Chapter 14

chapter

fourteen

Brook

The rest of the weekend flies by in much the same way. We go to events, I try to notice all the little details the resort offers, then we go back to our cabin and have sex like the apocalypse is on our heels.

Now we're back at the airport where we, thankfully, are on the same flight. Landry has gone to the restroom and I'm waiting for us to board.

He hasn't said the words again. Not since I told him it was too soon.

His phone buzzes on the seat beside me. Instinctively, I pick it up. It's a text from his brother. I'm about to put it down when my eyes catch on the word "ring."

GREYSON: Yo motherfucker!

GREYSON: Why did you take mom's ring?

GREYSON: Hello.

GREYSON: Jackass.

His mom's ring. I look down at my hand where the ring winks back up at me. I knew this ring looked special. But his mom's?

A shadow falls over me and I jump, looking up at Landry.

"I'm sorry. It buzzed and I just grabbed it."

"Brooklyn, I don't have any secrets from you. I don't care if you want to read through all my texts."

He sits down and I hand him his phone.

He reads the messages and smirks. Then he tilts his phone so I can read what he's typing.

ME: Yeah, I took it. She said either of us could have it.

ME: You took too long.

GREYSON: Why'd you take it to TN though?

ME: Because I wanted Brook to wear it.

GREYSON: But WHY?

ME: Because I knew before we even left home that I'm in love with her.

ME: Happy now?

GREYSON: Very.

GREYSON: I knew that's how you felt. Just didn't know if you'd realized it yet. Did you tell her?

ME: Yep. She doesn't believe me.

GREYSON: Well, you're an idiot so there's that.

ME: I'll convince her eventually.

GREYSON: She can keep mom's ring. I still have the one I bought for Annabelle.

ME: Maybe it's time you give it to her.

GREYSON: Have to convince her to move back home first.

He pockets his phone and wraps his arm around me.

"Just like that?" I ask.

"Like what?"

"You. So convinced you loved me before you even knew me. Your mom's ring, Landry? What if I had lost it."

He shrugs. "It's yours to lose, darlin. And yes, I was already convinced. One word out of your sassy mouth and I was a damn goner. I told you, you're my forever. I'll wait as long as it takes for you to feel it too."

"What if I don't want to?"

He pales slightly when he looks at me. "You don't want to love me?"

"No." I cup his cheek. "What if I don't want to wait?"

"Then don't. Let's love each other too soon. Let's love each other too much, too hard. You and me. We'll be a team."

I nod and pull his mom's ring off my finger and hold it out to him.

"Make it official," I tell him.

Her grins and my heart pounds loudly in response.

"Brooklyn, will you marry me?"

"Yes. I will!"

Then he slides the ring back into place.

Applause goes off around us and I realize that we just did that at the busy airport gate.

Landry kisses me then, and I forget everything but the feel of his lips.

This man. He's the one I want.

So, I will do what he suggested. I will love him too soon, too much and too hard. For the rest of our lives.