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C orie

It’s been two weeks since my ex, Conner, tried to blow up our world. Instead of two weeks of misery, it’s been two weeks of bliss. Knox and I spend all our free time together, just as before, but we don’t have to hide now.

He shows up at my office after practice just to say hello or to bring me a treat from the bakery down the street. He kisses me no matter who’s watching and always finds a way to touch me. My brother complains nonstop but also smiles when he sees us together.

Honestly, I spent months worrying about his reaction, about our careers, and I should have just pulled up my big-girl panties and ripped off the Band-Aid.

Although I know that’s what should have happened, I’m glad we had that time just for us.

Before any outside noise could interfere.

The bond we’ve created is solid, the foundation is thick, and our love is bigger than the universe.

Conner is banned from the Rampage facility.

He only has one client on the team, and the last I heard, he was appalled at what Conner had done and was dropping him.

Is that all he deserves? No. Will he get what’s coming to him?

Absolutely yes. The truth is out there, he’s been discredited, and he’s losing more than just Anderson as a client.

He’s created the bed that he now has to lie in.

Knox comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me, kissing my neck. “You ready?”

“Does everything look okay?” I nod toward the spread of food on the island in his kitchen. It feels like mine, too, since I’ve been staying here every night since the news broke.

“Corie girl, they’re our friends. They don’t care about presentation. They’re here for us.”

“I know, but this is different, right? This is the first time we’ve all hung out together since we’ve been official.”

“Baby, we’ve been official for a long damn time. Yes, they just found out, but it will all be fine. I promise.”

I turn in his arms and hug him, resting my cheek against his chest. His strong arms wrap around me, and the familiar feeling of being home washes over me.

I used to think that home was a place. When we lost our mom and sold the house, I was certain that I’d never feel at home again, but I was wrong.

It’s not the place that made that house a home.

It was her—my mother. I fought against the feeling and missed my brother.

He also made a home for me. A safe one, where I felt loved and protected.

However, it wasn’t until Knox came into my life that I truly understood that I didn’t let Landry’s house feel like home.

I didn’t give it a chance. I was so lost in it not being mine, that I missed the forest for the trees.

My eyes are wide open now, and I’m seeing clearly.

My home is this man. It’s my big brother and my best friend.

It’s our friends and even Knox’s family.

I had to open more than just my heart for them, but my mind.

It’s not a material possession that makes a home.

It’s the feeling deep inside your chest that consumes your entire being.

Knox is my home.

“I love you, Mrs. Beckett,” he murmurs.

“We’re not married yet,” I say, tilting my head back to smile at him.

“In here, we are.” He points to his chest.

“I’m here. We can start the party!” Landry calls out as he pushes through the door. He’s early because we told him an earlier time than everyone else. “Aw, man, PDA, Beckett. We’ve talked about this.” He covers his eyes with his hand as he places a box on the counter.

“And I’ve told you to get used to it, Reynolds,” Knox replies.

“What’s in the box?” I ask.

“Pastries,” Landry says as he opens the box, pulls one out, and takes a huge bite. “This is weird,” he says, shoving the second half of the pastry into his mouth. I swear we were taught manners growing up.

“What’s weird?” Knox asks.

“This.” Landry waves his hand in the air at us. “It’s going to take me some time to get used to it.”

“Do you think you’ll be used to it by March?” Knox asks him.

“Fuck, Beckett, I don’t know. You can’t put a time limit on these kinds of things,” Landry replies.

“Hmm,” Beckett muses. “I guess that means you’re not going to like me kissing her in front of a crowd at our wedding. Does that mean you won’t stand up with me?” he asks nonchalantly.

“What?” Landry’s eyes volley between Knox and me. “You set a date?”

“We did. We’re going to do a destination wedding. The Bahamas in March. I was hoping you could walk me down the aisle,” I tell him.

“And then, take your spot next to me,” Knox adds. “But we get it. The PDA is too much. Will you even be able to attend the wedding? There will be lots of me kissing and touching my new bride.”

Tears well in my eyes as I watch my brother swallow hard, and his serious side comes out. “Core.” His voice wobbles, and I’m leaving Knox’s arms for my brother’s. “I love you, little sister. I’m so damn happy for you,” he says, hugging me tightly.

“I love you, too.” By the time I pull away, I’ve lost my battle with fighting off the tears. I wipe at my cheeks when I ask, “Will you do it? Will you walk me down the aisle?”

His eyes mist, and he blinks hard to keep them at bay. “They’d be so fucking proud of you, Corie. It would be an honor to walk you down the aisle.” He pulls me into another hug. “And you”—he releases me and points to Knox—“bring it in, Brother.”

I watch as my brother and my fiancé hug one another tightly. “Thank you for loving her.” I hear Landry tell his best friend.

“Easier than breathing, my man.”

Unable to take it, I launch myself at both of them, and that’s how the rest of our friends find us, standing in the middle of Knox’s kitchen, eyes misty with tears, smiles on our faces, and locked in a tight embrace.

“Baby Reynolds, you broke them,” Reid teases.

“Future, Mrs. Beckett,” Knox says, releasing Landry, pulling my back to his chest, and wrapping his arms around me. I place my left hand over his arm, displaying my ring proudly.

“I feel like we should have seen this coming,” Baker tells us.

“The two of you are good, I’ll give you that,” Foster agrees.

“It’s weird, though, right?” Landry asks. “Seeing them all loved up and shit?” He winks at me, and the heaviness of the moment has passed.

“Oh, you mean like this?” Knox turns me in his arms and cradles my face in the palm of his hands. “I love the hell out of you, Corie girl.”

I grin. “Love you, too, QB.” Then he kisses me. Landry yells something about his eyes burning while Reid, Baker, and Foster cheer us on.

“Weird, but cool,” Foster says when we finally pull out of the kiss.

“You get used to it,” Sloane says, and I didn’t even know she was here. I leave Knox and pull my best friend into a hug before telling the guys to dig in.

I don’t know what I was nervous about.

These are my people.

Our people.

Our home.