Page 129 of Stick Legend

Tears sting my eyes.

“I don’t want to be scared anymore,” he continues, his grip tightening just enough to say everything he can’t. “And I don’t ever want to lose you again.”

“Tuck…” Tears spill over now, unstoppable. “I love you too. I never wanted to hurt you. But you have to trust us. Trust what we’re building. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know,” he says softly. “And I want to keep Ben’s picture up.”

A small, watery smile lifts my lips. His heart isn’t just healing, he’s choosing to keep it open. “I think that’s exactly what you should do.”

He nods once, then inhales like he’s gathering every ounce of courage he has left.

“Josh said yes to me when I asked to stay in his life,” he says. “And I would really, really like it if you said yes, too.”

My brows knit. “What do you?—”

He drops to one knee and the world tilts. “Oh my God,” I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth.

He holds out a ring, his hand trembling, but his eyes steady. “Will you marry me?” His voice is thick, emotional. “Make me the happiest husband…” He glances up toward the boys, a small smile breaking through. “Father…and cat dad…alive?”

A sob-laugh bursts out of me. “Yes,” I cry. “Yes!”

He slides the ring onto my finger, and the second he stands, I throw myself into his arms. The arena erupts around us—cheers, whistles, applause—but it all fades beneath the way he kisses me. Like I’m everything. Like I’m home. When he pulls back, tears stream down my face as I stare at the ring, then at him.

“I love you so much, Maria.”

“I love you too.” I laugh shakily. “I need to tell Mom and Grant?—”

He turns me gently and there they are. My mom. Grant. Both waving, beaming.

“My God,” I breathe. “Was everyone in on this?”

“Everyone,” he says with a grin. “Even Jaxon. He stopped by today to make sure you’d come. He had backup plans if the twenty-four-hour flu didn’t work.”

I laugh, shaking my head, overwhelmed, full. I glance up at the box—my boys, the WAGs—and hold up my hand. The second they see the ring, they explode into cheers, jumping and clapping, pure joy lighting their faces. My heart feels too big for my chest.

“What am I going to do with you?” I ask, turning back to him.

His grin turns wicked, playful, familiar. “Let’s go home,” he murmurs. “And I’ll show you.”

Home.

That one word has never sounded sweeter.

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