Page 44 of Just Our Secret
She set a warm hand on my arm. “I like you so much.”
I glanced over before I pulled into the driveway. Her head rested on the seat and she faced me, a sweet, dreamy little look on her face. My heart kicked, and my adrenaline spiked as I put the car in park. “Just like?”
“Okay. Love too.” She grinned.
“Is it time?” Liam yelled, excitement coloring his voice like only a four-year-old’s could do.
“Let’s do it,” I said, winking at him through the mirror.
He jumped out of the car, and so did I, jogging around to grab Andi’s door just as she pushed it open. “Um, time for what? Where are we?”
I grabbed one hand, Liam took her other, and we guided her up the little walkway toward the house.
“We’re having a look at this nice little house.”
Her hand tightened on mine. “And why’s that?”
“Because Wade bought it! He bought it for us, Mom! We’re moving out of the apartment, and we’re moving in here and we’re going to be a family!”
I was laughing through the nerves exploding in my chest. It would’ve been a true shock if Liam had genuinely kept the secret, but man, he went all out. Guess that was my cue.
I dropped to one knee and glanced up at her. She was biting her lip in that way that drove me crazy, her face flushed and her eyes already a little glassy, even though she was still laughing in the wake of Liam’s tell-all.
“Andi, I love you. I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. I’m in love with you and I don’t ever want us to be apart. Will you be my partner and wife? I know we’re young, but I’m graduating, and you’re close. We’ve got a good setup already and being together all the time is what I think we both want. If you want to wait—”
She launched into my arms before Liam could hand me the ring I’d slipped him as we got out of the car.
“I don’t want to wait. Of course I want to marry you. Yes.Yes.I love you,” she laughed into my neck then kissed me hard and fast. “But… you bought us this house?”
Liam danced around beside us, then wrapped his arms around our waists as we hugged in a little group. My heart exploded with too much happiness. “I hope it’s alright. I thought about not surprising you, but I guess—”
“I love it. I don’t even care what it’s like inside. If I’m there with you and Liam, it’s perfect.” She pressed eager kisses to my face and neck.
“That’s about enough of that in front of the kids,” Connor said, sauntering up and piercing into the moment.
“Why are you here, then? Liam can handle it,” Andi said without looking at him.
“Because I’m taking young Liam to ice cream to celebrate so you and your fiancé can have some time alone.” He flared his eyes at us.
“Oh. Well then, you can stay for a minute.” She beamed over at him, and we all exchanged hugs. Then Liam remembered the ring—thankfully he’d held onto it during all the excitement—and presented it to his mom. The simple white gold band with a tiny diamond on top wasn’t extravagant, but she downright glowed when I reached over and slipped it onto her ring finger.
Damn, but I’d never been so happy. There was too much goodness in this moment. Andi would be my wife. She and Liam would be mine. Connor, my best friend, would stand as my best man and would remain close with us all.
I dropped to my knee again to get on Liam’s level. “You know I love you, too, buddy. I do, and I’m so excited you want me to be with your mom.”
We’d talked about this. I’d asked Connor what he thought about me getting Liam’s go-ahead, and he heartily approved. So last night, Connor and I had sat with Liam and chatted it all through, including the plan for today. I hadn’t wanted to tell him any earlier and risk the truth coming out.
“I know. That’s why I stopped calling you Uncle Wade a while ago. I guess I probably wouldn’t call you Dad Wade either, but maybe just Dad?”
My throat tightened and I heard a sniffle from Andi. “I’d love that, bud. I’d love it.”
We hugged, and Andi joined the embrace.
“All right, seriously. I’m taking my main man to get ice cream, and you go show your fiancée her new house.”
Liam scampered away with Connor, and I turned to Andi, wrapping her in a hug as we looked at the little house that would become our home the minute we could move in.
“I can’t believe you bought us a house.” She kissed my cheek, then below my ear.