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
“You wanna elope?”
“I’d love to, but I know you want to get married in church for your mom.”
“True.” I steal another peck that turns into another long, smoldering exchange that leaves us breathless and grasping at each other. “You wanna go home and fuck?”
“Mmm, I like the way you think.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Why am I still dressed, frat boy?”
I laugh and take her home, and we don’t come out of the bedroom—our bedroom—until Sunday afternoon when Hannah comes by with Jett.
And then the three of us pick up the trailer full of their things and bring it back to the home I built for us.
The home where we’ll create memories and share all the rest of our moments.
Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER…
Every morning, my heart drives away in a Chevy truck. And every night when he comes home, I swear I love him even more than when he left.
Today, I feel it more than usual. Not only because Jesse was at the jobsite all day and didn’t have time for our usual flirty texts, but because something special happened today. And I can’t wait to tell him.
“Max and Joey are here!” Jett calls from the foyer. “Bye, Mom!”
“Wait! Don’t you dare leave without a hug!” I toss the kitchen towel and hurry to the front door before he escapes. This five going on fifteen stuff is for the birds.
“Mommm.” He’s all eye rolls and groans when I bend and pull him in.
“I’m not going to see you for a whole day. Let me have my moment.”
“Ugh,” he concedes, barely giving me a half-assed hug in return.
As much as I dislike how quickly he’s gone from loving hugs and snuggles to being embarrassed by them, I’m so grateful that we don’t have to say goodbye every other weekend like we used to.
“I love you, sweet pea.” I kiss his cheek and ruffle his hair, and the crooked smile that lifts one side of his mouth is so Jesse that