Page 45 of Keeping Score

“Thanks, Cass,” I sighed in relief. “Now, about Maggie—”

She looked up at me nervously, apparently expecting the worst. I fought a laugh, glad that I saved the Maggie news for last. I was pretty sure that would be a more uplifting note to end the night with.

“I’m going to propose,” I dropped the bomb, and before I even finished uttering the sentiment, Cassie was jumping to her feet and squealing.

“Shhhh,” I grabbed her lightly by the wrist, pulling her back down to her seat. “You’re going to wake Lily up.”

“Good!” she exclaimed. “We should all celebrate!”

“Not yet,” I told her. “It’s still a secret.”

“How are you going to do it?” she asked. “When are you going to do it? Can I be there when you do it?”

“I haven’t figured out the details yet. The idea sort of just hit me earlier and I just knew it was the right thing to do.”

I shook my head, clarifying.

“I mean, I know Maggie still has a few more things she wants to accomplish, and I know I’m still traveling a lot for work and it’s hard for her to travel with me,” I said, listing off a few of the reasons why Maggie had wanted to wait in the past. “But I realized, I don’t care.”

“You don’t?”

“I mean, I care. But I don’t think it’s a reason to wait anymore. There’s always going to be a million reasons why the timing isn’t exactly perfect, but sometimes you just have to jump anyway. Right?”

Cassie responded with a face-encompassing grin that let me know she was on the same page as me.

“So,” I smirked at her, “do you want to help me plan out the most epic proposal, or what?”

Her answer came in the form of another ear-piercing squeal.

Blessings

Brody

Five Years Ago

“So, what’s going on with you and blondie?” I asked Liam in the locker room after a game.

He stared at me, face ridden with disapproval.

A lesser man might’ve withered under his gaze, but I knew Liam too well to be anything but amused at his overt display of irritation.

“You rush home to get to her. You’re always texting her when we’re away. You’re always thinking about her when you aren’t with her—”

“How the hell would you know what I’m thinking about?”

“And don’t think I haven’t noticed the way that scowl disappears whenever she’s in a fifty-foot radius.”

He shook his head, muttering a curse under his breath.

“So, I ask again, what’s going on with you and blondie?”

“What’s going on with you and my sister?” he retorted, arching a brow as if that would deter me.

“Hopefully a lot.” I grinned cheekily.

He rolled his eyes. “Well, that backfired.”

“It did,” I agreed. “Because unlike you, I don’t have any issue admitting how crazy I am about the girl I’m seeing.”