40. Montana
Waking before my alarm, I try to keep the smile from breaking out over my face.
It only lasts a couple of seconds but I can’t be mad. I thought a lot about Ellison and what I want from her.
With her.
After talking with her father, I’d taken the time to strip away all the noise—the fear and excuses—of why I couldn’t go after my girl. The list hadn’t changed since I was sixteen, but I sure as hell have—and so has she.
Hearing her tell me to get ready had my dick getting all kinds of ideas.
But more than that it was the way she’d squared her shoulders, the way she didn’t back down, and the way I knew she’d make good on her promise today.
“Get ready, Max, because when I’m done there won’t be a single person within a fifty-mile radius who doesn’t know you’re mine.”
That woman…
I’m ripped from my musings by a wet snout and tongue up the side of my face, Hermie’s body vibrating with happiness as he tries to decide whether he wants to get up on the bed or just continue to assault from his perch on the floor.
“C’mere, you mutt.” I laugh, grabbing him around the middle and hoisting him onto the mattress. He stumbles a little in the blanket but is otherwise unfazed and recovers quickly, tongue hanging out and tail wagging. “Grandad already let you out?”
Hermie barks and I laugh as he pounces on me before rolling onto his back and rubbing along the quilt my Nan made for me in high school. I’d pulled the gray and turquoise monstrosity from the cedar chest yesterday after Ellison had gifted me the asymmetrical winter hat, the nostalgia hitting me full force.
A sharp whistle sounds from the kitchen, and Hermie scrambles off the bed in search of my grandfather—my cue to face the day. Shaking my head, I throw back the covers and shuffle toward the bathroom for a quick shower, going through the motions, my mind running wild with thoughts of what she has in store for me. For us.
I half expect to see her in the kitchen when I come out of my room, but aside from Grandad putzing around, there’s nothing out of the ordinary.
“Mornin’,” Grandad says, his eyes bright with excitement and I smile, a swarm of butterflies making a home low in my belly. “If I was you,” he says as I help myself to coffee, “I’d probably head on over to the barn. Feed the horse.”
“I’ll definitely do that,” I say and he nods, squeezing my shoulder as he goes to sit at the table.
“Good luck, Montana,” Celeste says, coming into the kitchen and placing a kiss on my cheek. “If all goes well, you bring everyone over for dinner.”
“Everyone?” I ask, surprised.
She nods. “I’m countin’ on a celebration.”
That makes two of us.
I tell her as much, and with a steadying breath, I take a step out onto the porch. I pause, giving myself a minute to get my head on straight before descending the steps and going to find my girl.
Rounding the side of the house, coffee mug in hand, I pull my ballcap down low over my eyes to block out the rising sun.
“Montana Greene.”
Coffee sloshes out over the lip, my name being shouted over a megaphone enough to have my blood pumping a little faster in my veins. There’s no missing Ellison’s voice or the way it wavers slightly.
She’s nervous, which is good, because so am I.
“Lookin’ good this morning, Max,” Ellison says through the megaphone, and my gaze finally snaps up to meet hers as my boots eat up the distance between us. Her hair is swept up into a messy bun on the top of her head, and she’s wearing a white crop top that shows off a band of tan skin I want to get my hands on and cutoff jean shorts that are frayed from wear—not a store.
Her cowboy boots are loved to perfection, but I can’t take my eyes off her long, tanned legs that had been wrapped around me just a few days ago.
“Eyes up here, Max.” My gaze flashes to her, and she smirks as I roll my lips inward to hide my smile. I don’t bother tryin’ to hide what she’s doing to me below the belt—there’s no point.
She knows she’s hot as fuck.
“You’re up early, Eddie,” I say when I’ve gained enough composure to not sound like I’ve eaten a handful of gravel with my coffee.
“Wanted to start the day off right,” she says with a smirk I can’t help but return.
“I’ve got a question for you,” she says, putting the megaphone on the ground next to her as a homemade banner unrolls from the hayloft, Archer and Cal waving and grinning like fools as I read the words painted in large pink letters.
Will you Marry Me?
“El?” My lips part, my eyes slowly moving from the sign down to meet her gaze.
“I like that we’ve always just been us, and I want to spend the rest of my life bein’ what you need. A partner and a cheerleader, a lover and friend.”
“Best friend,” I amend, making her smile.
“Best friend. I want to be your wife, and I want to give you babies and help Grandad get the tractor stuck so you can come rescue us. I want early-morning coffees and sneaking moments in the barn. I want a lifetime with you, Max, because that’s how long I’ve loved you. I love you, Montana Greene, and even though I didn’t get to marry you at eighteen,”—she pulls a ring from her pocket before dropping to one knee—“I hope you’ll marry me now.”
“Hell yes, I’ll marry you,” I say on a laugh before hauling her up and swinging her around.
“The ring!” she squeals but I don’t stop—I can’t—not until my hand is tangled in her hair and my lips are slanted over hers.
Cheers erupt from around us, and I pull my mouth from Ellison, taking in our friends and family—everyone we love offering congratulations as I give Ellison my hand so she can slide on the smooth gold band.
“I love you, Ellison, and I’m damn proud to wear your ring.”
“That’s my boy,” Grandad says, tears welling in his eyes as he takes Ellison’s and my hands in his wrinkled ones. “You’ve made Nan and me so proud.” His hands shake as he presses something into my palm, the moment so much bigger than an engagement.
“We love you,” Ellison murmurs as she places a kiss on his cheek, his eyelids falling closed as a single tear slides down his face.
My breath catches in my lungs as I stare down at the ring in my hand.
Nan’s ring.
“Grandad.” His name is just a whisper as Ellison gasps.
“She’d want you to have it.” He looks between us. “Both of you.”
“Marry me?” I ask, not able to make a speech as eloquent as hers, but there will be time for that later.
“Yes, please.”
With a little laugh and shaking fingers, Ellison holds out her left hand and I slide the antique ring into place. It’s perfect.
“And we love you too!” a familiar voice yells a split second before my sister Aspen throws her arms around me, Vienna squeezing in next to her, enveloping us in a group hug.
“Oh my God, y’all are making me cry, and this mascara isn’t waterproof,” Vienna complains.
“I told you to borrow mine,” Aspen snaps back but it’s all in jest.
“What in the world?” My question is directed at Ellison, but it’s my father who answers.
“Think we’d miss our son getting engaged?” His smile is warm and he nods toward Ellison who beams at him.
“Good thing he said yes, huh?” Vienna asks as she pulls Ellison in for another hug.
I snort because there wasn’t a chance in hell I was sayin’ no. Not today and not any other day.
“Hey y’all!” Celeste yells as a laugh burst from my lips. Even from across the crowd I can see the winks she throws my way, and I just shake my head because Ellison thought of everything. “Supper is at five o’clock so don’t be late!”
Cheers erupt around us as I untangle myself from my family before pulling Ellison against my chest, her hands fisting my shirt as I kiss her again like every person I know isn’t watching—her father included. He might be shuffling his feet along the periphery of this celebration, but he’s here and that feels right too.
“Behave yourself, Max.” She pants, her back arched, and she presses her body against mine in a way that has me completely out of my mind for her.
“That’s not what the sign says,” I murmur back. “And now we got all these people here with you lookin’ like you do.” My hands find her lower back when all I want to do is grab her denim-covered ass, squeezing it tight as I drag her up my body. I want her legs wrapped around my waist because there’s just something about havin’ her cowboy boots digging into my back that makes me lose it a little more.
“I thought the sign came out nice,” she teases. “And if we hurry, I bet you can get three, maybe four orgasms out of me before it’s dinner time.”
“Then what are we waiting for, Eddie?”