Epilogue
Nash pulled up in front of the pizza place. Davey turned to face him. “Dad. Are you going to propose to Addison one of these days?”
Nash’s brows rose. “Well, I was going to talk to you about that.”
“What? You need me to ask her to marry you? Really, Dad. Do I have to do everything for you?” Davey smirked.
“Hilarious. No, I just wanted to make sure you would be alright with it.” Nash and Addison had been dating for almost a year. He was more than ready to pop the question.
Davey rolled his eyes. “Of course. Addison’s the best. All the guys are jealous.”
“Jealous?” Nash couldn’t blame his son’s friends. Not only was Addison a knockout, but she came to his sports events and even bought the basketball team pizza after they won against their biggest rivals.
“If you don’t ask her, I will.”
Nash laughed. “Are you trying to steal my woman?”
“No, but I love her.”
Nash’s brow shot up to his hairline.
“Not like that. She’d be a great stepmom.”
She really would.
Nash ruffled his son’s hair. “Relax. I’ll take care of it.”
“Okay, but don’t take too long.” Davey slipped out of the car before his dad could mess up his hair anymore.
Nash locked the car. He patted the box in his pocket.
Getting Davey’s approval was the last thing checked off his list before he could propose to Addison.
Last weekend, his mom had given him his grandmother’s ring.
Grammy had passed away two years ago. She had left it to his mother with instructions to pass it down when the time was right.
Now, it was burning a hole in his pocket. What the hell made him bring it tonight, he didn’t know. It was pizza and beer with friends. Not the most romantic place to pop the question. Chances are it wouldn’t make it out of his pocket tonight. But he liked to be prepared.
Inside, Leon and Trish were at the corner table with Cade and Laney. The boys were hovering by the air hockey table in the back.
Nash sat.
Sawyer opened the door, and Marti hustled in ahead of him. “Hey, glad to see I’m not the last one.”
“You know that’s Addison’s job.” Laney poured her friend a beer from the pitcher in the middle of the table.
“I thought she’d be coming with you.” She looked at Nash.
“She had something with her mom tonight and said she’d meet me here.
” He checked his phone. A blue dot with her name moved on the app.
Since the incident last summer, he hadn’t let her out of his sight for long.
She’d agreed to use the tracking app. Secretly, he knew she liked to check up on his whereabouts as well. “She’ll be here soon.”
A minute later, Addison sashayed through the door like it was a five-star restaurant and not the local, small-town pizza joint.
She slipped into a chair beside him and locked her fingers with his. A now familiar heat worked its way up his arm and settled in his chest.
She leaned in, resting their joined hands on his thigh. Nash jumped. Shit. Another inch and she’d be touching the little velvet box in his pocket.
“Want pepperoni or supreme?” He covered his shift by reaching for the menu.
“Either’s good.” She squinted.
Shit, play it cool, Steele.
“Hey, check it out. Look what I got from the claw machine.” One of the twins held up a squishy ball.
“That’s cool. What did you get, Davey?” By the look on his son’s face, Nash was sure it wasn’t as cool.
“This.” Davey pulled his hand from behind his back. A glittery plastic tiara dangled from his fingers.
“Hey, that suits you.” Cade chuckled.
“Funny, Uncle Cade. I was going to give it to Addison.” He held it out to her.
“Aw, thanks. I love it.” She took the plastic toy with all the care of a diamond-encrusted headpiece, inspected the craftsmanship of the stamped piece, and with the practiced regality of a pageant queen, placed it on her head. “This is a beauty.”
“No, you are.” The words slipped from Nash’s lips.
Her eyes sparkled, and her smile lit his soul.
Now! Something in Nash screamed the word. This was it. No candlelit dinner. No quiet night at home. No. Surrounded by their family and friends, this was the right time.
Nash dropped to his knees.
Addison’s intake of air could be heard across the table. “Nash?”
“Addison Benedict.” He pulled the box from his pocket.
She held her breath.
“Will you be my queen? My partner? My wife?”
Air slipped from her lips as they turned up in a bright smile that eclipsed all the fluorescent lights. “You really know how to sweep a girl off her feet.”
“Is that a yes?” He opened the box. His grandmother’s emerald and diamond ring flashed in the velvet.
Her gaze never wavered from his. “Yes.”
He took her hand and slipped the ring onto her finger.
Now she looked at it. Turning her hand, she watched the light catch the facets. “It’s perfect.” Tears misted in her eyes as they locked with his again. “Just like you.”