Page 39 of Blurred Love

“Yes, yes. I’m at Abby’s right now, but I’ll be at your house later.”

“Our house,” he insists. “Are you hanging out with the girls?”

I laugh, happy to just have a normal conversation with him. “Yes, Abby invited all us girls so we wouldn’t be alone.”

“Good. Did you tell them we’re engaged?”

I look inside, and all the women are on the phone. They each have big smiles on their faces. They must be getting word that the guys are coming home. “No, I didn’t tell them. I didn’t know if we’re telling people yet or not.”

He laughs. “Hell, honey, the boys all know. Tell your friends, fuck, tell everyone that you’re mine. I have been.”

I laugh with him. “Okay, I’ll tell them.”

I’ve been so worried about him, and hearing his voice is like a balm to my soul. I don’t know what I would do if I lost him. His voice is loud again. “I have to go, but I’ll see you at home. I love you, baby.”

“Oh, Colter, I love you too. I’ll see you soon.”

He hangs up first, and I hold my phone in my hands. My fiancé is coming home.

I stand up, and when I walk inside, my friends are all laughing and hugging. Abby holds her hand out to me, and I join in, hugging each of them. “They’re coming home,” I say.

We all cheer, and everyone is talking at once. I hate to interrupt the celebration, but I want to tell them before I leave. “So there’s something I need to tell you guys.”

I unlatch my necklace, pulling off the engagement ring and making a big to-do of putting it on my finger. I hold my hand out. “So before he left, Colter and I got engaged.”

They all squeal and take turns hugging me.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us!” Abby says.

Emerson puts her hand on her hip. “Heck, we could have had the wedding planning done in these last two weeks. Congratulations, Poppy!”

We spend the next hour celebrating, but we’re all ready to call an end to the night earlier than planned since all the guys are coming home.

My man is coming home, and I’m going to make sure I’m home, waiting for him.

EPILOGUE

COLTER

Two years ago, if someone had told me this was going to be my life, I would have told them they didn’t know what they were talking about. But here I am, surrounded by all my friends, engaged to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.

Jason, Elias, Kanan, Davis, and Zach are all surrounding me, but I keep looking toward the bathrooms waiting for Poppy to come out. Of course, it may be a while because she went in there with Teresa, so I’m sure they’re talking.

“Congratulations, man. You deserve this.”

Zach holds his beer bottle up. “I’ve never seen you this happy. The woman must be a miracle worker or something.”

I nod, unable to keep my smile contained. “She’s the best.”

Davis nudges him in the ribs. “What about you, man? When are you going to settle down?”

He holds the beer in his hands, and I noticed he’s not drinking. “Haven’t you heard? I’m not tameable.”

We all laugh. Zach has no idea because love comes when you least expect it.

Elias holds his hand out. “Wait, haven’t you guys heard? He is going on his first assignment.”

It’s been two months since we found Zach and four of Walker’s other mercenaries in some jungle across the world, and Zach has been hard at it since he got home. The guys started a private security firm called Stronghold. They haven’t found a building—hell, I don’t think they’ve done most of the things people do before starting a business, but it seems Zach is already taking on clients.

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