Page 38 of Red, White, and You

I shrug. “Well, they do say absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

“That’s a crock.”

My heart sinks. “Oh?”

“Absence isbrutal. It doesn’t make the heart grow fonder, baby, it beats the ever-loving shit out of the heart.”

I roll my lips together to hold back the smile, but nod in agreement. “Why are you here?” I ask again, my voice barely above a whisper, bracing myself for his answer.

He takes a step closer, his gaze unwavering. “Because I can’t live without you,” he confesses, his voice filled with conviction. “My heart belongs to you. It’s always been yours. I want to be with you, Brielle. I want to make a life together, no matter the challenges, no matter the place. Our differences are nothing we can’t handle. We’ll make it work.” He takes a deep breath, then adds quickly, “I’m moving to New York.”

My heart not only beats again, it slams itself against the cage of my ribs, desperate to get to him. “Brady,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “I was about to come to you. I’ve packed my suitcases.” I motion to the bags sitting beside my desk, laughing awkwardly as my brain tries to make sense of the situation. “There’s… there’s nothing here for me.” I laugh sadly. “There’s noreasonwithout you.”

His eyes widen, a mixture of surprise and elation lighting up his face. “You… what?”

I snort, shaking my head ashisbrain tries to make sense of the situation.

“You were coming to me?”

I nod.

“That’s what’s in Pennsylvania?” His smile lights up the room as he strides toward me, coming around the desk to take my face in his hands. “All in, baby?”

Grinning, I nod. Because no matter how high the jump, he’ll always catch me. “All in.”

“I hope you have room for me at your place.”

“What?” My brows furrow.

“I sold the camp.” Brady shrugs. “I’m technically homeless.”

My lips twitch, and soon I’m unable to hold back the laughter, because he doesn’t have a clue what I’ve done. I reach up to cup his face. “You silly man. I bought the camp.”

Brady’s smile falls. “You… wh—what?”

“Yes,” I whisper, laughing even as tears cascade down my cheeks. “You sold the camp to be with me; I bought the camp to be with you.”

“You’re kidding.” Brady’s mouth drops open as he searches my gaze, then he shakes his head. “You’re not kidding. You bought the lake.”

“I did.”

“To be with me.”

“Every second of every day, if you’ll let me.”

Brady laughs. “You’re fucking perfect.”

I tilt my head. “Debatable, but thank you.”

He drops to one knee and tugs a diamond ring from his pocket.Mydiamond ring. The same one he bought me all those lifetimes ago. “Marry me, Brielle.”

“Absolutely.” I give him my left hand, watching through blurry eyes as he slides the ring into place. “Took you long enough to ask.”

With a laugh, he stands and wraps his arms around me, presses his lips to mine, and for once, for the first time since we said goodbye seventeen years ago, I know whathomefeels like.

It’s in his arms.

Whether in a penthouse in Manhattan or a yurt in the middle of the Pennsylvania mountains,homeis Brady West.

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