Page 112 of Game Plan

Less than twenty-four hours ago, I thought I’d hit rock bottom. Again. I wasn’t sure how Finn would react or whether our “relationship” would survive the storm, even if he is my safe place. And a month ago, I was sure I’d never marry again.

And now there’s this extraordinary man in front of me. On bended knee.

A man who never gave up on me, even when I made it hard. He’s been patient and transparent, and he’s given me everything I’ve needed, whether I knew it or not.

I’m in love. I’m loved by an amazing man. A man my father would have loved for me.

My laughter starts soft but grows into a full belly roar as I fling myself into his arms. He laughs, catching me, and capturing my lips with his. I could spend forever kissing this man. And I guess I just might.

“Yes, I’ll marry you,” I say as joy courses through me. “Of course, I’ll marry you.”

He moves the new ring out of the box and then takes my finger, sliding the band across my knuckle. My heart swells so much that I think it’s going to explode.

“Finn?” I ask, admiring the stone.

“Yeah?”

A smile like I’ve never worn before splits my cheeks as I look at him. He’s so handsome—beautiful, really. And he looks at me like I’m the only thing in the world that matters.

I know my dad is looking down on us, thinking that I finally did it. I found the kind of man he dreamed of for me.

I did it, Daddy. I made someday happen now.

My hands go to his shoulders as I study him. “I love you,” I say. “I mean it. I never thought I’d say those words again. But there’s no other word to describe how I feel about you.”

“I’ve waited a long time to hear you say that.”

“Great. Now get off your knees and carry me into the bedroom so the neighbors don’t see what I’m about to do to you.”

He laughs, the sound loud and free.

And the last piece of my heart is sealed into place by the love of the best man I’ve ever known.

EPILOGUE

Poppy

Eleven months later …

Sunlight streams through the windows, filling the room with a brightness that reflects the mood. It’s needed because whoever selected soft gray and olive green as the colors for the maternity ward didn’t give joy a thought when decorating.

I glance at the clock, surprised but also not surprised that it’s already midafternoon. We arrived at the hospital in the middle of the night, and there’s been no rest since. How do you rest when a baby is coming?

I yawn, the past couple of days starting to catch up with me. I was up late the night before last, working on Someday Now, then giving my fiancé the best blow job of his life, before working all day yesterday. Finn and I barely had time for dinner with Joshua and his husband at O’Dells last night, followed by a quick trip to his parents’ house to pick up fabric samples for the reception tables, before we rushed out the door to the hospital.

And now we’re here.

And I’m exhausted.

I look across my shoulder, and my heart melts, just like it does every time I take in Finn holding the baby. I’ve never seen anything sexier. This man throws me around the bedroom with ease, carried half of a defense on his back to score a touchdown, and single-handedly moved half of my belongings to his house after he proposed—officially. Because God knows neither of us were sleeping alone again. But to see those giant arms cradling a six-pound, four-ounce baby is a breath-stealing sight.

I simply could not love him more.

I grimace.

I might love him a bit more if he’d put the baby down and agree to go home.

“Finn,” I say, yawning again, “please put her down. You’re spoiling her.”