Chapter 33
TYRELL
I have to believe we’re gonna make it.
We have one flight left to go before we’ll be touching down in Denver. Then it’s just a two-hour drive up to the place Sienna found for this weekend. We should arrive just after dinner.
Shit. We’ve missed over half of this family get-together, and it’s hard not to feel salty. And I’d probably be acting like a grumpy asshole if it weren’t for one decision that I made on the plane from Singapore.
I haven’t said anything yet, but the more time ticks by, the more it burns and the more I know this is happening, no matter what. I have to ask.
I would have the second we landed in the States, but Harley and Kendall went missing, and Dani was in a back-and-forth text chain with Satch as she worried and fretted.
I managed to keep calm about it all. I knew those girls would be found and brought home safely, but it must have been pretty harrowing for their parents.
When we got the call that they’d been found and were back at the house defrosting, Dani’s eyes glassed with tears.
“Thank God,” she’d whispered, taking Tucker off me and holding him tight, like he’d been the one to go missing or something.
I figured asking her when she was on the verge of weeping onto her son’s shoulder was not the best moment.
And it’s probably not the best moment now either. We’re both exhausted. Tucker is so over traveling, I’m worried he’s going to have a full-blown meltdown on this flight, but thankfully it’s only an hour. We can survive anything for an hour, right?
Shuffling down the aisle, I stow the bags for what has to be the last time in a while. I swear, I’m over this. I just want to stay on solid ground for a change.
And Dani must sense this as I plunk into my seat with a sigh and buckle up. My legs are protesting already. I stretch one out into the aisle, nearly tripping up a poor guy.
“Sorry,” I murmur, lifting my hand in apology and tucking my foot under the seat in front of me.
“Last flight, baby,” Dani whispers, and I think she’s talking to Tucker until I glance right and notice she’s smiling at me.
I give her a rueful grin, and she laughs.
“This has been worse than usual, but we’re gonna make it. You called the car rental place, right?”
“Yep. The car is ready and waiting for us.”
“Excellent.” Dani checks her phone. “We should be walking in their door in about three and a half hours, then.”
“Depending on how quickly our luggage comes through… and traffic out of Denver.” It’ll probably be closer to four and a half hours, but I don’t want to say it.
I nestle my head back, then grin when Tucker looks up at me.
His eyes are so wide and curious, they almost look too big for his face.
He responds to my smile with a gummy grin, letting out that adorable giggle of his and shaking his head before leaning into Dani’s chest and rubbing his nose all over her shirt.
Popping back up, he looks at me with another smile—Was that funny, Dad? Should I do it again?
I laugh at him and he goes back to his head-shaking, nosedive routine, repeating it three more times while I softly laugh. Hilarious.
Man, Cyrus is gonna flip when he sees his little nephew.
The kid has grown so much since we were home last, and his personality is coming through more and more.
When Tucker was first born, my younger brother bawled like a baby.
He couldn’t get enough of the little dude, and I know the second we arrive back in Texas, he’s going to be transfixed by his nephew.
Texas.
We really need to get back there.
Dani and I had only really been planning up to this weekend, but we should probably start thinking over the next few months now.
As we buckle Tucker into his special baby seat belt, I mention it to Dani. “After this weekend, we should probably head to Colorado Springs. Check in with your parents, then do the rounds. I’ll have to go see my family soon.”
“Yeah, definitely.” Dani nods, soothing Tucker as he starts to fuss at the restraint around his waist. “It’s all right, baby. Just chill for takeoff, okay?”
“We could map out a road trip.”
“I’d like to get to New York too. Tobin and Jed are dying to see us. They won’t forgive me if I get to everyone but them.”
“We can do New York.” I nod. “Although I don’t want to be sleeping on that shitty pullout couch of theirs. That thing is a backbreaker.”
Dani snorts and laughs. “I know. I’ll have to see if Jed can put us up in his uncle’s new hotel.”
I shake my head. “Man, that guy’s doing good, right? From a fancy-ass bar to a freaking hotel.”
“I’m so happy for him. He’s killing it.”
“And Tobin’s in heaven because he got to be a part of the design team for the rooms.”
Dani grins at me. “He really is in his element. I can’t believe he didn’t study interior design at school.”
“It’s funny how that can happen. You spend four, sometimes more, years getting a degree, and then life takes you in another direction and you don’t end up using it.”
“The main thing is that he’s happy, and thanks to that hotel gig, he’s now picking up jobs all over the place.”
