I unlock the front door to my new house and double check the driveway. All the damn lights are off, there are no cars anywhere, and all of this is very odd. Very odd because my guys—Maverick, Brantley, Wyatt, and Colin—were supposed to be here hours ago.
Hell, I was supposed to be here hours ago but got held up at law school—the motherfreaking law school I just graduated from. Because that’s right, I’m now a lawyer. Or, at least, I will be after I pass the bar.
Which I will. Being a lawyer is my literal dream come true, and I couldn’t be happier with my life. I have three devoted sexy men who have been behind me every step of the way. Even if it includes studying for my exams.
I take a step inside the foyer and nearly trip over one of Colin’s sneakers. Nope. Correction. I trip on the second shoe, very ungracefully I might add. At least no one was here to see that disaster.
The lights turn on so suddenly I trip on the shoe a second time. I suck in a deep breath, my knee twisting, the ground coming in hard and fast as a chorus to the right shouts, “Surprise!”
I’m freaking surprised alright, surprised all the way to the floor.
Colin rushes forward, his arms outstretched toward me, but it’s too late. I’ve already face-planted. “Oh, shit. I mean, shoot. Kinsley, I’m so sorry.”
“The shoes, Colin, the shoes,” I groan, pushing myself up off the floor, my eyes widening as I take in the large crowd behind him.
Holy shit.
The entire office is here.
And my book club girls.
And they all saw me fall on my face.
“Hey, everyone. I’m okay. Everything is fine. Nothing to see here.” I grab Colin’s arm and pull him in for a hug. “What the heck is going on?”
I may be done with law school, but he graduated high school last week, and I couldn’t be more proud. He went from struggling with school and making friends to being salutatorian and captain of the soccer team. Getting his cochlear implants was a game changer. He’s done nothing but thrive since the operation.
There’s a few congratulatory shouts and a couple girls from the office wooing in my direction.
I’m going to take that as a compliment, but I’m not entirely sure.
“It’s a surprise party for you, duh.” Colin shuffles back, but I don’t let him get very far, planting a loud kiss on his cheek. “Gross.” He wipes it off with the sleeve of his hoodie. “Not going to miss that when I go to college.”
“Oh, come on.” I loop an arm around his shoulders and walk toward the twins who are standing in line, arms crossed, smirks on their faces. “You’re going to the University of Kentucky. I mean, the enemy during basketball season, but you’re not that far away. I can visit and embarrass you anytime I want.”
“And you know that’s something your big sis is really good at.” Brantley puts his arms around me and tucks me against his side. He nuzzles his face into my neck and whispers, “Are you okay? I’m sorry about the shoes; he was asked to pick them up.”
I nod and hold in a groan as his teeth rake across my pulse point, and dammit, why are there so many people here?
“Congratulations, baby girl. How does it feel to be the newest lawyer in the family?” Wyatt steals me from Brantley, his strong hands going around my waist as he picks me up and spins me around. “I’m so damn proud of you.”
Colin laughs and points toward Wyatt. “Careful you don’t pull your back out, old man.”
“He’s not wrong.” I flit away with a laugh. “Out of the five of us, we are the only two whose age doesn’t start with a four.” Brantley growls. Wyatt glares at the two of us. And Colin and I cackle. “Speaking of, where’s Maverick?”
Brantley grunts, recrossing his arms, and attempts to glare at me, but the smile working across his face gives him away. “He’s loitering by the cake.”
“Ohmygodthere’scake.” I give the twins a quick kiss and dive into the crowd, set on finding Maverick and the cake. But I don’t make it five feet before I’m swarmed by my best friends.
“Congratulations! You’re so close to becoming another one of those bloodsucking lawyers. Sorry, Ellis and Ellis.” June waves a hand in the air. “Both of my parents are lawyers, so I’m allowed to say that.”
Holly laughs, pushes June’s shoulder, and shoves a mini quiche in her mouth. Where the hell did she get food? “I’m not sure it works that way.”
“To-ma-to. To-mah-to.”
“I hate to interrupt, but where did you get that delicious looking quiche?” I eyeball her hands, making sure she doesn’t have anything else. Sad to report that she doesn’t. It’s a real shame; I’m so hungry I’d have eaten it right out of her hand. “I haven’t had any real food all day.”
