Chapter 37
Sophia
The Black Box
Weeks had gone by, and every second of it still didn’t feel real.
The last time I’d driven my Ferrari into Alliston, I’d come under the impression that I’d be having a fun girls’ night.
But that was the night I met him. I didn’t know my life was going to change forever all from one night of cuddlin’ on a couch with a man who was too young and too sweet to fall for.
I sniffled and wiped away a stray tear as I rested my hand on the few empty boxes I had in the passenger seat, waiting to be filled. The dirt road I’d just turned down jostled the ones in the back, sending a few of the smaller ones to the floor.
I pulled into the two-car driveway beside Betsy, another tear running down my damp cheeks as I got out of my car. Grabbing a few of the empty boxes from the back, I walked up to the front door and pushed my way inside. The house had gone cold without him here, but I knew it would be what he’d want.
“Sophia! That you?” Tallie hollered from the bedroom.
“Just me!” I shouted back, fanning away the tears as I smiled at the things she’d organized on the table to be packed up and hauled out. I walked right up to the apron as Tallie came around the corner, June resting around her shoulders.
“Keepin’ it?” she asked before kissing the head of the snake.
I smoothed my hand over the apron, my eyes set on the kitchen not far from the table. We didn’t have enough time in this house together. But it was time to start fresh. New.
“Yeah,” I nodded, setting the boxes down on the floor. “But I think I need to move June first before I start with everything else.”
“My brother would freak if you didn’t,” she said, laughing as she stroked June’s scales. “And speak of the devil—”
I was scooped up into familiar arms, a nose nuzzling into my neck—every spark igniting like the Fourth of July.
“Peach. Where ya been? You missed cleanin’ out the closet.”
“Gross. I’m goin’ back to packin’ for you two,” Tallie said, then turned and went back to the bedroom.
Grant set me down and I spun in his hold, reaching up on my tiptoes to kiss him. He groaned deeply into my mouth until I bit his bottom lip a little too hard.
“Ouch, baby. Not with my sister here,” he said, grinnin’ and melting my heart.
“The doctor said not to lift heavy things,” I scolded. “You’ll tear the stitches.”
He wrapped his arms around me, our bodies swaying from side to side. “Good thing you ain’t heavy or a thing.” He kissed the top of my head as I nuzzled into his chest. “Now, what was that about June?”
“I told Tallulah I’d be moving her first. She can ride with me, and you can take all the boxes in Betsy.”
He gave a playful grin. “You know, I think she’d like that. She seemed to like you a ton when you met her the first time.”
“Hmm,” I hummed. “Like her daddy.”
He grabbed my ass cheek with one hand and squeezed.
“Just like him,” he murmured against my lips before kissing me again.
It was crazy to think I almost lost him all those weeks ago, and if Hayes and Walton hadn’t been there to help, I knew he wouldn’t be here with me right now.
I wouldn’t be moving him into a much bigger home closer to Carver’s on more land than he knew what to do with, and we wouldn’t be planning our future together.
Grant could’ve been the one in the ground instead of Riyan.
I felt no remorse for shooting him, I just wish I’d done it sooner.
But what was done was done. How kismet it was for him to go down and for no charges to be pressed because it was self-defense, though I was sure my boyfriend would have found a way around that if it hadn’t been.
As for Kora, anytime Walton thought of something to press charges against her for, he did.
I think she was up to over sixty somethin’ years in prison, with more comin’ her way.
Without the help from my father, who was now on the mend, she’d never get out.
There was a reason my dad hadn’t been around to see the failed wedding take place. Kora was currently also facing charges for the poison she’d been slipping him in his meals, making him sleep away most of the day only to wake up violently ill, his body trying to rid itself of the toxin.
I sighed as Grant pulled back and cupped my chin. “I love you, darlin’.” His nose brushed over mine. “Did I tell you I’ve got a surprise for you at the new house?”
My brows dipped as I shook my head. “You don’t need to get me anythin’. I told you that.”
“Sure I do.” He grinned and laughed, the sound warming my heart. “Can’t get it in your head that you’re my sugar mama, now can I?”
I laughed and pushed my hands into his chest. He refused to let me go and dropped his voice. “I’m serious. I don’t need any of this, you know.”
“I know,” I said, biting the edge of my lip, blinking back more tears. “My dad approves, though.”
Grant snorted. “I think he’s hoping a grandkid will want the business you turned him down on.” The mention of kids always seemed to light a fire in his eyes. One day, that would be our lives. But for right now, I was happy with all my love and energy goin’ toward the man who stole my heart.
Someone cleared their throat behind Grant. He looked past his shoulder, then stepped out of the way.
“Mornin’,” Hayes said. “Everythin’s set.”
I arched my brow. “What do you mean everythin’—”
“Uh-uh,” Grant tutted. “Patience, baby.”
“The surprise is ready?” Tallie asked, coming back out to the living room.
I bit back on the smile tryin’ to fight through as Hayes’ attention shot right to her, like she was the only one in the room.
I almost felt like I was intruding when she narrowed her eyes on him.
Maybe they’d had another fight, but somethin’ told me it went deeper than that.
“Carver and Lyra just pulled up with breakfast,” Hayes said, pointing over his shoulder. “Wanna help me bring it in, Tallie?”
She rolled her eyes and stormed past him, hitting him on his side with her shoulder. He grinned as he followed behind her. “Don’t give her the surprise without me there!” she yelled before Hayes shut the door.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “What exactly is this—”
“Peach,” Grant cut me off and fell to one knee.
My hands covered my slackened jaw as tears filled my eyes when he pulled out a little black box.
His grey eyes searched mine before the box sprung open, revealing a large diamond set in the middle of several smaller ones that formed the shape of a star.
His tongue swept over his shaking lower lip as he said, “I fell for you beneath the stars, and I can’t imagine a future without kissin’ you more under them every night for the rest of our lives.
” I wiped the moisture from my cheeks, my head already bobbing.
“Will you do me the greatest fuckin’ honor of bein’ my wife? ”
I squealed as I rushed into him, sending us both to the floor. I peppered him with kisses, each one a vow to love him for the rest of my life. I finally pulled back and looked into his eyes, the lightness in them squeezing my heart.
“You sure you wanna say yes?” he asked in a teasing tone.
“I dunno.” I shrugged, grinning down at him. “I think you kinda grew on me.”