Page 3 of I Choose You

Then what’d you invite us over for?

“Already started, huh?” Dad asked, gesturing at the bottle in Kody’s hand as we reached the kitchen. “Kaden, help yourself. You’re just in time for the big announcement.” He released Kody, and I followed them both through the kitchen and summer room to the sliding glass doors that opened to the backyard.

What big announcement?

As he slid open the partition and we filed outside, I realized more guests had already arrived and found themselves beverages.

It wasn’t a party. And Margaux wasn’t a guest. The term seemed too formal for her since she spent so much time here with my father. She looked like she belonged, relaxing near the pool as she chatted with her daughter. They must have parked near the garages, off to the side, just as I’d thought.

“Here,” Kody said. He passed back my beer and grabbed a new one from the outdoor kitchen.

“What’s up, Dad?” he asked, trailing after him.

He was already ahead, reaching for Margaux’s hand. Her smile was tender. She beamed at him with something that looked less like adoration and more like love.

If he’s not dying and he’s not retiring, what else could he announce?

“Hi, Kaden.” The young woman smiled at me, seeming displaced since her mother left her mid-conversation to go toward my dad. “Hey, Kody.” She lost the smile and simply greeted him in a polite tone.

“Hey Marissa,” Kody replied, lifting his drink and putting all the charm in his smile.

I elbowed him hard. “Mercedes.” The guy was such a dick about names. He’d always been terrible at remembering them, but especially so with women. “Hi,” I told her. “How are you?”

“I’m all right but kind of wondering why Mom asked me to come here tonight.” She was quick to smile. “It’s a lovely home, but…” She shrugged.

Her cluelessness made this whole thing even more bizarre. I’d only spoken to her a couple of times—enough to remember her damn name—but it seemed weird that Margaux wouldn’t have given her daughter a reason for tonight.

“Kaden, Kody,” Dad started. He held Margaux’s hand, grinning at her.

She cast a quick smile at Mercedes.

“I asked you over tonight to let you know I’ve asked Margaux to be my wife.” He kissed her hand and lifted it, showing an enormous ring that glittered in the sinking sunshine.

Mercedes drew in a sharp breath of shock.

What?

I turned to Kody. He sprayed out the mouthful of beer and his eyes went wide.

My jaw hung open as I stared at the future Mr. and Mrs. Wagner.

What in the actual fuck is going on?

2

BROOKE

I hate Mondays.

At the first beep of my alarm clock, I trudged out of bed. It didn’t matter what day of the week it was or how much I might loathe it, I hauled my ass out of the comfy sheets. I gave up that coziness bright and early six days a week to stick to my schedule.

My “regime” as my mom liked to refer to it.

Or the “obsession” as my BFF Rena would call it. I doubted she’d had the past I suffered through. And I knew my mom was trying to look at the silver lining of her almost OCD daughter for sticking to such a schedule. She’d see it as a sign of planning, not an addiction.

I didn’t care what either of them said—and their opinions were the only ones I’d ever care about—but I considered it a “routine” I’d never give up.

First up, spin. I liked to alternate my cardio and strength-training days, but lately, I’d stuck to mixing both up every day, never slacking. I couldn’t slack. After a shitty time in high school, I’d learned how to embrace the lifestyle changes that would prevent me from ever being called ugly, fat, or gross again.