Page 66 of The Score We Never Settled

In truth, while this will help my family significantly, I can’t bring myself to feel relieved. I love my sisters; I would do absolutely anything and everything for them, but Layla is my core. She’s everything to me.

“You’re going to have fans,” she entices, trying her best to get me to think outside of change.

“I already have fans.”

“Morefans. Fans with your name and number on a shirt. Who’ll make posters of you and cheer you on?—”

“I just want you, Short Stop. That’s all I need.”

“Women who are going to want to follow you around,” she continues. “And?—”

“I only wantyou,” I reiterate, splaying my finger across the top of her ass. “All the time. You hear me?”

She nods once and mutters, “I hear you. But you’re not hearin’ me. This changes nothing. It’s a happy moment, Briggs, somethin’ you’ve worked so hard for. I want you to be excited. This helps Adeline and Everly…your…future.”

She wanted to say myfather,but refrained because that subject matter is never going to change.

“This is just another chapter. And it’s going to be anamazingone. You’ll see.” I’m still not convinced, but I do try to grapple onto her words and hold them. “What do you need from me?”

“Nothing,” I deadpan, fighting with the idea of minutes ticking by where I have to leave. “Stay just like this.”

“And after?”

I mindlessly sigh because she keeps pushing the subject and trying to get me to reveal every nasty little complaint and worryin my head. “Short Stop, what do you want from me? I’m trying here.”

“I need you to tell me what you need in order to be happy about this. I can’t leave you until I know you’re okay.”

“You’re never leavin’,” I counter. “We’re never leavin’ this bed again.”

“Be serious.”

“It’s the only thing I want right now.”

“I know you’re not slow. Despite what the world thinks about country boys, Briggs Kerrigan. Give me your greatest desires, and I will do everything I can to make them come true.”

My greatest desires.

That’s easy.

“I want you to marry me,” I make known without hesitation, because that’s what I want.

It’s what I’ve always wanted.

“Me?” she repeats, sounding so damn surprised that I’m beginning to wonder where she’s been the last five or so years.

“No, the person behind you.”

“You have an imaginary friend?”

“Sure, Short Stop.”

“That’s too bad,” she whispers, brushing her nose against mine. “Because I’d marry you in a heartbeat.” My eyes fly open, and Layla pulls away, staring down at me with that breathtaking excitement again. “When does your flight leave?”

I hesitate before saying, “Ten.”

“Courthouse opens at eight.”

My features twist in suspicion. “And how would you know that?”