22. Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Brixon
I pull into the parking lot of Noah’s pride and joy, snagging a parking spot close to the front door.
“Oh my gosh, look at that adorable gator on the sign!” Evie leans eagerly out the window, her eyes sparkling as she admires the colorful signage Noah poured his heart into, her smile stretching from ear to ear.
Her excitement has been bubbling ever since she finally glanced up from her book and realized we were by the ocean and super close to Bayou Bites.
She’s been fidgeting for the last twenty minutes, insisting she’s held it for at least forty-five, but refused to let me stop because she hates feeling like a burden. It’s so like her to focus on the book and not mention she needed a potty break!
As soon as I put the car in park, Evie is already out the door. I watch her in my side mirror attempting to run into the restaurant, obviously squirming.
I can’t help but chuckle as I get out of the car and make my way inside to meet our friends.
I have to admit, I was surprised at how well Evie handled everything I had to share. In the grand scheme of things, my news felt so small compared to the weight of what she saw the moment I touched her, she caught a glimpse of her own death. That is one of the hardest things anyone could ever have to face.
What’s been on my mind all trip is how she still wants to be around me, despite knowing that I might be the reason for that vision. It’s a bittersweet puzzle, and I can’t help but admire her courage.
I walk into Bayou Bites spotting Liam sitting in our normal corner booth and wave as I walk over.
“Where is Noah and the girls?” I ask as I sit on the outside of the curved booth opposite my brother.
“They saw pipsqueak run in here like her ass was on fire, the girls followed her to the bathroom. Noah is where Noah always is when we are here, in the kitchen.” Liam waves his hand towards the back of the restaurant.
“How’s it going with him and the writer girl?” I ask, curious since they’ve been prepping for me for the last hour.
“I have no idea. She seems interested, but she’s pretty mysterious. They look like they’re having a good time, though, so we’ll see. How was the drive? Did you spill the beans about our arrangement?” Liam smirks, clearly enjoying the thought of me having to share that with Evie.
“Turns out it made her love me more.” I sit back with a smug smile on my face, “How about you? How excited is little miss sunshine that someone else is going to have your baby?” I watch his smirk turn to a scowl as he rolls his eyes.
“I swear, even when we were kids, she thought you could do no wrong. You have always been a true Saint in her eyes. I haven’t told Emily yet. She was enthralled in a book on the way here and I didn’t want to interrupt.” He makes excuses.
“She might surprise you. Evie shocked the hell out of me, not only taking everything that I told her, but she told me something to.”
“Hold that thought brother, girls incoming.” Liam whispers as he stands, allowing Emily to slide into the booth.
I stand abruptly, feeling my heart pick up as Evie reaches up to her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. She waits for Lily to scoot around to the center of the table with Emily.
Noah comes back to the table just before Evie gets into the booth, sliding in next to Lily.
Once we are all seated, the server comes over to take our drink orders.
I watch Evie as she scans the menu, orders a hurricane, and turns back to her friends, completely unaware of the weight she’s carrying. The thought of her not being here with me is unfathomable.
Suddenly, it hits me—she’s accepted it.
I can’t shake the overwhelming thoughts that flooded my mind on the way here. Mark Boudreaux’s words echo in my head: “You will be the reason she dies.”
Am I the reason she ultimately dies? I refuse to believe that she has no future if I’m in it. All this witchy bullshit has my head spinning. We had a car accident. Neither of us remembered anyone when we woke up.
I realize I’m gawking at her when she places her hand on my thigh under the table, giving it a squeeze, pulling me out of my own darkness.
The server arrives with our drinks and takes our orders. Noah, ever the enthusiast, decides to order nearly every appetizer on the menu since the girls said they all sounded amazing!
As we enjoy several drinks and appetizers, I can feel the nerves creeping in, knowing step one is complete. But as lunch progresses, I start to sweat a little, especially thinking about how much Evie adores dessert.
Right on cue, Noah offers dessert, naming each one of the amazing options, making everyone groan about being full, including Evie.
I smirk, knowing everything is working out perfectly.
“Did you say seven-layer chocolate cake?” Lily chimes in when no one bites.
“I can have them box it up so we can all take dessert to go and enjoy it once we’re settled in,” Noah suggests, his casual delivery making him sound like a pro.
I can’t help but smile, feeling a weight lift from my chest as Evie eagerly asks for her favorite southern pecan pie to go. I almost want to fist pump in celebration but manage to hold it in.
There’s one dessert Evie can never resist, and that’s southern pecan pie. Noah has perfected his recipe, using a homemade pecan shortbread for the crust, and it’s absolutely decadent.
Emily gives me a wink and smirk. I am struggling to contain my excitement, but manage, knowing this is all playing out perfectly.
Evie said she wanted a proposal she didn’t see coming. Well, I’m giving her just that!
I hit the remote on my visor, opening the black cast iron gate splitting the large decorative B in the center. I pull onto the long circle drive lined with palm trees, stopping under the large covered grand entrance.
“This is one of my favorite things about this house, covered front door parking.” I smile over at my girl.
Evie’s eyes bulge at her surroundings as she gets out of the car.
“Damn babes, this whole house is yours? By yourself!” she asks, looking a little taken aback.
“Yeah, when it went on the market about five years ago, I jumped on it. I loved walking along the beach from my pops house and this place always made me want to go inside. It’s my sanctuary where I can just be me and relax. When you see the view, you will understand.” I smile knowing that she will love having this as a place to escape to.
