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He shrugs. “Not really. Sometimes, I guess. But I’m having too much fun to really care. I’ll know when the girl comes around, right?”
“Yeah, you’ll know. When she’s the one, the world shifts and becomes brighter. It’s like peeling away a film that’s been over your eyes for your entire life. Suddenly, everything is so much clearer.”
“I can’t fucking wait for that.”
I rub my palm over my chest and stare out the small window at the black sky. “When you meet her, don’t let her go. Keep her forever. Put her at the centre of your universe, and do everything you can to keep her there because I can promise you that you’ll hate yourself if you lose her.”
“Find the girl and keep the girl. Got it.”
I shake my head, my lips tugging up at the corners. “Exactly.”
“You should start a love blog or something. I think a lot of guys would take notes.”
“I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not.”
“Nah, I’m serious. I respect you for being so down for one girl. I guess it makes sense now why I’ve never really seen you with anyone else. Rory was the only girl you’ve dated, and that wasn’t anything special. No offense.”
I stifle a laugh. “None taken. I know what you mean.”
“But hey, like you said. When you know, you know. I expect to be invited to the wedding.”
I don’t bother telling him to back up because there’s no doubt in my mind I’m going to marry this girl.
“Bring a good plus one, yeah?”
He grins. “Only the best for you, baby.”
32
BRAXTON
“To Maddox,the Warriors, and their second-round victory!” Cooper cheers, lifting his beer bottle above the empty serving plates on the table. I tap the bottle with the belly of my wine glass before Maddox clinks it with his can of diet Coke.
“To my man taking home the Stanley Cup this year,” I say, looking over at him beside me. Our eyes meet, and his grin makes my heart skip.
Our chairs couldn’t be any closer together, but as he uses the arm he’s planted on my shoulders to give me a soft squeeze, I wish they could.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Curly. There’s still a lot of work left to do,” he says, but I know he’s just as excited about his second-round win as I am.
Cooper sets his beer down on the table and pats his stomach. The baby blue button-down he’s wearing is still as loose as ever over his slim figure, but the action makes me giggle regardless.
“It’s work you’re ready and willing to put in, Maddox. Celebrate a little. I promise it won’t kill you.” He drags the back of his fork over the rest of the mashed potatoes on his plate before licking it off. “You keep playing how you’re playing, and I’ll keep coming over and eating Braxton’s cooking to celebrate.”
“You can come over anytime. Celebrating or not,” Maddox replies.
“Yes. Please. I missed this,” I add.
Maddox flexes his fingers on my bare arm, and I lean into him. “When’s the last time we were all together like this?”
“Not since before the two of you graduated high school. Probably in the treehouse,” Cooper says.
I blow out a long breath. “That feels like a lifetime ago.”
“It’s been almost a decade.” Cooper takes a long drink of his beer and groans, “I feel really old now.”
“We’re getting there,” I note. “At least, that’s how it feels.”
“Being around Adalyn makes me feel ancient,” Maddox grunts. “How am I old enough to have an eighteen-year-old sister?”
