Chapter 19
Carter
For the week after being there for my sister’s childbirth, I felt better than I had in a really long time.
There was something about watching a new life enter this world that was so refreshing.
Part of me felt like I was reborn at the moment I saw Jada take her first breath.
There was also a chance I was feeling this good because everything I had been so confused about was very clear to me now.
I knew what I wanted and couldn’t wait to tell Jax.
Since it was a Saturday, I didn’t have any work to do.
I woke up, took care of my grandma, then bundled up to take Speck on a walk.
As we walked down the street together, I took in all of the sights around us.
Somehow, this neighborhood found a way to be beautiful throughout the entire year—even at the beginning of March.
After our walk, I loaded Speck into the car and drove to the cafe.
It had become a tradition to take him to see Jax at least once a week, so I was happy my Uncle Ethan didn’t have an issue with it.
His only rule was that Speck had to stay in the back while the cafe was open and customers were present.
As soon as I walked through the door with Speck in my arms, Tim ran over to greet us. “Hey, cutie!” he said as he pet Speck behind his ear. After showering Speck with love, he smiled up at me. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Oh really?” I was happy that Tim had moved on from his breakup much faster than I did. Over the past month, he had actually mentioned multiple guys that he was talking to, but one name in particular kept coming up over and over again. “Is it Bryer?”
The way Tim’s face lit up told me I had guessed correctly. “You mean the hunky star quarterback of my rival high school who is out and proud and a voice for gay men in sports?” Tim dramatically put the back of his hand against his forehead. “Swoon. Yes, it’s him.”
I gave him a knowing smile. “It must be pretty serious if you’re bringing him to the cafe.”
“Of course. You know it’s serious when he’s meeting the family.”
His words almost made me tear up. I loved that Tim thought of us as family.
It seemed like Jax appeared out of thin air to wrap her arm around me. “Can I finally officially meet him now that Carter’s here?”
“You were waiting for me to get here?” Now I really had to fight against my tears.
Tim closed the space between us and stood on the side of me that Jax wasn’t occupying to wrap his arm around me.
He laid his head on my shoulder. “Of course I was. It didn’t seem fair for Jax to get to meet him before you did.
Plus, I need input from both of you since I know you’ll each have very unique perspectives.
Jax will make sure he’s fun enough for me, and you can make sure he’s got a good head on his shoulders. ”
“Perfect.” I lifted Speck up. “Let me just put this guy in the back and then I’ll be out to meet him.”
Tim winked and gave me a thumbs up. “Sounds great!”
I took Speck to the back and said a quick hello to my Uncle Ethan before heading back out front. I think I was just as excited as Jax to meet the guy who had stolen Tim’s heart.
Jax joined me as soon as I was back out front, and we walked over to where Tim was standing next to a tall muscular guy with shaggy blonde hair.
Tim looped his arm with Bryer’s and laid his head on his shoulder. “Jax and Carter, I am very proud to introduce you to my boyfriend, Bryer. Bryer—this is Carter and Jax—the two coolest lesbians you’ll ever meet.”
In all of my life, I wasn’t sure if I had ever been called cool by anyone other than Jax. It filled me with pride to be referred to that way, even if it was a teenager who was calling me cool. I reached my hand out. “It’s very nice to meet you, Bryer. We’ve heard so much about you.”
Bryer had a firm handshake. “It’s very nice to meet you too, ma’am. Tim has told me so much about you two.”
Jax reached out to shake his hand as well. “I’m Jax, but please don’t call me ma’am. I’m too young to be called ma’am.”
Bryer laughed. “Of course. I’m sorry.”
We talked for a few minutes before Jax let us know she had to get back to work. I talked to Tim and Bryer just a little while longer before Tim announced that they had to leave to meet up with some of Bryer’s friends.
I sat down in my usual spot and took out my computer.
I pulled up the story I had started to write and was happy to find the words were flowing out of me the way they seemed to every time I sat down to write over the past month.
The book that I had published a few months prior didn’t have a ton of sales yet, but all of the reviews that were left were very good, so that was encouraging.
I figured I’d probably have to build up my catalog of books before my sales became anything of significance.
Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about the money I made through writing since my day job paid so well.
Anything I made from writing was just a bonus.
I became so wrapped up in the story I was writing that I didn’t realize how much time had passed until Jax sat down beside me and told me she was done. We took Speck for a walk before getting in our separate cars to drive home.
When we got home, there was a note on the counter from my grandma telling us that she had gone out to eat with my Uncle Jamie. Since we had the house to ourselves, it felt like the perfect time to finally have a conversation with Jax about our future.
I took Jax’s hand in mine. “I want to talk to you about something.” I held up the hand that wasn’t holding hers. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad.”
Jax laughed. “I’m not the one who gets freaked out by those words. Don’t worry.” She pointed toward the steps. “I know the perfect place for us to talk. Follow me.”
I followed her up the stairs and into our bedroom. When I sat down on the bed, Jax held a finger up. “Just gotta run to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
It seemed like no time had passed at all when she came back into the bedroom and opened up the window.
“Are you hot?” I asked with a laugh.
Jax shook her head, a mysterious grin on her face as she reached her hand out toward me. “I want to talk out on the roof.”
“The roof? Really?” What is she up to right now? When she wiggled her outreached hand, I gave in and took it. “Fine, let’s do it.”
Once we were sitting on the roof, Jax wrapped her arm around me and pulled me tight up against her, which I was thankful for since it certainly wasn’t warm outside. “So, what did you want to talk about?” she asked, sounding much more chipper than I would have if someone had said those words to me.
I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I want you to tell Ethan you’ll buy the cafe. I think we should stay in Maryland.”
I was surprised when Jax shook her head. “I can’t do that. I won’t stay somewhere that you’re not happy with.”
“That’s the thing. I am happy here now. I was working so hard to figure out what felt like home that I missed what was right in front of me.
” I turned slightly so I could look at Jax.
“You’re my home. I don’t care where we are as long as we’re together.
With that said, I think we could be really happy here.
I want to raise our family in the same house where my mama was raised.
I want to teach our kid to swim in that lake right over there.
I want you to take over the cafe so I can watch you make a difference in so many lives. That is, if that’s what you want.”
Jax laughed as tears came to her eyes. “I want all of that and so much more. I want to propose to you at the same spot where your moms proposed to each other.”
“Wait. Where did my moms propose to each other?” And why don’t I know that but Jax does?
“It was right here, in this very spot we’re sitting right now.
” Jax smiled as she pulled a small box from her pocket.
“From the time I met you, I knew you were special. The past few years you have proven just how right I was.” She opened the box to reveal the most beautiful ring I had ever seen.
“As soon as your moms told me this was the spot where they got engaged, I knew I had to propose here. There’s nothing I want more than to have the type of relationship that your moms have, and there’s no doubt in my mind that we will.
I know I’m going to love you more and more with each passing day, because that’s what has happened the past three years.
Every time I think I can’t possibly love you more, you prove me wrong.
I can’t wait to start our future together and have all of the things you talked about.
Carter Olivia Miller-Cooper, will you marry me? ”
Best words ever. Tears streamed down my face as I stared at the ring Jax was already slipping onto my finger. “I thought you’d never ask,” I joked, laughing through my tears.
“About time, right?” Jax joked back before leaning in to bring her lips to mine.
As we kissed up on the roof where my moms had shared the kiss that started the wonderful life they created together, I was sure my heart had never been so full. I couldn’t wait to see everything the two of us created together. I had no doubt it would be absolutely beautiful.