Page 114 of The Irresistible Distraction

“Brutal,” Brody says, hugging me to him tightly even as he smiles. We stay like that for a moment, and though there’s both more tears and snot than I’d prefer for a proposal story I’d like to one day pass on to grandchildren, it nevertheless feels like an absolutely perfect moment.

It is warm and all-encompassing.

It is somehow simultaneously electrifying and terrifying, the idea that we’re about to embark on a new life together.

Much later, when we’ve cleaned up and tried to get into a more casual footing, I find myself sitting at my ninety-degree angle from Brody. “You have to be better about filling us in on your plans. It can’t just be you deciding. We can go to a voting system where maybe Sebastian gets—” I pause.

“A vote?”

“Maybe a tiebreak,” I allow. “On certain issues.”

Brody nods, all dimples and charisma. “Absolutely,” he claims, as if following these edicts, not being the guy in charge, and not being able to run full tilt at whatever catches his fancy, will be an easy adjustment.

“And no more public declarations.”

“I will try.”

“Brody.”

“I will diligently succeed. Most of the time. Unless my love is overflowing. Or pride, because I mean, it’s nice sometimes, to be able to brag about you and Seba.”

I close my eyes. My guess is, it will always be like this.

He’ll bring all the joy and certainly too much chaos . . . sometimes I’ll be along for the ride, sometimes I’ll set boundaries he’s certain to push against.

“At the very least, you have to warn me when People’s Most Beautiful Women are coming to my diner. You have to discuss it with me before finding Sebastian new tutors.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Brody’s smirk is contagious. Even though I’ve tried to sit farther away, he sneaks in another kiss.

“And even after the bet, I think you should adhere to a monthly allowance.”

This, finally, seems to warrant a reaction. “Like a budget?” He says the word budget the way Adeline said community college, but I can’t help but smile.

“I love the renovations at the diner and I’m not against a vacation every now and again, but Sebastian and I aren’t ever going to be comfortable in a two-story presidential suite. Sometimes I just want . . . something simple. I want to eat strawberries without having to take off the stems.”

“I don’t even understand what that means.”

I shake my head; clearly Brody doesn’t remember. “It’s from the first day you came. Vera made Nutella pancakes and fresh whipped cream and then carefully took the stems off the strawberries.”

Brody looks almost offended. “I’m as capable of removing the stems off my own strawberries as I am of working at the diner.”

“Okay.”

Brody’s face brightens with that boyish excitement, that lovely lopsided grin that I can’t get enough of. Still, his voice is almost tremulous as he asks, “Yeah?”

I smile at Sebastian and Brody, both eager, both waiting on me. “But I’m standing firm on the budget idea. You’re not coming in here and gold-plating the toilets.”

Brody shakes his head. “Too overdone. Solid platinum only.”

“Guys,” Sebastian complains, making it clear he thinks we’re missing something obvious. But he’s smiling as well, so I know it’s okay and that we are, all of us, together, going to be okay. Sebastian’s the one who asks the tough question: “Where will we live?”

“Wherever you want.”

“Okay, first new rule, don’t do that. It’s too flippant of a response.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He doesn’t look the least bit chastened. “Let me try that again. I am most likely stepping back from the law firm, assuming an advisory, part-time capacity, meaning I can live wherever.”

I close my eyes. It would have to be a very strict budget, but . . . we’ve got such a backlog of orders, it could work. “So your plan is to help me sell a lot of cookies?”