“Well,” Makenna says flatly. “Are you going to just stand there or are you going to come in and explain yourself?”
Classic Makenna. No time for pleasantries, apparently.
I walk in slowly, my palms somehow even sweatier than before, as I approach what can only be described as the Alexander equivalent of a courtroom.
Presiding judge: Makenna Alexander.
I didn’t realize I’d need a damn defense attorney.
Truth be told, I’ve never felt more unworthy in my life. But I’m not walking away without trying.
Makenna doesn’t waste any time. She’s probably been planning this moment since she got on the plane to come here.
“You’ve got the floor,” she says, crossing her legs in her chair like she’s settling in. “Make it count.”
I let out a slow breath, trying to steady myself.
“I know I’m probably not your favorite person right now,” I say. “Hell, I’m not even my own. I’m not going to make excuses, because I know they don’t matter.She’swhat matters.”
They say nothing, but the look in their eyes demands more.
“I know how bad I messed this up,” I continue. “I knew long before I got the call about the accident. I shouldn’t have put her through that. I was stupid, stubborn, and selfish… scared out of my mind. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her, if she lets me.”
Macy looks at me, arms still folded. “You could’ve called her. Could’ve saved all of us a lot of heartbreak.”
“I wanted to,” I admit. “I picked up the phone a hundred times. And talked myself out of it a hundred more—because I hadn’t heard from her either. But that’s on me. I told her I needed space. She was just doing what I asked. I should’ve called. Iregretthat I didn’t.”
I look at each of them, then lock eyes with Rebekah.
“She’s the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me. When I found out I almost lost her and she almost died trying to come home to me, that was it. I didn’t want there to be any more confusion.”
I reach into my pocket and pull out the velvet box, holding it steady in my palm.
“I love your daughter,” I say. “I want to marry her. Not because I almost lost her. Because I finally found her, and I never want to let go.”
“Oh, good grief,” Makenna groans, dragging her hands down her face. “Do you just propose to everyone? Didn’t you just get out of a marriage? Is this how you fix things?”
It takes everything I have not to rip into her.
I clench my jaw, letting the silence stretch long enough to swallow the first dozen responses I have before I look her right in the eye.
“No,” I say, my voice steady. “That’s how I messed things up. I was young and stupid when I married my ex. I asked the wrong person, for the wrong reasons, because I thought it was the rightthing to do at the time. I’m not going to let one broken choice from my past stop me from making the right one now.”
She doesn’t respond at first.
But something in her eyes flickers—just briefly. Like maybe she’s expecting me to blow up. Or give up. And I do neither.
“Let me say it for you,” I continue before she can intervene. “You think I’m still young and stupid. You think this is reckless. But we’re the same age, Makenna. It may not look like it from the outside, but I’ve lived a hell of a lot of life the past twelve years.”
I take a breath, letting it settle in.
“I love your sister, and I’ll never stop protecting her. Just like you.”
A beat passes.
Then Macy shifts, speaking softly. “Kenna, I think you can let him off the hook now.”
Makenna doesn’t melt. It doesn’t make her instantly love me. But something in her face relaxes.
