Chapter 49

49

KANNON

I leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Merritt fuss with her hair in the hallway mirror. Her lips were pursed, her brow furrowed like she was getting ready for a high-stakes photoshoot and not just a casual visit to the bar to hang out with Riggs and Kleo. She always got like this before seeing Kleo. Maybe it was nerves, or maybe it was just that she cared too much about how other people saw her—something I’d been trying to break her out of since day one.

“You almost ready?” I asked.

She shot me a look through the mirror. “Almost. You know, it’s not fair.”

“What’s not fair?”

“You being a man and all that.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want me to be a man?”

She gave me a look. “No. I’m saying when we have to go somewhere, you throw on the same jeans, a black T-shirt, and your boots. It’s like you have a uniform. A good one, but there is no thought behind you getting ready to go anywhere. You don’t have to get ready—you just go. I have to choose my outfit, think about accessories, and then do my hair and makeup.”

“You don’t need to do any of that,” I said. “I love you and you’re mine. You impress me just fine when you’re naked without a drop of makeup on.”

Merritt laughed, a sound that never failed to send warmth spreading through my chest. “That’s sweet, Kannon, but a girl likes to feel pretty on the outside too. I want other people to look at us and think we’re pretty close in the looks department. I don’t want to be the slob hanging on the arm of the hot guy.”

I pushed off from the counter and walked over to where she was standing. Gently, I turned her to face me, taking her hands in mine. “You are pretty. The prettiest, in fact. But if it makes you feel good, take all the time you need. I’ll be here, ready whenever you are.”

She rested her head against my chest. “Thank you for being patient,” she murmured.

“Always,” I vowed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

A few minutes later, Merritt declared herself ready.

I grabbed my jacket. “Come here for a second.”

She turned to face me. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing.” I crossed the room and gently placed my hands over her eyes. “Trust me.”

“Kannon…” Her voice was wary, but she didn’t resist as I guided her outside. The sun was bright, which was perfect for what I had planned.

I led her down the steps and onto the driveway, where her surprise waited. “Okay,” I said, dropping my hands. “Open your eyes.”

She blinked, then gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. “No way.”

Parked right in front of her was a pristine yellow Ford Ranger, freshly washed and gleaming in the sunlight. Her dream car.

I grinned, leaning against the hood. “Way.”

“You’re kidding.” She took a step forward, then hesitated, like she thought it might disappear if she touched it. “Kannon, you didn’t.”

“I did.” I handed her the keys. “Come on. Let’s take her for a spin.”

She threw her arms around my neck, laughing. “I can’t believe you did this! How—when—why?”

I hugged her back, chuckling. “You needed something to get around town, right? And I’ve heard you talk about this damn truck enough times to know it had to be this one.”

She pulled back, her eyes shining. “I love you. You know that?”

“I had a feeling.” I kissed her forehead. “Now get in. You’re driving to the bar.”

Watching Merritt behind the wheel of that Ranger was something else. She fit there like she’d been born to drive it, her hands gripping the wheel, her hair glowing in the sunlight streaming through the windows. She looked over at me, shaking her head with a laugh.

“I can’t believe you did this,” she said for the tenth time. “You’re fucking crazy.”

“Crazy about you.” I smirked. “And you’re hot as hell driving this thing. Yet another one of my fantasies, come to life.”

She laughed, her cheeks turning pink. “You’ve got too many fantasies.”

“Not enough when it comes to you. We’ve barely scratched the surface of my fantasy list.”

Merritt smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Oh, really? And what else is on this infamous list of yours?”

I reached over and touched her thigh. “You’ll have to stick around to find out. But trust me, it involves a lot of adventures, a few surprises like this one, and a lot of us. Think of spontaneous road trips, midnight swims, and dancing under the stars. To be clear, dancing under the stars is code for sweet loving.”

“Then I’ll put on my boogie shoes. But for today, just getting to drive this beauty is enough adventure for me.”

She parked in the lot of the bar and jumped out.

“Well, if it isn’t the lovebirds,” Riggs said when he saw us.

Kleo was already at a table with a bowl of peanuts. Merritt dragged her outside to see the new truck while I leaned against the bar.

Riggs chuckled as he poured me a drink. “You went all out this time, huh, Kannon? She’s over the moon.”

“Yeah, she’s had her eye on it for a while,” I replied, watching Merritt through the window as she showed off the truck to Kleo. “Better than that damn Cadillac.”

“It’s good you’re making her smile instead of cry,” Riggs said, handing me the drink. “I’m glad you’ve turned over a new leaf.”

I took a sip, my eyes still on Merritt. “She’s worth it,” I said simply. “Makes everything seem easy, you know?”

Riggs nodded. “Yeah, I get that. Makes the crazy stuff we do seem not so crazy when you have someone like that riding shotgun.”

“Except I’m the one riding shotgun.”

Kleo and Merritt came back in. “We’re going to my place to play cards tonight,” Merritt announced.

I looked at Riggs, who nodded. “I’ll bring the booze,” he said.

“We’ll stop by the store and get some fried chicken and stuff to make nachos,” Merritt said. “We’ll see you guys in a couple of hours.”

Riggs and Kleo waved goodbye. With plans set, Merritt grabbed my hand.

“Let’s go!” she urged, tugging me toward the door.

