“Oh, no. She definitely called it a mistake.”
Miller gets Max situated in a seat with his birthday cake on the table in front of him. He’s got an adorably cute smile on his face, rosy cheeks from all the attention. I get the candle lit for him and make sure he’s enough of a distance away while the entire backyard of our friends start to sing him “Happy Birthday”.
I wrap my arms around Miller’s shoulders from behind, holding her as we sing to our son. He’s so giddy, his blue eyes scanning the crowd to see everyone who loves him.
When the time comes, we prompt him to blow out the candle, but he needs a little help so his uncle steps in to blow it with him and, when they finally get it out, Max sits up straight and claps for himself, urging the crowd to clap with him.
Miller laughs in my arms and I pull her closer.
Leaning down, I kiss the skin under her ear. “You and me, Mills, we’re doing good.”
She finds my forearm, holding me. “Yeah, we are, aren’t we?”
Once the party is cleared out and only our closest friends remain, we let Max open a few gifts as we sit around in a circle and watch him do his thing in the center. Miller is curled up on my lap with a glass of wine in her hand at the end of another one of our good days.
“Wow!” Max exclaims as he pulls out a small wooden train from the gift bag Monty brought. “Twain!”
Every present he’s opened has been revealed with a “Wow” and it has yet to get old.
“I got you a whole train set,” Monty explains. “Your dad and I are going to set it up in your room tomorrow.”
Max gets on his hands and knees, pushing the train around on the ground, making choo-choo noises the entire time.
“It looks like there’s one more present,” Isaiah says, holding up the tiny gift bag.
The nerves instantly take over and I feel my body tense.
Miller looks at me over her shoulder in confusion. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I exhale, shifting in my seat, trying to figure out how I’m going to casually get her off my lap so I can get down on one knee.
Isaiah looks around the bag. “I’m not sure who it’s from, though.”
That seems like a good opening. “Let me see.” I usher Miller off my lap and onto the chair. Taking the bag from my brother, I look inside, pretending I have no idea what this is.
“Max, come here for a second.”
He leaves his train behind, shuffling his way to me.
I hold him close, showing him the inside of the bag before I whisper, “This one is for your mom. Can you go give it to her for me?”
On a mission with a smile, Max takes the bag right to Miller, holding it up for her. “Mama, you.”
“For me?” she asks him. “But it’s your birthday. Why am I getting a present?”
Her confused gaze finds mine, but I simply shrug her off.
“You’ll help me open it, right?” she asks, and Max nods before climbing into her lap.
Miller sets her glass of wine down and holds the bag down in her lap so Max can feel like he’s helping.
I make quick eye contact with both my brother and Monty, the two of them so obviously excited, as I find my way in front of my two favorite people.
“What do you think this is?” Miller asks Max in a high-pitched voice, not quite catching on to what’s in the bag.
That is until her fingers graze the velvet box and her eyes shoot to me. “No.”
I chuckle. “You’re saying no already? I haven’t even asked.”
“Malakai.” She tilts her head, her lip jutting out.
“What is it?” Indy asks from behind me.
Miller pulls out the small box just as I get down on one knee.
“Let’s go!” Ryan cheers.
“Miller Montgomery,” I begin, but she cuts me off before I can continue.
She points at the tear that’s already falling down her face. “I hate you for this.”
“It really wouldn’t be a proper proposal for us without you telling me how much you hate me, huh?”
She laughs that watery laugh, and I carefully take the box from her hand.
“Miller Montgomery—”
“Yes! The answer is yes.”
“Okay,” I chuckle. “Thank you for the vote of confidence but I still got to get this out.”
She hugs our son to her chest, her chin leaning on his head as I make this little speech to both of them.
“I wanted to ask you the second you came back, but I was trying to give you the space to grow into this new life without asking too much of you. But I can’t wait any longer. There’s no one else I want to raise him, and hopefully a few more babies, with. You’re my closest friend and the person I have the most fun with. I love you, Miller, and I’m pretty envious that Max gets to call you Mom because I’d really like the opportunity to call you my wife.”
She huffs a choked laugh.
I open the box and Miller’s eyes dart to her dad when she sees the ring, clearly knowing its original intention.
With her tears falling quicker now, her attention comes right back to me where I’m kneeled in front of her. “What do you say, Mills? Will you marry me?” I glance down at Max. “Us?”
My entire world is looking right back at me, this family I’ve longed for, dreamt for, and the three of us have never felt more complete than when she takes a deep breath, smiles at me, and simply says, “Yes.”
THE END
Acknowledgements
The most important acknowledgment is to you all—the reader. Thank you for reading, sharing, and reviewing my books! You all have given me a career I love, and I am so grateful.
Allyson—I’m pretty sure at this point, you’ll be in every one of my acknowledgment pages, but this one especially. This book truly would not have come to life without you. The constant voice memos, texts, chats, and updated google docs. Thank you for reading all 30 versions of this manuscript and helping it become this story I love. So much of Miller’s development is inspired by you. I’m so grateful to not only have you as one of my best friends, but also someone I get to share this whole writing journey with. Love you so much and I cannot wait to be neighbors with you and Marc. (Life goal unlocked!!) Samantha—my wonderful PA. You’re always there for me with whatever I need, whether that be work stuff or just a moment so I can vent. I appreciate you so much, and I’m so thankful to have you by my side.
Megan— my amazing alpha reader. Thank you so much for all your help and for hyping me up! So appreciative of you!
Erica— book three together! I love having you on my team and working with you is amazing. You’re my first stamp of approval and I’m always eager for your opinions! Looking forward to many more books in the future!
Marc— thank you for the music. I’m so appreciative of your help in making sure the playlists are spot on for each couple. It has been so fun to get to have you and Allyson alongside me during all of this!
Mom— the best baker I know! You’ve passed down your love of baking to me, and I felt it was only fitting to finally have a baker in one of my books. Love you so much!