“So there’s no sense in waiting all that long.” A devious smirk blooms, and her fingers walk up my chest. She sinks them into my hair and angles my mouth above hers. “Unless you’re scared. Are you scared, Gare-Bear?”
“So scared. What if you say no? Worse, what if you say yes? A lifetime of you snoring? Crying to Disney movies and dancing through the house? Making you hot chocolate with extra marshmallows and tickling your back while you snuggle up to me in bed? Ugh.” I shudder. “Sounds like the worst life.”
“You accidentally swapped your words. You were supposed to say best. That sounds like the best life. But I suppose it’s natural to fear greatness. If you don’t think you can handle me—”
Her words die a gasp when I pin her to the wall with my hips, wrists locked in my hands on either side of her head. “I’ll marry you right the fuck now. Don’t test me, baby Beckett.”
She squirms, hips lifting. “I’m not a baby.”
“No, you’re not.” I release one wrist so I can grab a fistful of her stellar ass and hoist her up to me, long legs coming around my waist. I drop my lips to her soft ones. “You’re my sunshine, and one day, you’ll be my wife.”
“Okay,” she says on a soft sigh as my mouth trails her jaw. “That sounds nice.”
“I can’t wait to fuck you for the rest of my life.”
“Hey, Jennie, are we gettin’ that pizza or—” Carter’s words end a shriek as he stops at the top of the staircase, horrified gaze glued to our intimate position. I can only assume he heard my last words too.
I sigh, more irritated than anything that now I’m going to have to hear about his new trauma for at least the next month.
Carter spins away from us. “Ollie! I need help!”
“Do your breathing exercises, babe!” she shouts back.
His footsteps thud so quickly down the stairs it’s a wonder he doesn’t faceplant. “I don’t remember how!”
I look back at my sunshine, the smug smirk on her beautiful face. Her fingers thread through my hair, and she lifts one shoulder in an innocent shrug.
“Oops.”
The End
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To my husband, for pushing me to chase my dreams.
To my girls—Hannah, Jerry, and Ki—thanks for keeping me young, even though I’m older than all of you. I’m so thankful to have you.
Liz, my American soul sister, your friendship is priceless, and I don’t know where I’d be without you.
Zahra, thank you for hyping up this book well before I even had a release date. Thank you for loving Jennie and Garrett, and for being such a positive light in my book world.
To Alana, for bringing all my hockey sticker visions to life. You’re amazing.
To Paisley, my lifelong friend turned editor. I’m never letting you go, ever. You’re stuck with me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
To Miss Bizzarro, always, for being the kind of teacher who’s impossible to forget.
To my readers, for going on these journeys with me, for loving my characters, no matter how ridiculous and ostentatious they may be, for dealing with the drama on the way to that happily ever after.
And to my older brother, for being by my side, even though I can’t see him.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.