Patrick jumps out from behind E.J., running to Carter as he wraps his arms around his neck.
E.J. remains in place, a weary expression on his face as he looks between Carter and me. “Why?”
I step close to my former student who has become so much more in the last four months since he’s arrived at the home with us. “Because we want you here, the both of you. Soon enough you’ll be grown and on your own. We’re not ready to send you off into the world yet, though, and you deserve some time to be a child before that day arrives.”
His arms move around my waist as he clings to me. “Can I still change my name, please?”
“Sure. But can I ask what’s so bad about Ernest?”
His eyes drop to his feet. “It’s my dad’s name.”
“Whether you change it or keep it, it doesn’t alter the fact that he has nothing to do with what’s in here.” Carter lightly taps a finger over E.J.’s heart. “But it’s your decision.”
“E.J. Barlowe … that’s what I want.”
“Me too.” Patrick chimes in. “But not E.J., just Patrick.”
Carter chuckles, leaning down to whisper something in his ear before nodding to E.J. whose grin spreads across his face as he turns to look at me.
“What are y’all up to?” I know that look.
“Nothing.” Carter steps in front of me as Patrick takes off out of the kitchen.
“Yeah, okay.” I roll my eyes, knowing how my sister feels when the boys plot against her.
A few seconds later, Patrick enters and hands one of my paperback books to Carter. He passes it to me as I give him a curious look. Immediately, I recognize the worn cover of the very book I was reading that day at the field when we first met. It’s not that hard for me to remember which story my mind was lost in that afternoon because I’ve been wrapped up in him since. But how does he remember? Examining the paperback, I see a little opening like something is stuck in it. As I open it, my hands freeze when I spot the gold band with a princess-cut solitaire diamond tucked between the pages.
“I was hoping we could have one more name change around here.” He picks up the ring, dropping to one knee as he holds it up. “Marry me, Avery.”
Speechless. There’re no words. All I can do is stare at it and back to him several times before he lets out a nervous chuckle when I wrap my arms around his neck, holding on as tight as I can as he stands.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes!”
He slides the ring on my finger, placing a soft kiss over it.
Damn, that book really does have a good ending.