Chapter 9
Rowan
February - Palm Beach
The house is quiet when I get back to Palm Beach. This is the time when Archie usually comes running down the hall and jumps on me, demanding pets. But tonight, the only thing that greets me is the dark hallway and the cold floor under my feet as I slip off my sneakers.
I pull my phone out of my back pocket and check the time. Fuck, it’s three in the morning. Scrubbing a hand down my face, I turn the flashlight on and groggily make my way to my bedroom, heading straight for the primary bathroom.
My eyelids are heavy as I go through the motions to brush my teeth and strip down to my boxers, adding my clothes to the laundry basket.
At the last second, I remember to pull the little red velvet box from the pocket of my jeans.
I take a shaky breath and turn back to the vanity, hiding it under the sink, behind a stack of cleaning supplies.
My phone dings with a text from Andreea and I swipe to open it.
A series of heart emojis pops up in response to a picture of the ring.
When I called her this morning to ask her opinion on different ring options, she all but screamed my ear off.
I know I shouldn’t have broken the rule and told her about the agreement, but Andi isn’t stupid—she’s seen how we are together.
And I’m hoping she’ll help me convince Maggie that forever together might not be such a bad idea.
When I step back into my bedroom, I notice Archie curled up at the foot of the bed. The blanket moves and I tilt my phone to see the full picture. My heart stutters when I realize that Maggie is sleeping in the middle of my bed, the nearest pillow clutched tightly to her chest.
A taut line pulls me in her direction, telling me to never stop.
Never look back. Archie lifts his head and whines, but I shush him with a few pats to his head.
“I’m home, buddy. Thanks for keeping her safe,” I praise him and slowly lift the covers so I can join Maggie.
My body curls around hers perfectly and I bury my nose in her hair.
I’ve only been gone for the weekend and yet I’ve missed her scent, her smile, her laugh.
I’m such a fucking goner for this girl. Everyone can see it—my family, my friends, her sister.
Hell, the whole world can probably see it.
I close my eyes and try to summon the courage I need for what comes next.
I must tell her I want—no, I need more from our agreement.
It’s been ten years in the making. Sure, there have been some breaks in between, especially after we graduated college and went our separate ways for a few years, but eventually we came back to one another and now I’m ready to make her mine once and for all.