Chapter Thirteen
JENSEN
THEN—THREE YEARS AGO
OCTOBER
I slide my arms into my shirt jacket, rolling the sleeves up a couple times before heading to the guest bedroom closet where the small box is hidden. I pick it up, its weight nothing compared to the enormity of what it represents—our future.
I open it one last time, giving it a long look. A lump forms in my throat, emotion rising as I picture slipping it onto Alley’s dainty finger. The love I feel for her—it’s overwhelming. I always wanted this but never truly imagined it happening until now.
My mind flashes back to the first time I told her I loved her. How it hadn’t been planned and it just slipped out. I asked her to move in with me after that. Now, here we are, eighteen months later, two years since we met, and everything is about to change in the best possible way.
Grinning, I snap the box shut, the sound echoing off the bare walls, pulling me back to the afternoon ahead.
“Jensen?” Alley’s voice carries through the house.
I shove the box into my pocket. It bulges slightly, but not enough to be obvious.
“There you are.” Alley says, stepping into the guest room as I walk out of the closet. “What are you doing in here?”
“Oh, I was just looking for something, but I can’t find it,” I lie.
My gaze travels down her body, my grin giving away every thought of how goddamn beautiful she is.
I’m taking her to a football game today, her first ever.
Matt hooked us up with the suite. Honestly, I don’t have a detailed plan for the proposal.
I didn’t want it to feel staged or rehearsed.
Alley’s so chill; she’d hate some big, cheesy production.
She’d want something real, something meaningful.
And football? Fuck, football is what proved how much Alley loved me. It’s what made me fall even deeper in love with her. It doesn’t sound romantic, but for us, it is.
“You ready?” She slides her arms inside my jacket, wrapping them around my waist, and kisses me.
“Yep. You look hot.” Our lips meet again, then again, and before I know it, my hands are raking through her hair, kissing her like she’s the air I need to breathe.
That thought borders on insanity, but it’s true.
In a way, I do need her to breathe. I’d do anything for her.
Sometimes I think God put me on this earth simply to worship Alley. To make her laugh. To please her.
Damn, that’s good. I’ll have to remember that.
I didn’t prepare a speech either. She’ll appreciate a raw, vulnerable moment. Nothing is sexier to her than honesty. So I’m going into this blind. I only need to know one thing today: I love Alley, and I can’t imagine a single day without her—because that would be my personal hell.
I grin against her lips. “Damn you, babe. We don’t have time to have sex right now, but I really want to.”
She laughs against my mouth. “Who says we don’t have time? We can miss the kicking thing.”
I chuckle. She still has a lot to learn about football.
Gripping her hips, I deepen the kiss, knowing damn well we’ll barely make it out of this house on time—if at all.
But fuck the game.
Alley’s the only win I care about today.
My phone dings, startling me awake.
Then it dings again.
And again.
“Hell,” I mutter, reaching blindly for it. I squint at the screen, groaning when I see the time—ten minutes before my alarm was set to go off.
Another ding.
It’s my sibling group chat, lighting up at six-fucking-thirty in the morning. What a bunch of overachievers.
Well, sibling chat—plus the in-laws. And Matt.
Matt
Bro, did she say yes?
Jeff
You were supposed to text us last night. How did it go?
Matt
The suspense is killing me…
Megan
What the hell is wrong with you, Matt? It’s six in the morning. I’ll have your balls for this.
I couldn’t stop grinning if you paid me.
I probably look like the damn Cheshire Cat right now.
Silencing my phone, I glance at Alley—still fast asleep.
My heart lurches, my grin widening when I take her in.
Hair a mess, mouth open, heavy, even breaths.
She’s always been a deep sleeper. She can pass out anywhere.
I have dozens of pictures of her sleeping in random places—mouth open, catching flies.
She hates them. I tell her it’s the ultimate blackmail.
She said yes.
She wants to be mine. And I’m going to be hers.
Damn. When did I become this guy? The one lying in bed, grinning like a lovesick puppy over a group text and having a fiancée? Never thought I’d be the type.
