Chapter 5 #2
In this moment, I think I regret telling Spencer my initial plan the other day. Coincidentally, we went ring shopping together. While I was initially there to help him pick a ring for his girlfriend April, I might have picked one out myself that he doesn’t know about.
“Ready for your big night?” I change the subject.
Spencer grins, ridiculously happy. “Completely. I got Hudson’s approval.”
Hudson throws an arm around Spencer. “He’s going to marry my niece. He had to go through the checklist.”
“She still needs to say yes,” Spencer reminds Hudson.
“I doubt a no is coming your way,” I assure Spencer. “Enjoy tonight.” He has a big proposal planned.
Spencer tips his sunglasses down his nose to assess me. “Is there something you’re not telling us?”
Hudson watches as he bounces the baby against his chest.
“It’s fine. I’m just…”
“Nervous your plan is going to fail?” Spencer finishes my sentence.
I tip my head side to side in contemplation. “Nah, we’ve been waiting for this.”
Just then Brielle storms out my back door, breaking all our attention, and she stomps in her fast stride all the way to me, her face slightly fuming.
“Give me the box,” she demands, holding out her palm.
I’ve never seen her so determined and buzzed with frustration, ridiculously sexy, and I also know not to deny her anything.
My hand fumbles into my pocket to pull out the box, and I quickly hand it to her. She grumbles and pivots so her back is to me.
She isn’t fazed by my neighbors and friends since she has met them before. She’s even worked for Hudson’s sister at her legal firm. “Hi, Spencer. Hi, Hudson. Oh, Gracie is getting so big,” she greets them before walking away like everything is dandy.
“Is that a yes?” I call out.
“I’m thinking,” she yells back and disappears into the house.
It causes me to smile softly to myself in accomplishment.
“What the fuck? Was that an engagement ring box?” Spencer tries to grasp what just happened.
I bring a hand to the back of my head. “Yeah,” I reply in a mesmerized tone.
“Uh, something you want to share?” Hudson asks.
“Nah, just upped the stakes a little. We’re seeing Margo tomorrow, and she kind of thinks we’re engaged.”
“Let me guess, because you told her that,” Spencer adds.
Hudson looks at me like I’m crazy. “What kind of neighbors do I live next to?”
“Don’t worry, it won’t be a fake engagement for long.” I can’t stop staring at my house where Brielle is inside probably pacing.
“Listen, as the older and wiser one of you two, let me offer some advice. It’s only as complicated as you make it. Do yourselves a favor… don’t make it complicated,” Hudson lectures.
I glance at him as I cross my arms over my chest. “It’s not complicated if we were always on a path back to one another.”
“You have a kid.” His tone is serious.
“And that’s not the reason I want her, just a bonus,” I admit out loud.
Spencer hisses a breath. “Ford, buddy, I am rooting for you both. I mean, it’s obvious that you two are kind of hung up on each other.
Just don’t… I don’t know… ruin an already good thing.
You both co-parent so well. Now you’re taking risks.
You’re taking a big chance here; don’t pressure her or it could ruin everything. ”
I rub my face with my hands. “I’ve been patient long enough, and I finally have her here right here under my roof, alone time, me and her. I don’t know how to do anything else right now.”
“Yeah, I can tell. You look like a distressed retriever looking for his ball,” Spencer informs me.
Hudson wobbles back and forth for the baby who is cooing and staring at me in wonder. “I get it, I really do. We’ve all been crazed by the women of our lives. There is no backing down, and I think you owe it to yourselves to figure it out.”
“Thank you.”
Spencer snorts a laugh. “I completely want status updates this week.”
“I’m hoping to be too occupied for that.”
Hudson chuckles at my reply. “By the looks of it from a few minutes ago, you may need to work a little extra hard. Brielle is in quite a state.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I smile tightly. “Oh, I know. But it just means she is contemplating.” For some reason, I’m at ease; everything feels promising, or maybe I’m just optimistic.
But we are at the edge of our cliff, and I won’t let us fall. Well, metaphorically, because figuratively I have every intention that we fall onto my mattress.
“Well, we’ll let you head into your house of tension.” Spencer waves two fingers in the air and begins to head off.
Hudson takes Gracie’s little chubby arm and waves it in the air. “Good luck.”
I wave them all off then take a moment to prepare myself. Blowing out a breath, I wonder for a second if I’m being selfish in this scenario.
I’m not. Because I’m only satisfied if Brielle is happy.
That means this plan can only go one way, which is why my feet move in the direction of the back door. I’ve always been supportive, gentle, and respectful of our dynamic.
But I’m throwing in the towel because persistence is key.