Page 77 of The Rules We Broke
He smiled—victorious and unrepentant.
“But,” I added, “I still don’t think we should rush into marriage. Have you even told your parents your intentions?”
He lay down beside me, and just like that, I found myself in my favorite place—curled against his chest, cocooned in the sound of his heartbeat. He pulled the quilt over us, but truthfully, I didn’t need it. His arms were warmer than any blanket.
He kissed the top of my head and sighed. “I told them I love you—and that I intend to win you back.”
The weight in his voice told me exactly how that conversation had gone.
“And what did they say?”
“It doesn’t matter to me.”
I snuggled in closer. “Can’t you see it does matter?”
“No, darlin’. It doesn’t. We’ve already lost ten years. I’m not losing you again. They know, this time, we’re a package deal.”
I breathed in deep. His words wrapped around me like promise and pressure all at once. I wanted him—wantedthis—more than anything. But the part of me still healing couldn’t ignore the risk. What if history repeated itself?
Brady seemed to hear my silence as if I’d spoken it out loud.
“Ellie, there’s nothing they can say or do to change my mind. I’m not eighteen anymore. I know I’ve made mistakes—huge mistakes. If I have to, I’ll apologize to you until the end of time, but we belong together, whether or not our parents approve. What matters is that we love each other.”
I sat up, bracing myself against his chest, needing to see his eyes.
They held mine—unflinching, full of longing.
“What am I going to do with you, Brady Jackson?”
He smiled and ran his fingers slowly through my hair. “You already know what I want.”
“I do.” I smiled faintly. “Let’s just take it slow, okay?”
He wrapped me in his arms, and kissed me like he already had a lifetime to make up for. By the time our lips parted, I was one breath away from saying,Let’s go to the courthouse first thing tomorrow.
He held my gaze. “Okay, Ellie. I’ll do whatever it takes. But just know—I plan to change your name and your zip code as soon as humanly possible.”
I grinned, unable to stop myself.
“Then you better saddle up, cowboy. I have a feeling this is going to be one wild ride.”
Chapter Thirteen
Wespenttherestof the night making up for lost time—talking, kissing, and watching the stars give way to the first blush of sunrise. The eastern sky stretched pale and sleepy over the lake, casting light where firelight had flickered all night.
I should’ve been exhausted. But I hadn’t felt this awake in years.
Neither of us wanted to part, but Brady had early meetings at the bank, and I needed to check in at the hospital. Besides, I didn’t want Doris showing up, spotting my car, and sending out a search party.
Still, there was something exhilarating about not needing to sneak back home or chase curfews.
As the hours passed, my old worries quietly dissolved. I hadn’t just remembered why I loved Brady—I’d discovered why I liked him even more now. He’d grown into the man I always suspected he could be: thoughtful, generous, and grounded. Butone thing hadn’t changed—he still loved Kaysville with his whole heart.
And after everything? I wasn’t sure I could.
The idea of living this close to his parents gave me actual chills. But when he spoke about the cabin, about building it with his own hands, I could feel the pride radiating off him. It was a labor of love. I couldn’t fault him for that.
So, I made a decision: We’d see where things went. Cross the bridges when—and if—we came to them.