My fingers hover over the screen. I punch out a reply, feeling giddy—like a goddamn schoolboy.
She said YES!
Matt sends a GIF of someone fist-pumping the air, and Megan replies instantly with about a hundred excited emojis mixed with party-themed ones.
I chuckle softly.
Matt
So when’s the bachelor party? I vote Vegas. And I’m your best man, right?
Kevin finally makes an appearance.
Kevin
He has two brothers, bro. Why would you be best man?
Jeff
But I’m the only REAL brother, so obviously that position goes to me. It’s like royal succession.
Matt
I believe marriage disqualifies you from succession. It naturally falls to the next eligible bachelor. AKA Moi.
Megan
Eligible bachelor my ass. Hahahahahaha.
I wanna go to Vegas. What do I have to do to get in on this? I’ll shove a rubber dick in my pants for a bro weekend. This mom needs a fucking vacation.
Kevin
Jesus, Megan. Have a girls weekend or go to brunch. No need to be stuffing your pants with dicks.
Matt
Yeah, I won’t recover from that image… ever.
Megan
Why are you texting me, Kev? I’m literally in the next room.
Kevin
Needed everyone to know I do not approve of you stuffing dicks in your pants… unless it’s mine.
Jeff
Good God. I’ve gotta get ready for work. Congrats baby bro, happy for you both. Give Alley a hug from us.
Thanks, Jeff, I will. Matt—I just proposed last night. Can we talk about Vegas later? No best man. I love you all equally. Megan—there are no words. But if you need a vacation, why don’t you go to Chicago with Alley next week for her brother’s birthday?
Megan
Kev, can I go to Chicago next week? I’ll suck your dick.
Kevin
Your mom watching the kids? And gonna have to be more than once for me to say yes.
Megan
Fine. Three blow jobs in the next week, and I’ll ask my mom. Final offer.
I shake my head. I know how these group chats get, they’ll go on forever. Dragging my ass out of bed, I head to the bathroom and start the shower.
Matt
Christ, you two. Ever heard of a separate text? I don’t tell you about my sex life, and we don’t need to know about yours.
Megan
We don’t need you to tell us. Friday night? Fucked Jessica. Saturday night? Fucked Jordan. And lemme guess, last night? Brought home some girl from a bar who gave you the best blow job of your life.
How close am I? For real, I wanna know.
I laugh. She’s spot-on, I’m sure of it. Megan is possibly the most vulgar woman I know, and I’m damn proud to call her my sister.
Matt
Nailed it, Megs. Except Friday night was a girl I met a few weeks ago. Her name was Shannon.
Megan
WAS? What, did she change her name for you? “Oh, Matt, I’m yours. Call me whatever you want. Anything for you.” Insert dick in her mouth and a gag in mine. #PUKE
Matt
You’re so funny Megan.
I peel my shirt off and step out of my pants, brushing my teeth while the shower heats up. These two are always the comedic entertainment. They’ve bantered like this since we were kids. Megan used to kick Matt’s ass, until he outgrew her. She was a mean older sister when we were little.
K guys, getting ready for work too. Thanks for being excited for us. Megs, I’ll have Alley text you when she wakes up… if you’re serious about Chicago.
Megan
Serious as a coroner.
Deeply unsettling, but okay.
Megan
Love you. Happy for you.
Matt
Yeah, love you both, brother. Give Alley a hug for me too.
Come give her one yourself. She doesn’t go into work until noon today.
I set my phone down and step into the shower, closing my eyes as the hot water streams over my face. I relish the heat pelting against my skin, soaking in the joy of the moment. I’ve got my dream girl, my best friend and siblings hyping me up, and a hell of a lot to look forward to.
Damn, life is good.
When I open my eyes, Alley’s staring at me through the glass, grinning.
She lifts her shirt over her head and slides her shorts down her legs.
Desire surges through me, my cock instantly hardening.
I’ve seen her naked hundreds of times, yet she still has this effect on me.
She hooks her thumbs into her underwear, dragging them down, and as she steps into the shower, it feels like this next chapter is going to be the best goddamn one yet.