Chapter 44
brAXTON
I leave a young family beside Sapphire’s pen, feeling a searing hope build inside me that I pray isn’t too obvious in my grin.
The last thing I want is to scare them off, but as soon as I saw their toddler rush toward her earlier, smile beaming, I just had this feeling that we might have just found our sweet girl a home.
The adoption day has only been in full swing for a few hours, but the attendance has been startling. Sadie has mentioned more than once that they’ve never had such a big turnout, and I might have had to sneak out a few times to collect myself before I broke into tears in front of everyone.
Between the help from the Warriors and their calendar, our own promotional work, and Rose’s new and improved article, the parking lot in front of the clinic is packed. We’ve already sold out of all the calendars we had and are taking pre-orders for another print run.
“This is amazing, Braxton. You’re really going out with a bang,” Marco says, coming up beside me.
I knock his shoulder. “I’m happy that I know I’m leaving this place in good hands. It makes it easier.”
“Good. I still can’t tell you how grateful I am that you offered this place to me. It’s perfect.”
“It sure is. Just promise me that whenever I find my way back here for a few weeks that you’ll have a spot open for me.”
He laughs, knocking my shoulder back. “Anytime. You have my word.”
I nod, and a comfortable silence settles between us, both of us looking out over the parking lot and smiling at the happy faces.
While the paperwork only dried on the sale of the clinic yesterday, it’s a relief to see how excited Marco is to take over.
It’s not surprising, though. Not when he immediately said yes when I asked if he would be interested in buying it from me.
It’s been an easy, quick process, and it’s made all of the upcoming changes in my life easier to grasp.
Flutters build in my belly when I think of the man who’s at the centre of all those plans. Maddox announced his decision to enter free agency shortly after our magical moment in the tree house—the same day I asked Marco about the clinic, actually—and everything has been moving so fast since then.
Dougie has been a busy man sorting through all of Dox’s potential offers, and while my man wants to stay in Canada, it hasn’t deterred the other teams from trying to snatch him up anyway. It’s been a little overwhelming, but he knows that wherever he chooses to go, I’ll be right there with him.
He’s been a total trooper while he watches his old team try to keep themselves in the Stanley Cup race, but they’re down by three games, and it isn’t looking good for them.
While he might blame himself for his part in their approaching loss, playing without his heart in the game might have done more harm than good, anyway.
Speaking of Maddox, his sister calls my name from across the parking lot, and I search through the crowds until I find her at the edge beside her parents, hand flying through the air. I don’t spot Maddox with them, and I have to fight to keep from frowning.
Where is he?
Marco chuckles, following my gaze. “Looks like you’re wanted. I’ll catch you later, yeah?”
“Of course. Find me before you leave. Have fun,” I rush out, shooting him a smile before beelining it for the Huttons.
It’s a task maneuvering my way through the crowds, but I wouldn’t change how busy it is for anything.
The only thing I wish I could change is Hades being out here with the other dogs.
But I knew it would only overwhelm and possibly scare him, so he’s inside, in his own special spot in the clinic reception, still there waiting for a family.
“My beautiful Braxton,” Ava says, pulling me in for a bear hug when I finally reach them. I blink away the tears gathering in my eyes at the thought of Hades and soak up her love.
“This is an amazing turnout. Everything looks great,” Oakley notes, rubbing the portion of my back exposed between his wife’s arms.
“Thank you,” I murmur, stepping back when Ava releases me.
“I bought like ten of those calendars online, and holy shit, I have no idea how you handled being around all of those hot bods,” Addie says in awe, fanning herself.
I stifle a laugh at the way Oakley’s scowling at her. Ava simply grabs her hand and then reaches for mine.
“My favourite part of the calendar is the photo they used for September. I asked Maddox to order me that photo by itself so that I could frame it. You two are so beautiful together,” Ava says softly.
I flush all the way to my toes. “I might have done the same thing. It is beautiful.”
The first time I saw the photo of us that they chose for the calendar, I cried.
With Maddox’s body at my side, turned toward me as much as possible—a detail I didn’t notice at the time—and our eyes meeting over Hades as he sits pretty between us, we look like a family.
Even on paper, it’s impossible not to feel the adoration and love that lives between us.
“Maddox told us that the dog between you is your favourite,” Oakley says.
My heart swells at the fact they’ve talked about Hades.
“Yeah, he is. Hades is special. He’s been through so much.
” I squeeze Ava’s hand, using my grip on her fingers and the cool feel of her wedding band as a way to keep from letting my thoughts wander off to what will happen if he doesn’t get adopted today.
“Where is Maddox, anyway? He said he was coming with you guys.”
“He did! I think he wanted to say hi to Hades first,” Addie tells me.
“Oh.” My smile is instant as my worry evaporates.
“Do you think we could meet Hades too? I’ve never been a big pet person, but if he’s important to you, then I would like to meet him.” Ava smiles, eyes glittering as she waits for my answer.
“Of course. He’s just inside the clinic. His past is tragic, and he isn’t big on new people, though. Just a warning.”
Addie has already started pulling Ava toward the clinic before I’ve finished speaking, in turn pulling me behind them. A laugh slips from my mouth as Oakley follows and mutters something under his breath that sounds like, calm down, speed racer.
