Jackson
“I love you,” I whisper, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.
She’s been pretty closed off since we got home.
I don’t blame her, I think so many things are going through her head and she’s trying to figure out how to process it.
She basically found out the last four years of her life was all a lie.
I’m sure she’s questioning every relationship she’s ever had in Pittsburgh and wondering which are real and which are fake.
“I love you too,” she murmurs, absentmindedly playing with the hair on my arms.
She goes quiet again and my heart aches. I want to help her through all of this, but I honestly don’t know how to. This isn’t something I can fix. There’s no magical cure to finding out your biological father is a monster and was willing to do almost anything to take you away from your mom.
“I want to get married,” Harper says so quietly that I almost don’t hear her.
“To who?” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, Harper whips her head around to face me.
“Did you seriously just ask me that?”
“I just needed to be sure before I agreed or disagreed with your idea. It’s called doing research before making a decision.” I shrug.
“To you, Jackson! I want to get married to you!” She swats at my chest, making me chuckle.
I grab her hands and pull her into me. I press a soft kiss to her forehead and wrap my arms around her body. I love just having her in my arms. Knowing she’s mine and no one will ever take her away from me.
“I want to get married to you too, beautiful.”
“When?”
“When do you want to get married?”
“Now.”
“Well, it’s almost midnight on a Saturday. I don’t think there’s anywhere we can go to get married right this second. Plus, you need a ring.”
“I don’t care about a ring.”
“Maddox said I had to be dating you for at least a month.”
“I think his timeline has changed since he got shot. He’ll probably settle for a son-in-law who doesn’t shoot him.”
I chuckle as I think back to the events from tonight. While Harper was talking to Evan, I was talking to Cali and Maddox.
“I love her,” I whisper, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. My hands are folded and I'm staring down at the ground. I don’t know how Maddox is going to respond to what I say next, but I need to get it out.
“Marry her,” he says before I can go on.
“What?” My head snaps up and when I lock eyes on him, I can see the sincerity staring back at me.
“Marry Harper. We both know you want to. If we’re being honest, you’ve dreamed of marrying her for a while.”
“She’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I know. She loves you and you love her. You two have basically been dating for years. I don’t see a reason to stand in your way. Ask her to marry you… without an audience. That way if she wants to turn you down, she can.”
I chuckle, knowing he’s talking about Evan most likely proposing in front of a crowd so she’d say yes.
“I’d never propose in front of other people. Our relationship is only between the two of us. She’s all that matters.”
“I know. When you showed up at the hospital…” Cali shakes her head, her hand covering her mouth as a sob breaks free.
“Come over here, baby.” Maddox holds out his uninjured arm and smiles softly when Cali sits on the edge of the bed and takes his hand in hers.
“The way you looked at her… it was how Maddox looked at me after he saved me. I knew right then and there that you were the man she’s meant to be with. You love her in a way no one else ever will. So, buy the ring. Propose to her. Make her the happiest she’ll ever be.”
“Well… I kind of already bought the ring.” I wince as I reach into my pocket and pull out the ring box I picked up this morning.
As soon as Harper left for Pittsburgh, I went ring shopping. I paid extra to have the ring sized quickly and was able to get it on my way to work today.
“Let me see!” Cali swipes at her tears and holds out a hand. I quickly open the box and hand it over. “Oh my gosh! Jackson! This is her dream ring.”
“I know. She sent me a picture of it a long time ago and I’ve been saving that photo, hoping I’d need it one day.”
“Why am I not surprised that you bought the ring long before I gave my blessing?” Maddox rolls his eyes, but he’s not upset.
“Because getting your blessing was a sure thing.” I grin. “You both love me and wouldn’t tell me no.”
“That’s true,” Cali murmurs.
“Shh! He’s supposed to work for my love and respect. He can’t know he already has it!”
I shift Harper to the side and slide off the couch. Her brows tug together as she watches me go down on one knee. I fish the box out of my pocket and hold it between us.
“I’ve known you were the one for me for years, Harp. Every night when we talked on the phone, it just reminded me of how no one else would ever be good enough. How you were the only woman I could imagine spending the rest of my life with.”
“Jackson,” she whispers, brushing a tear from her cheek.
“I think we’ve spent too much time apart. I want to marry you as soon as possible. I want to start a family with you and live our happily ever after. Will you marry me, Boots?”
She laughs at her nickname as more tears stream down her face. She’s smiling ear to ear as she nods her head.
“Yes! I wouldn’t want to spend forever with anyone else!”