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Landry takes the phone and spins it so he can see Sloane. “Pay close attention,” he tells her before moving the phone to the right angle.

“Corie, can you stand up for me, please?” Knox asks sweetly as he reaches into his front pocket, pulls out a small box, and drops to one knee.

“No!” Sloane cries out. “Is he proposing right now?” she practically screeches.

Knox chuckles. “I’m working on it.”

“By all means, proceed,” Sloane says.

“I know this is unexpected after the day we’ve had, but that’s kind of the point. I wanted your brother to be here to show him you’re my end game.”

“What about me?” Sloane asks.

“Shh,” Landry shushes her. “He called you, didn’t he?” He waves for Knox to keep going, and we both laugh.

“I wanted them both to witness this moment. One, because I’m madly in love with you and want the world to know it.

I know how important your brother is to you, and he’s my best friend.

And Sloane, she’s your best friend, and she’s helped so many times over the last few months.

I felt it was important for her to be able to see what our love has grown into. ”

“I love you,” I tell him.

“I love you, too. You’re my everything. My person, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You’re my home, and I want to be yours. Corie Reynolds, will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?”

“Yes. Yes. Yes,” I answer. My hand trembles as I hold it out for him, and he slides the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen onto my finger. He stands, pulling me into his arms and into a kiss.

“Aww,” Sloane says, her voice cracking.

“Rules. We have rules!” Landry shouts, pretending to cover his eyes, but he smiles at us when we pull out of our kiss.

“When did you buy this?”

“I picked it up last week. I wanted to have it so I'd be prepared when the moment felt right. I didn’t think it would be today, but I’m not mad about it,” he tells me, kissing me once more.

“PDA, Beckett,” Landry scolds, and we all laugh.

With a promise to call Sloane and tell her how everything went down today before the phone call, we end the call and sit and chat with my brother for an hour or so.

“When are you going to tell the team?” Landry asks.

“Tomorrow,” Knox says.

“At the end of the season,” I say at the same time.

“Corie girl, we need to tell them,” Knox says gently.

“I know, but it could interrupt the season, and you’re und—” I start to say, undefeated, but my brother interrupts me.

“Nope. Don’t say the word,” he says, holding up his hand. “And Knox is right. Tell them to get it over with, just like pulling off a Band-Aid. The longer you wait, the harder it will be on everyone. Including the punishment,” he adds.

“You’re right,” I tell them. “We should have been honest from the beginning.”

“Regardless of what happens, you’re still going to be Mrs. Beckett,” Knox says, smiling.

“But you could lose your position. I could lose my job.”

He shrugs. “I’ve invested well. Will I miss the game?

Of course, I will, but I’m not losing you over this.

If I get traded, you’ll come with me. If not, I’ll retire.

It’s that simple. I know your job is also at risk.

You don’t have to work, but I know that’s important to you, so we’ll go where we need to for you to have your dream job. ”

“Knox! No, that’s not how this is supposed to go.”

“And I’m hopeful that it won’t. I have an excellent reputation with the league. I don’t cause trouble, and neither do you. We wanted some time to see what we were. Now, we know. We’re end game. If the Rampage can’t see past that, and I need to move on, then that’s how it’s going to have to be.”

I spin my ring on my finger. “Maybe—” I start, but Knox places his index finger to my lips.

“There is nothing in my life that is before you. Not now, not ever. Whatever happens, we’ll be together, and it will all work out.”

I chance a look at my brother, and he nods and smiles. “Listen to the man.” He stands and hugs me before shaking hands with Knox. “I’ll give the two of you some time to discuss. See ya at practice in the morning,” he tells Knox.

“Landry.” He turns to look at me. “Thank you for being so understanding.”

“You’re my family, Corie. You can tell me anything. Remember that.” It’s with those words, he turns and walks out the door.

“I say we sleep on it,” Knox says, pulling me onto his lap.

“There has to be a way, a way to keep you on the Rampage. If I resign, this is a non-issue.” I knew the rules we both did.

Sure, I’m not in a supervisory position over Knox, but we didn’t report our relationship, and that’s grounds for punishment up to termination.

If it comes down to that, it will be me.

“Baby, you love your job. If you leave, I leave. It’s that simple. I won’t let you sacrifice your happiness for us.”

