Page 115 of My Brother's Best Friends

That’s not what he’s anxious about, though. Not what I’m anxious about, either. But Makayla can’t know, not yet. We planned this carefully. Everything has to go according to plan, so I pull out my phone and fire off a quick text to Kellan.

“Where in God’s green earth are you, you big lug?”

Makayla snickers. “And that, my darling Oscar, is why you’re not getting the special dipping sauce… You always rile him up when he’s in charge of bringing food.” She pauses and arches a brow at Alex. “You could’ve just let me cook.”

“Nope,” he says. “After all the work you did in the field today? No way.”

At last, Kellan’s car turns onto the gravel drive, dust plumes curling behind it. He parks in front of the house, steps out, gives me a curt nod, and checks his phone.

“Conscientious driver, that one,” Alex mutters.

“Big lug?” Kellan asks me.

I offer a shrug. “You were taking forever.”

“And we’re triplets. If I’m a big lug, we’re all big lugs,” Kellan shoots back, earning a laugh from Makayla. “Worry not, I bring food. But first!”

“First what?” she rasps. “I’m starving!”

“I thought we were only taking a lemonade break,” I say.

The sun sinks low, incandescent streaks of bright orange blazing across the blue horizon.

“Hang on just a little longer,” Kellan says, joining us on the porch and pressing a kiss to her lips. “We need to talk.”

Makayla’s brows knit with concern. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Kellan says.

“On the contrary. We’re living our best lives, right here, right now, with you,” I add as Alex and I get up, while she remains seated.

Alex picks up the thread. “You’ve made us happier than we’ve ever been, Kay. We’re building something amazing here, bringing a child into the world, and we love you more than words can say… Will you do us the honor of spending the rest of your life with us?”

Makayla is speechless. For a second there, I’m worried we didn’t get the full message across, somehow.

“Will you marry us?” I add.

Kellan pulls a small velvet box from his pocket and flips it open, the diamond inside explaining why the drive home took him so long.

“Oh…” Makayla breathes, covering her mouth with both hands as we drop to one knee before her like knights before their queen.

She gazes at each of us, eyes brimming with tears. Finally, she nods, utterly speechless.

“A thousand times… yes.”

37

MAKAYLA

I’m speechless.

Not only am I building my dream business here between these emerald hills, but I’m about to marry the three loves of my life and raise a child with them. Maybe more—who knows? A world of possibilities has opened, and the only thing I can see is stars.

My voice falls to a breathless whisper. “It’s so… beautiful.” Oscar slides the ring onto my finger.

The ring is made of three bands braided together, crowned by a sizable diamond nestled between three smaller stones.

“Befitting our queen.” Oscar presses a kiss to my earlobe, then leans back so his brothers can offer the same tender homage.

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