Page 61 of Hard to Love

Once everyone is settled in, we fill Chord’s living room. With One and Lea’s brood, we’re as big as a football team. Thayer smiles sweetly, nodding at me to take the floor. She has no idea what I’m about to do.

“So to the big questions. Yes, we’re back together.” A thunderous sound of happiness and good wishes fills the room. “I need to find a home because Thayer has agreed to marry me.” Gasps sound as a collective sigh is released. But when I turn and drop to my knee, Thayer just about falls from her seat.

“What. Are. You. Doing?” Her breath catches as she lays her hand on her chest.

“Umm, I need your hand,” I smirk at her as she begins to cry, wiping away her tears. I tell her, “No, baby. That time is over.”

“Okay,” she whispers.

“I bought this before Lea and One’s wedding. I’d planned to whisk you away down to the beach for this. But as we sit here in this room with our family, I couldn’t think of a better time. You owned me from the minute you walked into the room in Clemson. I was no longer living for just me. You’re my home. My forever. Please, I know you answered this earlier, but I didn’t have your ring. Please, be my wife?” I’ve never seen Thayer cry as much as she has today.

“Of course, you adorable, perfect man.” She throws her arms around me, and I pick her up, kissing her breathless.

“So why couldn’t you get to it earlier? You’ve been together all day.” Chord has a stupid-ass grin on his face until One punches him. “Hey, you better stop. Mom.” Chord turns to Elise for help.

“Too late, Chord. One and Lea gave me grandchildren; you’re no longer the baby.” Laughter echoes through the house.

“About that, Mom. Lea and I are happy to say….” Everyone’s eyes bug from their sockets. “I’m kidding, people.” Laughter carries through the house.

“I do have one thing,” Lea speaks up.

“You have the floor.” Cal motions to her. She winks at him; he loves that girl.

“I have a confession. Yes, One wants me barefoot and pregnant until I’m fifty. It’s a thought. No really. Hardy, when you put your house up for sale, I couldn’t let it leave the family. Thayer had said more than once she wanted to raise your family there. So in this envelope, you’ll find three sets of keys. Two for your house. She’s packed already; no sense in unpacking until you’re moved. The other is from your best friend. Who you know doesn’t need another reason to call you brother and mean it.” She tosses the envelope over to me.

Opening it, I do find two sets of house keys. Two actual tiny houses with mister and missus wrote on them. Thayer sniffles as she lays her head on my shoulder. As the third set slides from the package, my eyes go blurry with unshed tears.

A set of Ford Mustang keys hit my palm, taking me by surprise. When my chest begins to heave, Thayer reaches over, wrapping her hand around mine, squeezing it shut.

“You, uh, you bought my house and car? For me, us?” Looking up at them, there’s not a dry eye in the house.

“Of course, we did,” One answers calmly.

“But how did you know I’d be back?” His eyes shift to his sister and back to mine.

“I’ve got a woman just like her; no one leaves that for long.” Lea kisses his cheek as the arm he has around her grips her shoulder.

“I couldn’t agree more.” Cal kisses Elise on the hand.

“I’ll repay you. Every penny.”

“When you can, it’s all good, brother.” Leaning forward, he fist bumps me.

My gaze returns to Thayer. The look of adoration on her face is nothing new when she looks at her brothers and father, but she’s looking at me. This amazing woman, strong and stubborn in every way, is full of adoration for me. Looking in her eyes, all I see is love.

We eat. We visit. We enjoy each other as only family can because that’s what we are—family. A little later, One, Lea, and their children all leave. Cal and Elise follow behind them shortly after. Chord is on the phone with a detective, his high school sweetheart, Sutton, disappeared years ago, but he still keeps looking for her.

We plan to stay here at Thayer’s place tonight, seeing as mine has nothing in it. Thayer has everything we need already, so we won’t need much to fill my old home. Definitely a new bed, more giant. Smiling at the thought, I chuckle, which gets her attention.

“What?” She glances over at me.

“Just thinking of everything we need.” I narrow my eyes at her.

“Like what? I have everything; I mean, we could get a few things, I guess.” She looks at me full on.

“A new king-size bed. I want to fuck you in every position possible.” I watch her out of the corner of my eye and see her smile.

“Well, me too.” Sliding closer to me, she lays her hand on my thigh.