“I can find a job anywhere.” I say the words, and I hope that they’re true. I struggled after graduation, but maybe I won’t be looked over now that I have some work experience that’s not an internship.

“No. Together.” He lifts my hand and kisses my ring. “We’re a team and do this all or nothing.”

“Knox.”

“I love you. It will all work out,” he says. “Why don’t I schedule a meeting with HR tomorrow after practice? The two of us can sit down with Sally and put it all on the table. As far as anyone needs to know, this is new to us.”

“And this?” I raise my hand, showing him my ring.

“As much as I hate to say it, you might need to not wear it for a couple of weeks. Better yet, I’ll get you a chain to wear it on, and in a month, I’ll leak to the press that we’re engaged after a whirlwind courtship.

Friends, then lovers, and now we’re forever.

It’s all in how you spin it, and we’ve got this. I know we do.”

I nod slowly. “Okay. Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” He kisses me once more before carrying me up to bed.

I don’t have clothes for work tomorrow, so I’ll have to get up early to run home to shower and get ready. That’s a small price to pay for being in his arms tonight, which is exactly where I belong.

“What a day,” my fiancé says, climbing into bed beside me.

I glance over at him and smile. I swear my face hurts from smiling. “Are we really getting married?” I ask him.

“That ring on your finger says we are.” Knox chuckles.

“You said something earlier.”

“I’ve said a lot of things in the last few hours. Help me out here, Corie girl.”

“You said I was your home.”

“You are my home. It’s you and me now, baby.” He pulls me into his chest and kisses me softly.

“Since losing my mom, I haven’t felt like I had a home—a place to call mine.

Then you came along, and I wanted to find my home in you so badly.

I wanted it so bad, I was afraid to say the words out loud for the longest time.

” I place my hand on his cheek. “In you, Knox Alexander Beckett, I found not only my home and where I belong in this world, but I also found my person.”

He laughs. “Your male version of Sloane.”

“Exactly! You remember.”

“I remember every moment with you. I mean what I said. You’re my home. I’m yours, and together, we’ll build a life with so much love and happiness that the walls of our home will burst with it.”

“I love the sound of that.”

“Me, too, baby.”

“Is this where we’ll stay?” I ask him.

“I was thinking of a house, a nice big yard, and a pool for Landry and the kids.”

“Kids?”

“Yeah, the little Cories we’ll have running around.”

“I’d like a little Knox, too.”

“I’ll see what I can do, baby,” he says, pulling me into him. “Maybe we can practice right now.”

“Seems fitting,” I say, sliding my hands into his boxer briefs.

That’s all he’s wearing. Of course, I’m only in one of his T-shirts and a pair of panties.

In no time, we’re both stripped of what little clothing we are wearing, and he’s hovering over me.

I reach for him and guide him to where I need him, but he pulls his hips back.

“Condom,” he reminds me.

“We’re getting married.”

“Damn right, we are.”

“I mean, we’re committed. I’m on the pill. We can skip that part if you want.”

“Are you telling me that I can make love to my fiancée with nothing between us?” he asks, his voice husky with desire.

“Please.”

He rests his forehead against mine. “I’m going to embarrass myself.” He lifts his head, and his eyes find mine. “I love you.”

“I’ll help,” I tell him. I guide his hard length, and he pushes inside me. He stills while I lift my hips, needing more of him, needing all of him.

“I need a minute, Corie girl.”

“Okay,” I say, moving my hand to my clit where I begin to rub small circles.

“Fuck, that’s hot. Not helping, baby.”

“But then we can finish together.”

“You first. Always.”

“Together.”

He nods but doesn’t stop staring at us, joined with no barriers, as my fingers circle my clit. I feel all of him, and I arch my back as my orgasm starts to build.

“Together,” he says as he pulls out and pushes back in. He sets a punishing pace, causing my spine to tingle. I abandon my efforts, knowing he’s doing just fine on his own, and bury my hands in his hair.

“Right there,” I pant.

“I need you to come on this cock, Corie girl. I can feel your pussy going crazy. Fuck, it’s everything. You’re everything,” he says, burying his face in my neck. He moves his lips to my ear. “Come for me, fiancée.”

That’s all it takes. Four words to send me over the edge. I scream out his name, and he stills, grunting his release.

“Together,” I whisper again, once I’ve come down from my high.

“Always together,” he replies.