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Oh, guess what? Sophie announced a couple weeks ago she and Mason are expecting! Which means I’m officially the only Corrigan sister NOT knocked up. I’m in no hurry, though. Being around them just means double the hormones and double the cravings.
I’ll bring their sonogram pictures when we visit you next month, though I’m sure you don’t care, but I don’t want your wall to be bare. You’ll be Uncle Tyler and love it.
Liam has been working a lot lately. Well, he always works a lot, but more than usual. I think he’s nervous about money and making rent now that we’re out on our own like a bunch of big kids. Though I told him not to stress because I’m getting more hours at the dance studio now that it’s the middle of August. I’d like to save up and eventually open my own studio, but that’s years down the road. Hell, I’m putting it out into the universe. By the time you get out, I’ll have Maddie’s Dance Studio, and you’re going to come visit me, okay?
Even though you say you’re never coming back here because of The Devil and the memories, you can make one exception for your favorite hostage. You did make me eat spicy sausage after all, so you owe me!
In all seriousness, I miss you and your ability to dodge my questions, though you did slip a few times. Like about Gemma ;) I expect you to go back to Alabama and get your woman. No exceptions! I know you’re rolling your eyes at me right now, but I don’t care. I have a sixth sense for these things.
Well, I’ll let you go now. Love you, Ty.
—Maddie
I stuff the letter into an envelope and then seal it. Once I write out the prison’s address I’ve memorized and put our return address sticker on it, I place it on the table to send out later. Tyler was sentenced to federal prison three hours away, so we visit him at least once a month. I wish he was closer so we could go every weekend, but between Liam’s work schedule and getting settled into the apartment, it just isn’t feasible to make the six-hour round trip. We only get thirty minutes of visitation with him, which sucks, but it’s better than nothing.
“Baby, you ready?” Liam asks from the bathroom. I can hear him shoving shit into a bag. He totally surprised me when he told me this morning to pack some clothes and be ready by noon.
It’s eleven fifty-five, and I haven’t packed a thing yet.
“Almost!”
I scramble to the bedroom and see Liam’s duffel bag is full and ready to go. He didn’t tell me where he was taking me, so I have no idea what to bring. I unzip his bag that he’s used for hundreds of work trips and notice it’s starting to fall apart. I really should just buy him a new one and throw this away.
Pulling out his items, I see jeans and button-up shirts. Well, these aren’t helpful. Liam always wears jeans and button-ups.
I wonder if he packed his swim trunks?
Maybe he’s taking us to the beach.
When I don’t find any, I look into the front pockets and then the deep side ones. My fingers brush against something hard, but also…soft? What the hell?
I pull it out and immediately gasp when I realize it’s a velvet box.
Oh my God.
Is he…going to propose?
Blinking, I contemplate what to do as my throat goes dry. If I pretend I didn’t see anything, I’ll be totally obvious, and he’ll think something’s wrong with me. Acting coy isn’t my strong suit.
I should put it back. Yes, put it back, Maddie.
“Mads, where’s your—”
I spin around before he can finish his sentence, and his eyes immediately fly to my shaking fingers.
“Sorry! I wasn’t trying to snoop, I just wanted to see what you packed so I knew what to bring and then I felt something weird, so I pulled it out, and oh my God, I’m sorry.”
Liam chuckles at my ramblings. “It’s fine. I’d rather surprise you with it later, but you can have it now.”
Wait, what? Why is he so calm and cool?
Why isn’t he freaking out with me?
“Huh?”
Liam steps closer and grabs the box from my hand. “It was five years ago this month we first met, and I wanted to take you somewhere special, but then I saw these earrings and thought how beautiful they’d look on you. So I got them too.”
What?
I swallow hard and blink again. “Wow, five years.”
I hold my breath as he opens it and reveals gorgeous sparkling studs. “Blue, to match your stunning eyes.”
Earrings?
“Earrings?” My voice comes out rough. As much as I’m freaking out, I really thought there was an engagement ring in there. Why isn’t he proposing?
What is the man waiting for? Five more years to pass?
