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When Archer and I came back from gathering wood, we found Jordyn and Scarlett sitting on the back porch of the cabin. It’s still warm during the day here in Georgia, growing colder at night. The two of them were laughing and cutting up as if they’d known each other for years. We left them there and headed off to see what we could do to help with dinner.
Speaking of dinner, I’m stuffed. We had burgers and hotdogs on the grill, baked beans, chips, and macaroni salad. It was delicious, but tomorrow night, Orrin is making campfire chili, and damn if my mouth doesn’t water just thinking about it.
Currently, there isn’t a single place I’d rather be. Jordyn is on my lap with her leg propped up on her scooter. There’s a blanket over her to keep the chill of the night air at bay.
I watch as my brothers help their kids roast marshmallows, and I admit I can’t wait until that’s me. I love holding Jordyn in my arms, being here with everyone that I love, but I’m also looking forward to that being me.
Sterling helps Blakely, while Declan handles Beckham. Orrin is laughing at Orion, and Brooks is letting Remi feed him hers, which means he has melted sticky marshmallow all over his face, but he smiles at his daughter, anyway. Deacon offers Brynlee a bite, but she crinkles up her nose, and shakes her head before resting on his shoulder. Caden squeals with laughter when Rushton lets their marshmallow catch on fire.
My brothers are happier than I’ve ever seen them.
I chance a look at Sterling and Archer, and something tells me I’ll be getting more nieces or nephews soon. Hell, maybe if I’m lucky, it will be Jordyn and me who are adding to the Kincaid clan.
Maverick and Merrick are being their goofy selves while roasting marshmallows for the ladies of the family. And the ladies, they all look happy and content. All of them wearing smiles much like Jordyn’s the entire day.
This is what life is about.
Working hard and loving harder.
I always thought I knew what my dad meant by that, but it wasn’t until Jordyn that I truly understood. I can’t help but grin when I think about my little brothers and watching them find their happily ever after. They’re always the loud, funny ones, and it’s hard for me to imagine them settling down, but I know it will happen, and like the rest of my family, we’ll be with both of them every step of the way.
“You need anything?” I ask, my lips next to Jordyn’s ear.
She shakes her head and turns to look at me. “Nothing. I can’t think of a single thing I need that I don’t have right here around this fire.”
“I can think of one thing.”
“Yeah?” There’s disbelief in her tone.
Shifting her on my lap, I reach into my pocket and pull out the ring I bought for her. I don’t make a big to do about it. We’ve already talked about this, and she said yes. The ring? It’s just a symbol of my love for her. Carefully, I slide the ring onto her finger.
“Now,” I say, kissing her temple, “everything is perfect.”
“Bro!” Maverick calls out. “Did you just slip something sparkly on J’s finger?”
“Yep,” I call back.
“What?” Everyone talks at once, and we get several hugs of congratulations.
I see Jordyn wiping at her eyes. “You good, sweets?”
“Better than good. Thank you for loving me, Ryder Kincaid. Thank you for sharing your family with me.” She then turns her face to the fire. “Thank you,” she says, loud enough to capture the attention of our family. “Thank you for helping us get here. For your never-ending support and love. Thank you for being there for Ry when I couldn’t be. Thank you for letting me be a part of this moment.”
“You’re family, sweetheart. That’s what we do,” Mom replies.
“I’ve never had a family. Not one like this.”
“Oh, well, there are plenty of us to go around.” Dad laughs.
“I love you. All of you,” she says, her voice cracking.
Not gonna lie. That’s not the smoke of the fire making my eyes water. I swallow thickly and hold my fiancée tightly as my family returns her sentiment of love. “Engaged by Halloween,” I say to break some of the tension. Halloween is next week; I barely made the cut.
Jordyn sits up straight and pulls her leg from where it rests on the scooter so that she can look at me better. “Married by Veteran’s Day.”
“You trying to steal my thunder, baby?” I tease. My heart is thumping like a drum against my ribs. That’s less than three weeks from now. Three weeks and she will finally be Jordyn Kincaid.
She’ll be mine.
My wife.
“Um, Jordyn,” Alyssa speaks up. “That’s just a little over two weeks away.”