The crowds start to slim out the further we get from the animal pens in the parking lot and the closer we get to the clinic entrance. Actually, there isn’t a single person standing anywhere close to the entrance.
My brows tug together as Addie whips open the door, and Cooper appears on the other side, wearing a cheek-splitting grin.
“Cooper?” I mutter, suspicion thick in the single word.
“Hello, love.” He winks at me and then focuses on the other three bodies. “Hutton family.”
Addie cocks her head. “Braxton gets an adorable pet name, and I get a group greeting? You wound me, Cooper.”
“What would you have preferred I call you?” he asks, staring down at her with a wry smile as Ava giggles.
“Adalyn or Addie. You do still remember my name, right? Or has old age finally caught up to you?”
Something along the lines of amusement flares in his eyes before he’s blinking it away, stepping to the side to make room for us to walk inside.
“My apologies, Adalyn,” he says slyly as she slips by him.
I follow the two women inside but pause beside Cooper, narrowing my eyes at him. “What have you been doing in the clinic?”
“Me? Nothing.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It’s a good thing it doesn’t matter, then,” he tosses back and then lifts his gaze to the older man behind me. “Please tell her to stop bugging me.”
Oakley laughs, and I roll my eyes at Cooper’s tattling. “You’re going to let bugs inside, Braxton. In you go.”
“You’re far too old to be asking a grown-up for help, Cooperoni,” I mutter before sidestepping him and walking into the clinic.
He starts to laugh, but it fades into the background when I take in the picture in front of me.
My stomach swoops as I focus my eyes on Maddox.
He’s standing in front of Hades’ pen, affection heavy on his features as he stares at me, our eyes locking.
The air tightens around us as neither one of us says anything for a few moments, my tongue tied simply from the way he’s looking at me.
Like he wants to whisk me away and seal us in my office for hours on end but also wants to drop to his knees right here in front of me and profess his love for everyone to hear.
It’s not until I catch the movement of him shifting something in his hands that I’m able to look away, down at the leash in his grasp. I follow it down to where it’s connected to a familiar collar, the one I bought Hades only a couple of weeks ago.
My sweet boy stares up at me, his body language a mix of calm, excited, and a bit nervous. I smile at him, anxious to rush over and give him some pets but far too curious as to why he’s leashed up.
Looking away from Hades, I find other people in the room, surprising faces that have me gasping. My mom and sister are off to the side, both wearing such encouraging, soft expressions. Anna wiggles her fingers in a wave, and I puff out a laugh.
Noah and a beautiful, tall brunette with silvery-grey eyes that belong to none other than Tinsley Lowry stand beside Addie, Oakley, and Ava. Despite the cold look on Noah’s face as he watches me and keeps a close eye on Tinsley at the same time, I’m happy that he’s back in Vancouver.
“You’re gorgeous even when you’re surprised,” Maddox murmurs, drawing my attention back to him.
“And you’re handsome even when you’re confusing me,” I reply, and quiet laughter fills the room.
He takes a confident couple of steps toward me before stopping and dropping to his haunches, pressing a kiss to Hades’ head and letting the leash fall to the ground.
“Go get her, buddy,” he mutters.
Hades rushes toward me, butting his head against my knees before I drop to his level and finally give in to the urge to shower him with pets.
Something cold brushes my fingers when I scratch beneath his collar, and as I push his dog tag out of the way, I feel something else dangling beside it. Something I didn’t put there.
A hand flies to my mouth when I find a new silver tag beside his original one, the words Will You Marry Me written across it.
“Dox,” I whisper, looking up to find him right in front of me, on one knee with a small black box in his hand.
He’s staring right at me, eyes clear, his heart and soul bared for me. I blow out a shaky breath and pinch that silver tag, staying crouched, not trusting myself to stand out of fear of collapsing.
“Baby girl, I’ve loved you since the moment our eyes met, and I knew I wanted to marry you just moments later.
It’s been two decades since then, and while I spent eight years without you, I don’t think you were ever fully gone.
” He covers his chest with his hand, throat bobbing heavily.
“You were here the entire time because I refused to let you go.
“You are my soulmate, Braxton. I believe that wholeheartedly, and I know you do too. We were meant to meet that day, and we were meant to meet again. Fate brought us back together because we weren’t finished yet.
Fuck, I don’t think we’ll ever be finished.
In this life or the next. I’m never letting you go again, not now or ever.
So, Curly Fry, what do you say? Will you marry me? ”
I release a mangled sob and throw myself over Hades, looping my arms around Maddox’s neck and nodding frantically.
“I would have married you when I was five, Dox. Yes. Without a doubt, yes,” I cry, burying my face in the crook of his shoulder and slicking his skin with my tears.
Our friends and family start to shout their congratulations, but the only thing I focus on is the man nudging Hades out from between us and pulling me close, taking me into his arms.
“Hades is ours, baby girl. If you’ll have him.”
I peel back enough to meet his eyes, and the sight of his tears sends me into another fit of sobs. He cups my cheeks and presses our foreheads together, rolling them back and forth.
“He’s ours? You adopted him?”
“We did. There’s no better family out there for him than ours. You and me.”
I sniffle, overwhelmed but so, so happy. “I don’t even know what to say other than thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I love you so much,” he breathes.
“I love you too, Dox. Forever.”
“And always,” he finishes, finally closing the distance and kissing me.