Page 239 of Barinov

“I’d love to,” I say, a dry smile breaking across my face as I lean against the old bookshelf by the door. “But getting caught with my pants down in my childhood bedroom by our entire extended family is definitely not how I want to remember our graduation party.”

“Suit yourself,” Lex laughs as he helps Bella to her feet.

“Plus,” I add, “Hales and Knox just showed up and they said they have something important to tell us.”

We make it back outside just in time to find most everyone huddled together around Knox and Haley.

“Haley Grace Rosethorne!” Ellie yells from where she’s comfortably perched across Caleb’s lap on one of the outdoor sectionals. “Just tell us what’s going on already.”

Haley’s sage-green eyes find mine as she smiles over at me. “It’s not Rosethorne anymore.”

She slowly lifts her hand.

A collective gasp sweeps across the patio.

An enormous Colombian emerald catches the early-evening sun, throwing flashes of deep forest green across the stone. Two pear shaped diamonds hug either side before melting into a polished golden band cinching around her finger.

“It’s Calder now,” Haley adds.

Ellie shrieks loud enough it scares the birds out of the trees. She launches herself off of Caleb’s lap and up to Haley. Bella screams beside me. Both girls crash into Haley at the same time.

“Oh my God!” Bella laughs, wrapping up Haley in another hug. “When did this—”

“Wait,” Lex interjects, his brow pinched. “You said Calder… as in…” His eyes find Knox. “So you’re not just engaged,” he continues. “You’re—”

“Married,” Knox says, nodding as he steps forward.

The realization of it all must hit my sister at the same time. The excitement washes off of her face, replaced with a hint of anger.

“You got married without us?!” Ellie screams.

“Technically, yes,” Knox says as he pulls Haley into his side.

“But we’re still planning on having a huge party back at my parent’s estate sometime in the fall,” Haley says quickly. “We just…”

“Just what?” I ask, the sting of them getting married without us hits me in a rush I can’t ignore. “What aren’t you saying, Hales?”

Haley sniffles once and says the one name that makes everything clear.

“Gramps,” her voice cracks around the single word.

“Oh,” I whisper.

Knox clears his throat, taking over gently for Haley. “We went to visit her gramps and I realized, what the hell am I waiting for? I’ve had the ring for a while now and planned on popping the question on her birthday in June but…” He rubs the back of Haley’s hand with his thumb like he’s reliving the moment. “Knowing the uncertainty of his condition, I didn’t want to wait any longer. So I talked to her dad and they got the nursing home’s chaplain looped in. I proposed and we had a small ceremony in her Gramps’s room the same day.”

Bella and Ellie wipe the tears from their eyes as they rip Haley out of Knox’s grip and pull her into a tight, emotional hug. The anger completely vanishes from the patio, replaced by a beautiful warmth as Haley finally breaks. She buries her face between them as her sobs break free.

Lex strides over to Knox. “I’m happy for you, brother,” he says, smacking Knox’s shoulder hard enough to knock the guy completely off balance.

Haley pulls away from the girls and steps toward me, a tiny and apologetic look on her face. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to see it, Cade.”

“It’s alright, Hales,” I say, softly stepping into her space and kissing her forehead. “Gramps is the one who needed to.”

“Food’s ready!” Daniel calls out from the grill.

“Bella,” Mom asks gently. “Where is your father?”

Bella swipes at her eye once and pulls out her phone from her back pocket. Her thumb wakes the screen.