“Probably not.” She giggles.
It’s fucking adorable.
“I've never been good at doing things the right way,” I admit. “I’m better at messing things up. I’ve never been in a relationship or committed to anything but the patch on my chest. I don't know what a family is supposed to look like outside of the one I have with my club. But then you came along and surprised me.”
I kiss the back of her hand again because I can’t help it. One kiss, and I need another. One touch, and I want to never take my hands off her.
“Even before I found out about Charlie, you changed everything for me. One night, and I couldn’t get you out of my head. So if you think this is just temporary—that I’m going to kick you out once your uncle is dealt with—you’re wrong. You're not an obligation. You’re my reason for everything. You’re—” I stop short of sayingminebecause I still don't know that that's what she wants to be yet.
“I don't know what we're doing,” I say. “But for you and Charlie, I want to try. The second I found out your uncle planned to marry you to another man, I pretty much lost my mind because if you’re going to marry anyone, it’s going to be me. I don’t know how or why we found each other, but we did for a reason, and I’m not letting you go.”
Tears brim in the corner of her eyes. Hope and fear stir in her gaze, and I know I'm making a complete mess of this speech. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never had a girlfriend, but I need Emery in my life more than I need my club.
This is sudden. It's reckless.
Steel’s probably going to be pissed because marrying Emery skips me getting approval to make her my old lady, but I don’t give a fuck.
"Will you marry me?"
Emery rolls her lips between her teeth, thinking that over. Her pause might as well be a lifetime. I’m on the edge waiting for her to give me the world or take it away.Her palm is sweaty, gripping mine, but I don’t mind. She’s perfect.
“You meant it—everything you said?”
“Until my dying breath.”
She smiles, but her eyes narrow. “Try not to make that too soon for our daughter’s sake.”
“I’ll try,” I promise.
“Then yes. I’ll marry you, Hayes.”
I shoot to my feet and grab the back of her neck, pressing my lips to hers. Kissing Emery is like coming home. It’s like running straight into the sun because I’m burning up. Her fingers grip my cut, and she pulls me closer, moaning when my tongue grazes her lower lip.
Around us, I hear clapping from those who must have watched us, but I don’t give a fuck whose around because Emery is in my arms.
When we pull apart, Emery’s cheeks are bright pink, and I can’t help but drag my thumb over her freckles. I’m about to kiss her again when the roar of engines cuts through the cheering.
I turn to see Chaos and Venom rolling to a stop behind my truck. It’s rare I drive a truck, but with Emery in a dress, I didn’t have much of a choice.
“Well shit.” Chaos helps Willa off the back of his bike. “Please let me be around when you tell Steel about this later.”
“Does that mean you'll be my best man?” I grin as he approaches.
Chaos smacks my hand and pulls me in for a hug. “Wouldn’t miss this for the whole damn world, brother.”
Venom claps me on the back next. “Congratulations, man.”
“She still has to say I do,” Willa jokes, walking straight past me to Emery.
They hug, whispering so we can’t overhear what they’re saying. By the time they pull apart, they’re both grinning.
“So this is why Tempe has Charlie at her house?” Willa’s gaze darts between us. “The girls are never going to forgive us for not inviting them to this.”
“Like you’re one to talk,” I remind her.
Chaos and Willa eloped while they were traveling the country, so I wasn’t there. I hate weddings, but Chaos is my closest friend, and I expected to be at his. Now, I understand that they had to do what they had to do when the time felt right for them.
“We’ll throw something formal at the clubhouse when the time is right.” I pull Emery to my side. “This is just taking care of business.”
