Fakers (Licking Thicket 1)

“What, here and now? On the dirt floor, in a festival tent—”

“In this town that’s our home, surrounded by these insane people who are our family, yes. Because you and I are never, ever going to be perfect people, baby, but this love between us? This is perfect. And the life we’re building is pretty damn close to perfect too.”

I smiled down at the man I loved, blinking back some weird moisture in my eyes I would never admit to noticing. “Malachi Forrester, I love you, and I want nothing more than to be your husband and to walk by your side forever. Wherever you are is my home. Will you marry me?”

Mal’s eyes glowed with happiness. “Hell yes,” he whispered. “Looks like there’s gonna be another Johnson in the Thicket.”

I pulled him closer and lowered my mouth to his.

“Oh my God!” Ava cried softly. “That was so beautiful.”

“I’m so proud of my boys,” my dad said, his voice choked with emotion.

“I told you it was gonna happen today!” my mom crowed. “Who said afternoon at the tent? That’s right, I did. And I’m gonna use my winnings to throw them the best wedding ever! Ava, assemble an emergency meeting of the Beautification Corps, baby. Cindy Ann Johnson’s got a wedding to plan!”

“You’re sure about this?” I whispered against Mal’s lips. “Last chance. Paris? Miami?”

“Home,” he said with a soft laugh.

Mal stood on his tiptoes and kissed me without hesitation, sealing our bargain better than any rings or ceremony ever could, and I thought about how damn lucky I was to have been born in this town, even if it had taken me twenty-eight years to recognize it.

Because only in Licking Thicket could my ex-girlfriend’s fake ex-boyfriend become the very real love of my life.