“Oh, my gosh,” I hear Dylan say against my chest.
I try not to laugh and encourage his behavior, but I can’t help it. “Tell you what. We’ll go fishing next week, and I’ll tell you what you need to know.”
“Really?”
“Yup.”
“Cool.” He bumps my knuckle with his. “Thanks.”
He struts away like he’s the king of the world. I know the feeling. I used to think that too. But now I see the fallacy in it all.
I don’t want to be king of the world. I don’t even care if I’m king of the county—a title I’m fairly certain I kept in some circles for a while. Now, I just want to be the king of Dylan’s heart.
“Dinner is ready,” Mariah shouts.
Everyone files into the dining room and takes their seat at the big, fold-out tables Nana gets out for these things when we are all here. Nana sits at the head, per usual. I sit to her left across from Old Dave. Dylan sits on the other side of me.
I look around the table at my family. This wild, crazy bunch of characters who round out my life. I love them all. Even Walker.
He sits at the foot, opposite Nana. He listens intently as Sienna tells Mariah about her trip to California. Lance and Machlan argue about something that shouldn’t be discussed at Nana’s table, even if they’re using substitute terms for the dirty ones.
Hadley and Dylan chat about making homemade noodles and how to make them not stick to the bottom of Nana’s kettle. Apparently, there’s a mess in the kitchen to be cleaned up after dinner.
Vincent and Sawyer whisper at the other end. I think it’s about me and my offer to go fishing because I get a glare shot my way from my brother.
Blaire and Dave listen as Nana tells a story about their night in the bar, a night that Machlan has made her promise never to repeat. I think she told Machlan that every time he misses church, she’s coming in for a drink. His ass will be in a pew for the rest of his life.
Dylan takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. “I’ve been thinking,” she says.
“Me too.”
She smiles. “How do you feel about starting a family?”
I think my cock just got hard.
“Are you serious?”
She nods. “I mean, we are doing things in the wrong order—”
“Attention, please,” I say, scooting my chair back.
Everyone stops talking and looks at me. It’s only now that I realize I’ve done it again: talked without thinking it through. Only, this time, I don’t give one fuck.
I look at Sienna. She grins. We discussed this loosely a couple of days ago, and she told me to follow my heart. Well, I’m following that or my cock. Not sure. Except I think they’re sort of one and the same at this point. They both belong to Dylan.
“What are you doing?” Dylan mutters.
I move my seat away from me. And, with a gulp, hope, and a prayer, I drop to one knee.
There are gasps. Someone uses profanity to express their shock. Nana yelps.
And Dylan? She covers her mouth with her hand.
Tears fall down her face as her eyes go wide. “Peck …”
“You make me so happy. And I know I want to marry you one day,” I tell her, taking her hands in mine.
Her lips tremble as she watches me. In awe, I think.
My heart overflows as she squeezes my hands in hers.
“You were right about something,” I say. “You can’t compete with first love. And you are mine. The first woman I’ve ever loved, and you’ll be the last.”
“You’re damn right I will be,” she says.
“I don’t have a ring because I’m unprepared, which I know shocks you. But Sienna told me to follow my heart and that I’d know when the time is right. It’s right.” I clear my throat and ignore the way my heart feels like it’s going to explode. “Dylan Snow, will you marry me?”
“Of course. Yes.”
She launches herself at me, knocking me onto my back. She takes my face in her hands and kisses me.
My cousins go crazy. The girls squeal. The guys chide me and some clap, and Lance yells something lewd that gets him reprimanded by Nana.
It all dissipates into the background as I look in my fiancée’s eyes.
“Wanna skip dinner?” I ask her.
She grins. “That would be rude.”
“It was rude of you to mention having my children when I couldn’t do anything about it.”
She laughs, the sound making me smile.
“I’m not kidding,” I say. “Let’s blow this popsicle stand.”
“Okay.”
I kiss her again before we stand.
“Nana, we’re gonna have to miss this dinner.”
“But Blaire is here,” she says. “And Dave.”
I give Dave a little salute. “Come by and see me at the shop tomorrow, Dave.”
“Will do. Good luck to you, boy. And you,” he says, nodding at Dylan.