“I remember your parents’ home in New Orleans was extravagant, but this is something out of a magazine Brix.”
I love watching her take it all in.
I can’t help but let out a laugh, “Baby, you haven’t even seen the inside yet.”
“If you had anything to do with it, then it’s perfect.” She says sweetly.
I shake my head, “You give me too much credit. Come on, you can see for yourself.” I tell her as I grab the bag of desserts from the back seat and shut the door.
I take her hand as I lead her to the house. I punch in the code to the door and take a deep breath as I open it. I finally exhale when I see how perfect everything looks, before moving aside so she can go in before me.
I watch her as she steps inside, slowly peeking around the large door, her eyes widening at the sea of rose petals at her feet.
“Brix, what is going on?” she asks, a precious smile spreading across her face.
“Just follow the signs,” I reply softly, grinning from ear to ear.
She giggles, then looks down at the floor, where Hershey kisses are lined up in the shape arrows to guide her, surrounded by rose petals in every color I could dream up.
I follow closely behind her as she follows the trail of arrows out to the balcony. There, a bottle of Stella Rosa Moscato sits on ice, flanked by elegant, crystal flutes, next to a silver picture frame resting on a white linen-covered table.
I can feel the moment is finally here—the moment to give her the most unforgettable proposal. I didn’t realize just how significant this was until now.
I watch her pick up the pretty silver frame, her eyes scanning the words that I wrote for her.
Genevive Hope LaBlanc,
I gave you the first and only flowers I ever bought for a girl until now. You were my first kiss, my first love, my one and only love.
I kiss the ground you walk on, and I want to shower you with roses for the rest of our lives, but I need to know one thing. Will you please finally say yes to being mine forever?
With a deep breath, I pull the top takeout box from the large paper bag and kneel behind her, opening the box and silently hoping it’s the right one. I quickly do a double check, just to make sure, letting out a breath of relief when I see my mother’s ring sticking out of the gorgeous pie.
A single tear drops from her vibrant green eyes as she turns, looking down to see me on one knee at her feet.
“Genevieve Hope LaBlanc, so what do ya say? Will you be my wife, for real this time?” I smile up at the most beautiful, smart, sassy little witch, and anxiously await her answer.
Evie drops to her knees, letting the tears fall freely as she almost shouts, “A million times over Brixon Blaze! Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh, my Goddess! I love you so much!” Evie leaps for me, smashing the pie, along with the ring, between us, not caring that I never put the ring on her finger.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
I startle at the sound, jumping onto Evie, knocking her down as I cover her body with mine. My heart almost stops before I realize our friends coming out of the house yelling, “Congratulations!”
Had I known they were going to use party poppers I would have been against it, knowing what I know now.
“Fuck.”
To go from such a high of happy emotions, to thinking that I just lost the love of my life and feeling scared shitless in a split second, has my adrenaline on overdrive.
“What the hell!” Emily rushes us, pulling me off of Evie.
“I’m fine, just gave us a scare, that’s all.” Evie stands up laughing and hugs her best friend.
“Oh shit, party poppers sound like gun shots, pew, pew. My bad.” Noah raises his hands up in mock defense.
“What the fuck, you told him?” Evie looks at Lily.
“Well, yeah, I couldn’t help it. Emily told Liam too.” Lily points to Emily, throwing her under the bus.
“You guys! What if I hadn’t told Brix on the way here, huh?” Evie scolds her friends.
“Wait, you told them before you told me?” I ask accusingly, feeling a little betrayed.
“Well, yeah, but in all honesty Emily already kind of knew and Lily was helping me make sense of it. I just let the cat out of the bag last night, you can’t be mad about that. I thought we were past all of the secret stuff.” Her smile starts to fade.
“You are right, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is finding your ring in this smashed dessert and letting me finally put it on your finger.” I smile at my bride to be as I reach down, picking up the mangled white box.
I dig through the pecans and goo, finding the ring easily. I look at it after shaking most of the pie filling and whipped cream off of it. I decide to pop the exquisite antique ring, that my mother left to me when she died, in my mouth to clean it off.
Evie can’t contain her laughter as she holds out her hand, her eyes sparkling with joy, waiting patiently for me to claim her in another way. I quickly pull the ring out of my mouth, wiping it off on my jeans, before sliding it onto her finger, both of us giggling at the absurdity of the moment.
Our friends make the moment all the more special as they whoop and holler feeling as joyous as we do.
Liam moves over to the table taking the wine out of the silver ice bucket, “Time to toast this fucking union that is way overdue.”
“I’ll drink to that!” Noah pipes in handing Liam red solo cups, after he pours our pretty flutes full, handing one to Evie and the other to me.
He pours everyone a small cup then raises his, “To Genevieve and Brixon, a love written in the stars.” We all toast and drink the sweet bubbly wine and the girls go nuts over the ring as she shows it off to the girls.
“Okay, it’s time to let you two settle in. We will see you both whenever you are ready to leave your cave. Have fun.” Emily states, shooing everyone back out the way they came in.
I wrap Evie in my arms, “I guess I finally got the proposal right, since you said yes.” I smirk.
Evie shines her bight emerald eyes at me, biting her bottom lip, making my dick twitch. I fucking melt when she finally smiles.
“Brixon, this is more than I could have ever dreamed of. It was perfect, just like you. I can’t believe you got the girls in on it and they kept their mouths shut. I have never been happier than I am in this moment. I can’t believe you gave me Daliah’s ring. I will treasure it forever, I promise.” She says softly.