Page 136 of Unexpected Shot
“Same to you, big brother. How are you?”
“I’m good,” I say, kissing the top of her head. “Sorry I haven't made it here the past few weeks. It’s just…thing have been nuts.”
“To be expected,” she says. “How’s that going?” Gabi tilts her head toward Shelby, who’s cooing something at Ace as he sits in his high chair.
“Well…really fucking well.”
I don’t know if it’s the tone of my voice or the smile on my face that has Gabi wrapping me in a hug, but if she squeezes any harder, breathing is going to be difficult.
“This makes me so happy!”
I hug my sister back, because I know those words don’t even begin to cover her excitement. All she’s ever wanted was for us to get along again. For years, we put her in the middle because of the role she played in both our lives.Fuck, we have so much to make up for in that department.
“We’re still figuring things out,” I say as Gabi steps back. “But know that the next time you need to play referee, it’s because we can’t decide on what to have for dinner.”
I mean it as a joke, but an actual tear forms in Gabi’s eye.
“Gabi. I?—”
“Stop,” she says, waving her hand in front of her face to hold back the tears. “I’m just so happy.”
“Me too, sis. Me too.”
I grab our pastries while Gabi grabs a few toys for Ace, and we make our way over to the table where Maddox is already sitting with Shelby. But before I can make a crack about our mundane and nothing-exciting-happening few weeks, I hear the loudest gasp Shelby has ever let out.
“Oh my God! Is that what I think it is!”
I’m confused as I look at Shelby, one hand covering her mouth, while the other points to Gabi. It takes me another second to figure out what she's pointing at.
The very large, and very sparkly, ring on my sister’s finger. One I know she didn’t have before.
“Gabi? Did you two get engaged?”
My sister beams and Maddox instinctively puts his arm around her, kissing her temple. “You two aren't the only ones who did a thing in Vegas.”
As the words leave Maddox’s mouth, Shelby’s on her feet, lifting Gabi out of her chair, hugging her so tight my sister might explode. I stand as well, extending my hand to Maddox before bringing him into a bro hug.
And as for little Ace? His level of unbothered right now could be studied.
“I know I give you a lot of shit. But welcome to the family.”
My words couldn’t more accurately express how I feel about this guy. I had my questions and doubts about him when I first found out this mid-twenty-something was pursuing my sister. But time and time again, he’s proved that when it comes to Gabi, he’s solid. Committed. He’d do anything for her. And that’s exactly the kind of man I want her to be with.
“Thanks man,” Maddox says. “And thanks for never punching me.”
I laugh and give him one more pat on the back. “There’s still time for that.”
We laugh as I look over to Gabi, who’s showing my wife her ring.
I start fiddling with the cheap ring Kat sent to us after we got back from Vegas. I’m guessing at one point Shelby and I had rings, but neither of us know what happened to them. We’ve each remembered to wear the provided ones when we’re out in public, but neither of us wear them around the house.
Maybe we will now.
A lot has happened in the last twenty-four hours. I know I never want to take it off. But now I also know I don’t want a dollar-store ring on my finger. I want a ring I’ll be scared to lose. One I’ll only take off to replace with those silicone ones when I’m playing, because I want everyone to know I’m off the market.
I look over to Shelby, who’s fawning over Gabi’s ring, pretending to be blinded by the shine of the stone. Does she want something more? She’s said more than a few times that she never saw herself getting married, so I doubt she has a Pinterest board with every hint I could need to buy her the perfect ring. But every woman should have a ring they’re proud to wear. Every man should get to give their wife a ring they’ll wear the rest of their lives.
Looks like I have some shopping to do soon.
