She gazed up at me. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“I know we just met—“
Riley shook her head. “We connected instantly when we reunited. There’s something there, and it only grew while you were gone.”
“I want Maddie to like me, too. I don’t want to be just your friend or the guy who hangs around. I want to matter to her.”
Riley smiled. “I’d like that, and I knew she would, too. She has Logan, but it’s not the same.”
“I’d never met anyone like you. Someone I could have a future with.” I felt rusty saying those sentiments out loud, but it was getting easier and easier to feel them. I could see our future together so clearly. I knew I’d made the right decision.
CHAPTER6
Riley
Ialmost couldn’t believe Easton decided to move to Chestertown. Maddie’s own father hadn’t moved there. I thought for sure Easton would remember all the reasons why Annapolis was his home and why he couldn’t leave his first business. I figured he’d abandon his project in Chestertown or hire a manager to open it for him.
Over the next few weeks, he was busy with his second store, but we found time to see each other during the day. And he asked if he could attend Maddie’s soccer games on the weekends. He was invited to the family events, and Logan and Ashley offered to watch Maddie so we could go out alone a few times.
Maddie was old enough to stay home by herself for a few hours, but I didn’t feel right about it. Especially if I was going on a date.
On Halloween, Maddie trick-or-treated with her friends, and Easton helped me hand out candy at the house. Everything with him felt natural. Yet, at the same time, it was almost too good to be true. I’d waited a long time for a man to come along who’d want both Maddie and me, and I’d almost given up on ever finding him.
On Thanksgiving, he joined us for dinner. He wasn’t close to his family, and I wasn’t sure he’d ever been to a traditional Thanksgiving meal before. He seemed in awe of everything we did, from watching the parade on TV to cooking and baking to our impromptu football game in the backyard.
Maddie easily accepted him into our lives. She’d been longing for a male figure, too.
For Christmas, Easton wanted to decorate his house. We had a blast driving to the local tree farm, hiking through the woods, and picking the perfect trees for his house and mine.
In the future, I secretly hoped we’d be living in the same home, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up too much since I’d been disappointed before.
It was a cold and dreary day when we planned to help Easton decorate his tree. We set it in front of the windows. There was a fire in the hearth. Candles burned on the dining room table, and holiday music played in the background. It reminded me of the day he’d saved me from the water. Inside, it was cozy and warm.
We sang the lyrics to our favorite songs and drank hot chocolate as we decorated. Maddie handled the ornaments on the bottom of the tree and directed Easton as to where to place the ornaments on the top.
It was the perfect day. We ate homemade pizzas for dinner, and we were sitting on the sectional, admiring the lights when Easton left the room.
“Today was the best,” Maddie said.
“It was, wasn’t it?” We still needed to decorate our tree, but I knew Easton would return the favor.
Easton walked back in, but he looked almost hesitant.
“What’s wrong?” Had someone called when he was out of the room? I’d been waiting for something bad to happen, something to call him back to Annapolis. So far, things had been almost idyllic.
He sat on the other side of Maddie, facing both of us. “I know we’ve only known each other for a few months.”
My heart was beating rapidly in my chest. I wasn’t sure where he was going.
“But I’ve loved being with you, sharing your days. It means so much to me.”
“It means a lot to us, too,” I said, wanting to hold his hand, but he was too far away.
“We love hanging out with you,” Maddie added.
Easton looked from me to Maddie. “I’d like to be part of your family officially.”
My hand flew to my mouth as tears filled my eyes. Was he asking me to marry him?
