Sliding my hand down her lower back, I rest it on her ass. “Can I help with anything?”
“I think we’re good to go.”
Pulling her in, I kiss her temple. “He’s lucky to have you and so am I.”
She looks up at me, jade green eyes so full of happiness. “I think we’re all lucky.”
Just then Monty turns the corner, coming in through the side gate with a giant gift bag in one hand and a case of beer in the other. Because even though this is a two-year-old’s birthday, all my son’s closest people are well over twenty-one.
“Monny!” Max cheers when he sees him.
“There’s my birthday boy!”
“Let me go help your dad.”
Jogging over, I take the beer from his grip.
“Thanks, Ace. There’s more in the car.”
“I can go get it.”
“I’ll go with you,” he says, giving me a look that tells me exactly why he needs to go back to the car with me.
We get the present on the gift table and the beer in the cooler before we make it back out to his car.
“Do you have it?”
“Eager,” he laughs. “Yes, I have it.”
Monty dips into his pocket, pulling out a small rust orange velvet box.
A few weeks after Miller moved to Chicago, I went to Monty’s apartment and asked how he felt about me asking his daughter to marry me.
He cried a little, mostly out of joy, before pulling out a ring he had kept with him for over twenty years. It was the ring he was going to propose to Miller’s mom with, but never got the chance to.
When he asked if I wanted to use it, there wasn’t a moment of hesitation when I told him yes. This ring is not only beautiful and unique, but it’ll mean more to her than any ring I could buy from a jeweler.
My hands are a little shaky with nerves as I take it from him but when I pop the lid, an overwhelming calm washes over me, knowing how right this is, knowing how much our family belongs together.
I was tempted to propose the second she came back, but with so many life changes happening for her at once, I decided to wait. Until today.
“It’s beautiful, Monty.”
“It’s going to look beautiful on her. Her mom would be so proud of her.”
Glancing up, I find Monty with shiny brown eyes, staring at the ring box in my hands.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me using this?”
“I’m positive. It’ll mean so much more to see it on her finger instead of it living in that box the way it has for so long.”
Swinging an arm over him, I pull him into a hug. “Thank you. Not just for the ring, but for . . . everything.”
He hugs me back. “I love you, Kai, you know that. And I love your son.”
“Your grandson, you mean?” I ask in a teasing tone.
“I swear to God if you start calling me Grandpa at work, I will kick your ass. But yeah, I love my grandson too, and I’m happy you’re finally making this all official.”
“To Max turning two.” Ryan holds his beer out to cheers with mine.
“To Kai and Miller,” Zanders corrects. “For keeping him alive.”
“Yeah, well we’ve got a pretty good support system behind us.”
The backyard is full of our friends, including the team staff and Miller’s employees from the bakery. The only people missing are the guys from the team, most notably, my brother.
Every year before the season starts, the team takes a trip together. They like to say it’s for bonding purposes when in reality, it’s an excuse to spend a few days drunk by a pool. This year they chose Vegas and, though Isaiah begged me to come, I made the very easy decision to stay home with my family.
With the season starting in a couple of weeks, I want to soak in as much time at home as possible. Max and Miller won’t be traveling with us this year. With Miller’s business taking off and Max getting older, it’s time to transition him away from my hectic schedule.
The two of them will, however, come join us on the road for a night or two every month and that feels like a good enough compromise until I can be home full-time with them. And Miller’s office at the bakery can double as a playroom so Max can spend time with her there. Between the two of us and the friends who have offered to help us fill in any gaps in our schedule, I don’t think Max will ever need another full-time nanny.
Ryan looks around the party. “Miller’s really stepping into this whole new mom role, huh?”
I find her sitting on a blanket with Stevie and Indy, baby Taylor laying on her back with Max watching his new friend adoringly from above.