“You didn’t eat before the graduation ceremony?” Daisy’s eyes widen as she takes me in. “Kins, it’s almost dinnertime.”
I groan and throw my head back, and my stomach takes this opportunity to chime in its agreement. “I was nervous. I didn’t want to trip across the stage and throw up on the Dean’s shoes.”
Instead, I came home and tripped in front of all my friends and family. So much better.
“Sorry, ladies.” Maverick walks up behind me and slides his hands around my waist. “I need to steal my girl for one quick minute. I think Brantley is ready for everyone in the backyard.”
“Ohhhh.” I lean back into him, loving the way his fingers bite into my skin. “What’s going on back there?”
“You’ll see,” he whispers in my ear. He links our fingers and pulls me toward the back of the house.
As soon as we step outside, my jaw drops and the breath catches in my throat. The entire backyard is lit up with twinkle lights, and there’s a small stage off to the side covered in candles, and damn… This place looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale. It’s beautiful.
Maverick leads me toward the platform where Brantley and Wyatt are waiting.
Oh. My. God.
What’s happening? And why is it happening in front of so many people?
My heart races, the pace increasing with every step. Holy shit. Holy shit. Sweat trickles down my back, and my pulse is hammering in my ears.
Wyatt grabs my other hand, giving it a squeeze, and Brantley steps in front of us, clearing his throat and addresses the crowd. “I want to thank you all for coming tonight. First, I’d love everyone to give a round of applause to Colin Rhodes who graduated from high school last week at the top of his class. He’s breaking our hearts, going to Kentucky for college, but we couldn’t be prouder of him.”
Colin, who is now trying to get out of the front row, turns beet red as everyone, including us, claps their asses off for him.
“Love ya, little bro.” Brantley adjusts his tie and glances back at me, his lips tugging up in a smirk. “I’d also like to recognize my favorite girl, Kinsley Rhodes, who graduated from Belmont Law School today.” There’s more, applause and my stomach flips, heat spreading across my cheeks. “I do have a little gift for you, but be warned. It’s a little small.”
“That’s what she said,” someone shouts from the back of the yard while someone else yells, “Big things come in small packages.”
“Thank you, Jeff.” Brantley reaches into his pants pocket and oh, God. Is it a ring? Is he going to ask me to marry him? And Wyatt? Maverick?
They’re standing steady on either side of me but aren’t looking my way; they’re just staring out into the crowd. This is happening.
I’m really trying to hold it together, take shallow breaths, not have a full-fledged panic attack.
Brantley’s hand is coming out of his pocket, but instead of a ring box, he’s holding a small white card.
The hell?
My brows draw together, but my insides don’t stop twisting. Maverick and Wyatt let me go, and I reach out and grab the card, my hands shaking.
It’s a business card. Their business card. Oh, but it’s not. Ellis, Ellis, Wallace and Rhodes.
They want me to be a partner?
I glance up from the card and gasp, my hands flying up to cover my heart.
The three of them are gathered together, kneeling in front of me. Maverick is in the middle, a light blue Tiffany’s box resting in his outstretched hand.
My throat clogs, and my eyes burn. I’m struggling to breathe.
“Kinsley.” Maverick is the first one to speak. “You are the love of my life, and I can’t picture a single day without you by my side.”
“You brought color and chaos into my life, much to my dismay.” Brantley chuckles, and I can’t help but smile despite the tears trailing down my cheeks. “I was a broken man, a man who didn’t think he had a future, but you gave me life.”
Wyatt shakes his head, and when his eyes meet mine, they’re so full of love and devotion; it nearly levels me. “I may already be old, but I want to grow older with you. You are my home. My peace. The best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
There’s a sob threatening to break free, but I cover my mouth and quickly wipe my tears.
“Kinsley. Will you make us the happiest men on earth? Will you marry us?”
I don’t respond; I can’t. I can only nod, sinking down in front of them. My hand is shaking so bad, but I manage to hold it out, letting the three of them slide the ring on my finger.
It’s a simple platinum band with three equal size stones.
One for each of them.
Everyone around us cheers. There’s clapping, yelling, and someone shouting “oh, yeah,” but I ignore them all. I keep my focus on my guys, on the smiles splitting their faces. They’re my business partners, my life partners—they’re my fucking everything.
