My brother and I hug. “Been a long time coming. I’m happy for you and Beth.”

“I know you are. And I hope you know that Anna Cade will be needing cousins before too much longer.”

“She has two.”

“She needs cousins who won’t trick her into picking up a dog turd.”

“And then tell her it’s chocolate.”

Cade shakes his head. “Fuck. I won’t be able to take my eyes off those two for a second with her.”

“I would not recommend it.”

Cade slaps my arm. “Go get some sleep.”

“I’d tell you the same, but those days are over.”

“I’d trade sleep for my baby girl any day.”

“And I’m certain you will.”

Frankee and I leave the hospital and crash at my parents’ house until morning. Well, until late morning. We fall into bed, fully clothed, and that’s the way we wake.

“I smell bacon.”

“And biscuits.”

“She’s cooking to lure us out of bed.” I smack Frankee’s bottom and give it a squeeze. “And it’s working. Come on. I’m hungry.”

“Okay.” Frankee sits on the edge of the bed. “Hey, I know you haven’t seen your mom since we were here last weekend. Don’t be shocked if she has less hair. Maybe even bald patches.”

That was the last thing on my mind. I probably would have been a little shocked for a fraction of a second without the reminder. “I didn’t think about that.”

Frankee’s prediction is accurate. Mom has a lot less hair, but her glowing smile is still there.

I go to her and hug her from behind, kissing her on the cheek. “Good morning, best mother in the world who is cooking breakfast for me.”

“Good morning, son who is going to put on some coffee.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Frankee, it’s good to have you back.”

“I wasn’t expecting to be back quite this soon.”

She’s implying that she did expect to be back. That tells me more than she knows about where her head is in regard to our future.

“What can I do?”

It pleases me that my girl isn’t afraid to jump in and help with breakfast.

“Plates and cups are in the upper cabinet to the right of the dishwasher.”

“Everyone drinking coffee?”

“You know we are a coffee-drinking family, baby.”

“Just making sure.”

Breakfast is low-key since it’s only the four of us. It’s nice to have this quiet time with Mom and Dad.

“How did Cade handle the delivery?”

“He was a total wreck.”

“Worse than the day he and Bethany got married?” I chuckle as I recall him puking his guts up only moments before the wedding.

Dad clears his throat. “A hundred times worse but he had every right to be. It’s scary enough when your wife gives birth to your child under the best of circumstances. I was terrified every time your mother gave birth, but what Cade went through last night was a nightmare.”

My mom grins. “Just wait until your first one is born. I guarantee that you’ll be a wreck too.”

My first one. That’s not something I’ve given a lot of thought. A baby has always been an abstract idea in the back of my mind. An event for the future—the distant future. But now I see both my present and future sitting next to me.

And it doesn’t feel so distant anymore.

Bethany is alert and bright-eyed when we enter her hospital room. A big difference from the sedated post-op Bethany we saw early this morning. “You look like you feel better than you did the last time we saw you.”

“I’m so sorry. Cade told me you and Frankee came last night, but I have no memory of your being here.”

“Understandably.”

Mom makes a beeline for Anna Cade. “How is my granddaughter this morning?” Mom laughs. “Granddaughter. It feels strange saying that after only saying grandson for so long.”

“She’s as perfect as she can be.”

Mom takes the baby from Bethany and rocks from one foot to the other while studying her face. “She looks like a petite version of Cade when he was born.”

“I bet she would have been as big as her daddy if she’d stayed in there and baked until she was done.”

Mom holds Anna Cade for a while and kisses the top of her head before passing her to Frankee. “All Beckman babies have this wild head of dark hair when they’re born.”

Frankee takes my niece and immediately rocks from one foot to the other just as my mother did. Instinct. “I love it. I think it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Porter’s was the worst. It wouldn’t even lie flat when it was wet.”

Frankee goes to the chair with Anna Cade and places her on her lap, leaning forward to play with the tuft of hair on top of her head. “My goodness, you are a beautiful baby. And I just can’t get over this hair. I didn’t have this much until I was two.”

Frankee lifts the baby and presses their cheeks together. “Bethany, you are going to have so much fun snuggling with this little cuddle buddy.”

I take a special kind of joy in watching Frankee with my niece. I like the way she looks holding a baby.

Even more, I like the way she looks holding a Beckman baby.

It’s been a month since the night Porter brought up the topic of having me with him every night and how to make that happen. He was vague about the means, but I’m fairly certain he was hinting about marriage without actually coming right out and saying it.

I fall deeper in love with Porter every day, and the thought of this relationship growing into something like marriage is becoming less and less crazy.

Am I ready to marry Porter today? No.

Do I want to continue this relationship and explore the possibility of progressing in that direction? Absolutely. But that isn’t an option if I’m living eight hundred miles away.

I’m staying. I’ve made up my mind. And I’m ready to tell him.

“Hey there, beautiful birthday girl.”

“I don’t think there’s been a single day that’s gone by during the last two months when you didn’t tell me I was beautiful.”

“And there never will be. Because I’m going to tell you every day.”

Every girl should be told she’s beautiful on a daily basis. There should be some kind of rule about it. “You won’t hear me complain.”

“Are you excited for tonight?”

“I might be if I knew where we were going.”

“I guess I’ve held it in long enough. We’re going to see Halsey tonight.”

“For real?”

“I know they’re not old as

fuck, but I thought you’d enjoy seeing them.”

He loves to poke fun at me about loving my old music. “Are you kidding? I love Halsey. You know I love Halsey.”

“I do, and that’s why we’re going, birthday girl.”

“What an awesome gift. Thank you.”

“That’s not your only gift. Hold on.” He goes into his bedroom and returns with a small pink and purple gift-wrapped box. “Happy birthday, baby.”

“It’s almost too pretty to tear into.” I grin. “Almost.”

“I’ve been waiting to give this to you all week. I can’t stand it any longer. Open it.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice.”

I rip the paper and lift the top of the jewelry box. A white-gold and diamond pendant. “Porter… this is gorgeous.”

“Do you like it?”

A cushion-shaped diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds. Doesn’t get any prettier. “I love it. I really do. Will you put it on me?”

“Turn around and lift your hair.”

He clasps the necklace and places a soft kiss against the back of my neck. “I love you so much, baby.”

I turn in his arms and press a kiss to his mouth. “I love you too.” I touch the diamond pendant at my throat. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

“A diamond for your neck this time. Maybe one for your finger next time?”

I can’t stop the smile forming on my face. “Maybe.”

“What do you think I mean when I say a diamond for your finger?”

“I think you’re talking about an engagement ring. Just like I think you were talking about marriage a month ago when we discussed being with each other every night.”

“Would you consider marrying me if I asked?”

“I would consider it.”

“I would have gotten you a ring instead of a necklace if I’d known that.”

“No need to rush it.”

“I don’t have a choice but to rush it. Our time together is winding down.”

I was going to tell him later tonight, but I can’t wait. “I’m not going to Austin. I’m staying here. I’m choosing you.”

He pulls me into his arms and squeezes me tightly. “You have no idea how happy you just made me. Does this mean we’re finally going to tell everyone about us?”

Tags: Georgia Cates Men of Lovibond Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net