I could feel the buzz of anticipation humming through me as we walked to the truck. It wasn’t just for the drive or for card night, but for everything that lay ahead with Merritt. Life had a way of becoming extraordinary when she was by my side.

We swung by the grocery store to pick up supplies. She stacked our cart with bags of chips, tubs of dip, and all the fixings for nachos. At the checkout, she chatted with the cashier as if they were old friends. Meanwhile, I loaded our goodies into bags, not missing how her laughter made heads turn. I wondered if she realized how much of a light she was in the world.

“Are you okay hanging out with Kleo?” Merritt asked as we set up the card table for the game. “I probably should have asked you first.”

“Yeah, I’m fine with it.”

“Good. I want you guys to be friends again. I like her. I hope she and I can be good friends. Is that weird?”

“No, it’s not weird,” I assured her.

Merritt smiled. “Good. Because I think it’s important, you know? Having mutual friends, creating our own little community.”

Kleo and Riggs showed up together, which I planned on talking to Riggs about later. Kleo came bearing a box of gourmet cookies.

The four of us settled in for an evening of food, laughter, and competitive card games. Riggs and I teamed up against the girls, who were surprisingly ruthless. Merritt’s sharp wit and Kleo’s deadpan delivery had us laughing so hard we barely noticed when my phone rang. I looked at the screen and then at Merritt. “It’s the realtor.”

My stomach tightened. I didn’t realize how much I’d been holding my breath about the house until that moment. “Answer it,” she pleaded.

I accepted the call and listened with three sets of eyes trying to read my expression.

“Thanks for calling,” I said. “We’ll be in touch.”

Merritt was practically bouncing in her seat. “Well?”

“We got it. The house is ours!”

The room erupted into cheers. Riggs clapped me on the back, and Kleo pulled Merritt into a hug. I couldn’t stop smiling, the weight I hadn’t realized I was carrying lifting off my shoulders.

“Congratulations,” Riggs said.

Merritt grabbed her phone. “I have to call Lucia and Dominique. They’re going to freak out.”

While she made her calls, Kleo and Riggs congratulated me, their excitement genuine. “Big step,” Riggs said, grinning. “You ready for it?”

“More than ready,” I said, watching Merritt from across the room. “Feels like everything’s falling into place.”

That night, we celebrated quietly at home. It was the kind of night that felt like it didn’t need anything more than the two of us. Merritt was already making plans—talking about how she’d have time to sort out work before the move, how she wanted to make the house feel like ours. I just listened, soaking it all in. This was the life I’d always dreamed of, and it was finally happening.

“Should we paint the bedroom or just leave it as is?” she asked.

She had her phone in hand and was scrolling through pictures of other bedrooms online.

“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I kind of like the color we have here. Is that too much work? I mean, the house is beautiful as it is.”

“But there’s no harm in making it feel more like ours, right?” I suggested.

Merritt bit her lip, thinking it over. “Yeah, you’re right. Maybe a fresh coat of paint would be nice. Something light and airy?”

“I think that sounds great,” I replied, excited by her enthusiasm. I was willing to do just about anything if it made her happy.

She leaned over, her hair brushing my arm as she showed me swatches of colors on her phone—a range of pastels. “What do you think about this one?” She pointed to a soft lavender. “Or maybe a gentle sky blue?”

I nodded at the blue. “That looks perfect. It’s calming.”

She went back to her phone, picking out a bedspread and pillows that would go with the new bedroom. I loved all of it. Anything that made her light up and smile was alright by me.

The next morning, I woke up to the bed shifting and the faint sound of Merritt padding around. I cracked one eye open, catching a glimpse of her disappearing into the bathroom. Normally, I would have gone back to sleep, but something about the way she moved—hesitant, almost nervous—kept me awake.

I heard the faint rustle of a box, then silence. A moment later, the bathroom door creaked open, and Merritt slipped back into bed. Her cheeks were flushed, her expression somewhere between shock and excitement.

“Morning,” I said, my voice groggy. “Were you eating snacks in there?”

She smiled and shook her head. “What? No. Of course not. I couldn’t sleep.”

I rolled over to face her, propping myself up on one elbow. “What’s up?”

She shook her head.

“Merritt, what’s wrong? If you’re hungry, I can make you something.”

“I have a surprise for you,” she said softly.

I frowned, trying to piece it together. “You bought me a new motorcycle? You shouldn’t have.”

She laughed, her nerves fading. “Definitely not.”

I tapped my chin, pretending to think. “Ah, I got it. You’re going to let me do whatever I want to you until the sun goes back down? I better find the baby oil.”

She rolled her eyes, then handed me a stick. “Oh, you’ve already done plenty to me. I’m pregnant.”

For a second, I just stared at the test in my hand, the two little lines that changed everything. Then I looked at her, my chest so full it felt like it might burst. A grin spread across my face, bigger than any I’d ever worn, and I grabbed her, pulling her into a hug and smothering her in kisses.

“Only in my wildest dreams,” I whispered, pressing my forehead to hers.

She cupped my face in her hands, her eyes shining. “Mine too.”

“I think we just switched up our plan,” I said.

“What plan?”

“House. Ring. Wedding. Then babies. Looks like all that practicing we’ve been doing disrupted the order of things.”

She giggled. “Yes, I suppose it did. Maybe we’ll wait to decorate our bedroom. It looks like we should be thinking about a nursery first.”