His twin looks equally unnerved, but neither of them have run away screaming. They’re leaning closer, even if it’s subconscious. I’m offering them their whole damn futures on a platter with this ring.
“Do you both love her?” I ask bluntly.
Zach bites his lip. “Yeah. I do.”
Micah doesn’t hesitate, echoing his twin with a nod. “Yes.”
Pinching the engagement ring between my fingers, I turn it over in my palms, considering the glistening jewel cut into a perfect teardrop shape. Mama always had good taste. It’s a beautiful piece, and one that I never thought I’d use.
“We all want a future with Willow.”
“More than anything,” Micah agrees.
Zach nods too. “Of course.”
“She wants to run away right now. We have to give her a reason to stay.” I meet their widened green eyes. “This could be it. We need her to realise that we’re her forever.”
A nervous smile lights up Zach’s face. He manages to tease one from me too, and Micah joins us with an excited grin. All three of us end up chuckling and clasping hands.
“This is a bit insane.” Zach barks a laugh. “She might say no.”
“It’s going to work,” I return.
Raising the bottle of whiskey into the air, Micah toasts and takes another large glug. He passes it to Zach next, who has a guzzle for courage before handing it to me last.
“You sure?” I ask them both.
Zach clears his throat. “She makes us a family, Kill. I want that. I want her.”
Glancing at Micah, he meets my eyes without fear. “I can’t imagine a world without her in it. I want her in our future, whatever it looks like. I’m sure.”
“Then we do this right,” I say, taking my own gulp of the whiskey to seal our deal. “The three of us will propose. We’ll make her see why she has to stay.”
“Arianna is going to scream her ass off.”
Micah rolls his eyes. “She’s going to make us have a princess-themed wedding, isn’t she? This is going to be a circus even by Briar Valley’s standards.”
Zach claps his twin on the shoulder. “At least it gives Killian an excuse to get his toes painted again. We all know how much he loves that.”
“I can still break your nose, Romeo.”
“We’re going to be tied together for life,” he continues smugly. “You’ll have to put up with me until we’re old and grey.”
“Or he could kill you before then,” Micah suggests. “Willow will get by with the two of us. Plus, more room in the cabin. It’s a win-win.”
Breaking into laughter, we drink more liquor to celebrate. We have a plan. A future. A fucking reason to be together again. I have my family back, and it’s because of Willow. She brought them back to me. That woman changed everything.
I never planned to commit to a long-term relationship in my life, let alone one with Zach and Micah involved. But right now, I want nothing more than to see Willow’s finger with our ring on it, tying her to all three of us forever.
That’s worth fighting for.
It’s a risk I’m willing to take.
We all pass out by the end of the empty whiskey bottle. I’m the first to rise from my drunken stupor when the sun is up in the sky again. Splashing my face in the bathroom, I throw on a fresh pair of jeans and a scruffy flannel shirt.
Stepping outside in the early morning air, the first thing I notice is that Ryder’s latest truck refurb is gone. They weren’t supposed to be selling it until next week. Unease settles in my heart, and I quickly walk across the road.
I don’t feel fear. It’s not something I’m acquainted with. Or rather, it wasn’t until I had something to lose. But as I approach my deceased parents’ cabin, I’m struck by the emotion so intensely, I break into a run.