I take Tucker’s hand, letting him wrap his little digits around my finger and trying to distract him as the flight attendant runs through the safety briefing. I’ve seen these things so many times now, I know it by heart.
The second they’re done and start walking down the aisle for the final pre-takeoff checks, Dani turns to me and asks, “So… are you serious about wanting to stay stateside for a while? Really settle down?”
I glance at my woman, surprised she’s bringing it up. I wasn’t sure how keen she was, and now she’s opening the perfect door for me to ask my big question.
“Well… yeah.” I nod. “How do you feel about it?”
She sighs, resting her head back and staring at the seat in front of her.
“I’ve been mulling it over ever since you mentioned it, and…
I think you’re right. I think Tucker needs some stability and routine.
And if we have any more kids, it’ll be nice for them to not be carted around the world constantly.
But…” She holds up her finger. “I still want a decent trip every year.”
“Definitely,” I agree. “I want our kids to grow up seeing the world. We’ll just have to live on a dime and save our pennies each year so we can make it happen.”
She nods, her lips twitching with a smile before it drops into a worried frown. “But where are we gonna live? Do we go for Dallas to be near your family or Colorado Springs to be near mine? Or do we base ourselves in New York… or go for somewhere closer to Satch and Wily or Sienna and Zander or—”
I rest my hand over hers. “As long as I’m near you, I don’t care where we live.” I finish with a grin and a wink.
Her laughter is sweet. “You better be near me, boy. I will hunt you down.”
I laugh, resting my head back while the plane finishes its initial ascent and starts to level out. Tucker’s now sucking on my fingertip, happily distracted, and I turn in my seat as best I can.
It’s awkward and cramped and probably the least romantic moment to do this. But it’s also Valentine’s Day and… shit, I have to ask.
“Hey, Dani Girl.”
“Yes.” She gives me one of her mushy, affectionate smiles.
Those brown eyes of hers are so damn beautiful. I get lost in them so easily, and they’re drawing me in right now.
She thinks I’m about to kiss her, but I can’t just yet.
Because…
Because I have to ask.
“Will you marry me?”
The words slip out, and it’s the easiest thing I’ve ever said.
Her head jolts back and she blinks at me for a second. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.” I nod, my heart starting to thrum as I quickly explain myself.
“I know we’ve always been happy as we are.
We don’t need to get married. We didn’t want the expense of a big wedding or anything, so I’ve never asked.
But baby… big wedding or not, I just want you to be my wife.
You don’t have to take my last name or anything.
I just…” My tongue ducks out to lick my lower lip as this swell of emotion rises through me.
“I want to be legally bound to you. I know we don’t need that, but I want it. I want to introduce you as my wife.”
Her eyes glass over, the smile on her face a perfect snapshot of just how much she loves me.
Damn. I am one lucky man.
“I wouldn’t mind introducing you as my husband either.”
My lips twitch, this burst of joy exploding inside me. “So… that’s a yes?”
“That is most definitely a yes.” She laughs, leaning forward to kiss me.
I meet her lips, cupping the side of her neck and closing my eyes to fully focus on this moment. I want to dive deep, to make out with her, but…
“She said yes!” the woman sitting next to Dani says loudly.
We pull apart from each other and blink at the lady, who apologizes but is obviously not sorry at all.
Calling out over our heads, she tells the entire freaking cabin, “He just proposed, and she said yes!”
A cheer goes up around us, people turning in their seats to congratulate us.
“And on Valentine’s Day!” someone shouts from a few rows back. “Nice one, dude!”
“Uh… thanks?” I call back, but I’m not sure he hears me.
Dani starts laughing as more people cheer, and then Tucker gets in on the action, clapping his little hands and squealing with delight.
The woman beside us melts into a puddle as she interacts with our little boy.
Dani lets out another little laugh, resting her forehead against my shoulder.
I kiss the top of her head.
“Thanks for saying yes, baby. I’ll need to get you a ring or—”
“I don’t need a ring.” Her head pops up and she smiles at me. “At least nothing fancy. I don’t want some big diamond. Let’s get tattoos or something instead.”
I nod. “I like that.”
“Good.” She grins and kisses me again.
“Oh, here, let me take him so you two can kiss properly.”
Dani hands Tucker over, and the lady takes our son, making him grin and giggle while I cup Dani’s cheek and kiss her properly.
As her tongue slides against mine, I can’t help grinning against her lips.
We’re engaged!
This woman’s gonna become my wife, and we’re gonna make a home here, settle down, raise a family. I never thought I’d be ready to do that.
But I finally am.
Because of her.
Because of Tuck.
Because it’s time.