He cried a little, mostly out of joy, before pulling out a ring he had kept with him for over twenty years. It was the ring he was going to propose to Miller’s mom with, but never got the chance to.
When he asked if I wanted to use it, there wasn’t a moment of hesitation when I told him yes. This ring is not only beautiful and unique, but it’ll mean more to her than any ring I could buy from a jeweler.
My hands are a little shaky with nerves as I take it from him but when I pop the lid, an overwhelming calm washes over me, knowing how right this is, knowing how much our family belongs together.
I was tempted to propose the second she came back, but with so many life changes happening for her at once, I decided to wait. Until today.
“It’s beautiful, Monty.”
“It’s going to look beautiful on her. Her mom would be so proud of her.”
Glancing up, I find Monty with shiny brown eyes, staring at the ring box in my hands.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me using this?”
“I’m positive. It’ll mean so much more to see it on her finger instead of it living in that box the way it has for so long.”
Swinging an arm over him, I pull him into a hug. “Thank you. Not just for the ring, but for . . . everything.”
He hugs me back. “I love you, Kai, you know that. And I love your son.”
“Your grandson, you mean?” I ask in a teasing tone.
“I swear to God if you start calling me Grandpa at work, I will kick your ass. But yeah, I love my grandson too, and I’m happy you’re finally making this all official.”
“To Max turning two.” Ryan holds his beer out to cheers with mine.
“To Kai and Miller,” Zanders corrects. “For keeping him alive.”
“Yeah, well we’ve got a pretty good support system behind us.”
The backyard is full of our friends, including the team staff and Miller’s employees from the bakery. The only people missing are the guys from the team, most notably, my brother.
Every year before the season starts, the team takes a trip together. They like to say it’s for bonding purposes when in reality, it’s an excuse to spend a few days drunk by a pool. This year they chose Vegas and, though Isaiah begged me to come, I made the very easy decision to stay home with my family.
With the season starting in a couple of weeks, I want to soak in as much time at home as possible. Max and Miller won’t be traveling with us this year. With Miller’s business taking off and Max getting older, it’s time to transition him away from my hectic schedule.
The two of them will, however, come join us on the road for a night or two every month and that feels like a good enough compromise until I can be home full-time with them. And Miller’s office at the bakery can double as a playroom so Max can spend time with her there. Between the two of us and the friends who have offered to help us fill in any gaps in our schedule, I don’t think Max will ever need another full-time nanny.
Ryan looks around the party. “Miller’s really stepping into this whole new mom role, huh?”
I find her sitting on a blanket with Stevie and Indy, baby Taylor laying on her back with Max watching his new friend adoringly from above.
The crew is growing and I’m excited for Max that he won’t be the lone kid around here anymore.
“Dude, she loves it. It’s wild to me that just six months ago, she thought she wouldn’t be good at it. She’s a natural, and every time I see her with Max, I get hit with the craziest baby fever.” I shake my head. “I want to knock her up so badly.”
“Yes,” Zanders agrees. “Watching Stevie be a mom over the past four months is seriously one of the most attractive things I’ve ever witnessed.”
We both turn towards Ryan, who is attempting to suppress his smile. He’s going to understand how we feel real soon because they just found out Indy is pregnant.
He nudges me. “When are you and Miller going to have another?”
“I’m ready, but she’s so busy with work and everything that we agreed we’d try once I officially retire.”
“Stay-at-home dad.” Zanders nods in approval. “Sounds amazing.”
“I can’t wait.”
The truth is, in theory Miller and I are going to wait, but we aren’t doing much to prevent it from happening now either. So, if we get hit with a surprise pregnancy, it won’t be much of a surprise at all. And there isn’t a person on the planet who could change my mind. I will be retiring once baby number two is here.
A bit of noise comes from inside the house, and I turn to find my entire team finally here to join the party.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell my friends. “I need to go check on my brother.”
I welcome my teammates, pointing them in the direction of the food and drinks, before I make my way to the front entryway where Cody, Travis, and Isaiah seem to be having a private conversation.
“What’s going on?” I ask, my tone suspicious. “And why are you guys so late?”
The three of them look to each other, silently communicating.
“Your brother is an idiot,” Travis finally says.
“Trav, what the hell?” Isaiah shoots him a warning glance. “We agreed not to say anything today.”
Travis simply shrugs.
“I don’t know,” Cody cuts in. “I think the whole thing is romantic.”
“It’s not romantic,” Travis corrects. “It was a drunken mistake. A very dumb, drunken mistake.”
Confused, my attention bounces between all three of them. “What the hell are you guys talking about?”
Travis looks right at my brother. “Just tell him.”
Isaiah plasters on a smile that is so forced, it’s clear he’s trying to convince me I shouldn’t be mad at him.
Then he holds up his left hand so I can see the wedding band living on his ring finger.
“What the fuck is that?”
“It’s a wedding ring because . . . surprise! I got married!”
“You what?”
“Got hitched. Tied the knot. Took the plunge.”
“I understand what it means to get married, Isaiah, but who the fuck did you get married to?”
“Oh, I love this part!” Cody pipes up.
Isaiah’s smile is equal parts sheepish as it is thrilled. “Kennedy.”
“Kennedy?” I ask in disbelief. “Kennedy Kay?”
“Kennedy Rhodes as of last night, but yes.”
“But she . . .” I stutter. “She hates you.”
“Well, you see about that. Turns out, after about eight shots of tequila, she doesn’t hate me all that much.”
I look back to the other guys, waiting for someone to tell me this is one big joke, one of their stupid pranks they like to pull.
It’s evident by their expressions, it’s not a prank.
“Wait, what? You’re telling me Kennedy went to Vegas with you guys? She never goes out with the team.”
“She was there for a different reason. We ran into each other on the strip.”
“And you got married?”
“Yeah, we were both a little surprised over that part when we woke up this morning too.”
“Kennedy will lose her job over this.”
Isaiah quickly shakes his head. “She won’t.”
“You need to get this annulled and just pray that team management doesn’t find out about this, because if they do, I can promise one of you is getting fired and we all know that someone isn’t going to be you.” I shake my head in disbelief. “I assume she’s not coming to the party anymore.”
“Probably not.”
“I don’t know what’s more unbelievable,” Cody laughs. “That Kennedy married you or that Dean fucking Cartwright is now your brother-in-law.”
“Oh fuck me.”
“Kai!” Miller calls from the backyard, Max’s hand in hers. “Are you ready for cake?”
I turn back to my brother. “Take the fucking ring off before you go sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to your nephew. Miller can’t find out about this today. I’m proposing tonight and the last thing I need is for my brother to steal her thunder over a drunken mistake.”
“Mistake seems harsh,” he counters. “I like the term, ‘happy accident’.”
“Is that what Kennedy is calling it?”