Chapter 16 Garrett
GARRETT
Being stuck at Boyd’s when I’d rather be sitting on my couch with Lexi is annoying as fuck. But with Carter attending some fancy ball with Livi, a ball I know Lexi would normally be at, Devon and I are here making sure the new brewing tank is properly fitted.
It should have been done hours ago. Unfortunately, a late delivery meant the guys connecting everything had to wait, and rather than stand around doing nothing, they took off for another job only getting back to start this one after five. Long past time for Carter to be getting ready.
If I’m honest, it’s not this situation that has me frustrated. I want to be able to tell my brothers I’ve met the woman I’m going to spend my life with, but Lexi and I aren’t on the same page yet, and we still haven’t told anyone we’re dating. Or together. Whatever.
You can’t really call what we do dating.
We’ve never left my house. All our time is spent behind a closed door, and I know I promised myself I wouldn’t push her, that I’d be patient and wait for her to catch up, except the longer we’re together, the more I think we’ll never move past the hooking up stage.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I let out a sigh.
“Hey!” Devon bumps his shoulder into mine. “You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You know that would be more convincing if I couldn’t see the look on your face when you said it.”
Blowing out a breath, I debate what to tell him. “I’m seeing someone. She’s important.”
“Okay.” He waits for me to go on.
It takes a few minutes of staring at the guys connecting the last of the piping for me to find the right words. “I’m in love with her. But I don’t think she’s in love with me.”
“Why not?”
“For one, we’re a secret. We’ve never been together outside my place.”
“Oh.” Devon contemplates what I’ve said before offering advice, but as usual, when he does, it’s gold. “So, ask her out.”
“I—” I suck in a breath.
Fucking hell. I’ve never actually asked her out. What if she thinks I don’t want to be seen with her? It couldn’t be further from the truth, except have I ever made that clear?
“Fuck!” Dragging my fingers through my hair, I tug on the ends.
Devon claps me on the back. “Get out of here. I’ve got this. They’re almost done and I was planning on hanging around downstairs until closing anyway.”
A glance at my watch shows it’s just shy of nine. There’s still time to convince Lexi to come over or I could do something I’ve never done before. Time to man up and go after what I want. And if she’s not ready for going public, I’ll have to decide if she ever will be.
“Okay. Thanks. Buzz if there’s any—”
“Go,” Devon says with a chuckle. “I’m a big boy, I’m sure I can handle anything that might come up.”
Grinning, I give him a quick hug and back slap before jogging toward the stairs. As excited as I am for the new direction we’re taking with Boyd’s, I’m happy to head out and find the other thing in my life that makes me excited.
I’m pushing through the back door of the bar when my phone buzzes in my pocket. Waiting until I’m in my car, I tap the screen and see a text notification from Carter in our group chat.
Carter
We’re getting married!
A second notification pops up.
Lexi
Your brother asked Olivia to marry him!
Opening the text from Lexi, I frantically type out a reply.
We should celebrate. Where are you?
Lexi
My place.
Her text is quickly followed by a location pin. Little does this woman know, I’m well aware of where she lives. I spied her address on the registration papers for the Jag that still sits in my garage. Of course, it’s fixed, we just haven’t bothered to move it to her house yet.
And maybe that’s a good sign she’s on the same page as me in this relationship. She’s left me holding one of her most prized possessions. The car her grandfather left her because they used to take Sunday afternoon drives to get ice cream when she was little. A car she never let her ex-husband use.
Car started, I’m pulling out onto the street before I’ve finished buckling in. I can’t get to her soon enough. I may be about to blow this thing up between us. But after Carter’s text and the way I felt all night not being near her, I know I’m going to lay it all out.
Put my heart out there and hope to God she cradles it in her hands.
My palms are sweaty, my heart racing, and I’ll admit, there is a good dose of fear zipping through my veins by the time I pull into Lexi’s driveway. I’ve barely stopped when the garage door in front of me opens and there she is, waving me inside.
I try not to let the gesture worry me. She isn’t trying to hide me.
There’s plenty of space inside her four-car garage for my Thunderbird.
Putting the car in park, I switch off the engine and pop my belt.
The door opens beside me and I’m on my feet, the woman I’m in love with in my arms, my mouth on hers.
Breaking our kiss, I rest my forehead on hers. “Fuck. I missed you.”
Her smile is beautiful. “Same. To be honest, it’s been kind of strange being here.”
“Because this isn’t your home anymore.”
She pulls away. “What?”
“Home. It isn’t here. It’s my place. With me.”
“Garrett.”
“Let me get this out.” I cradle her face in both hands and focus on her eyes.
“I love you. I’ve been in love with you from the start.
I don’t want to hide behind closed doors anymore.
I want to stand by your side and hold your hand at my brother’s wedding.
I want to have a wedding of our own in the future. I want—”
She presses a hand to my mouth. “My marriage was a disaster, and I swore I’d never get there again.
Offer my heart and life to a man. But you, I never saw you coming, Garrett.
You make me want things I thought had passed me by, and I can see myself marrying you.
Building a life with you. A family. I’m turning thirty—”
“Don’t care,” I say against her palm.
“I’m going to want a family sooner than later.”
I grab her wrist and pull her hand away, weave our fingers together, and press them to my chest. “We’ll start tonight.”
Laughing, she shakes her head. “We can’t start just like that. I have to get my IUD removed—”
“Tomorrow. Make an appointment to do it tomorrow.”
“Garrett.”
“Shit.” I drop my head back and stare at the ceiling. “I’m rushing you.”
“No. You’re not. It’s not that. I’ll make an appointment as soon as I can, but I want to do this right, I want to decide where we’ll live, get married, but first, I think we should tell our friends we’re seeing each other. They’re going to be shocked as it is, but if I turn up pregnant…”
“Fine. Let’s go inside and work it out.”
“You’ve never been inside my home.”
“Did you live here with—”
“No. He insisted on an apartment in the city.”
“Do you like this house?”
“I do.”
“There that’s a first decision made. I’ll move in here.”
“I’ll help pack.”
“Tomorrow. We’ll pack tomorrow.” Before she can protest, I lift her up and wrap her legs around me.
“What are you doing?”
Grinning, I say, “Carrying my bride across the threshold.”
“We’re not married yet.”
“No. But we will be. And I want to make sure I get it right on our wedding night.” Taking a second to drop a kiss on her forehead, I make sure my grip is sure and head for the open door into the house—our house.
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