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CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Jigsaw

Never in a million years thought I’d be doing this.

But now I can’t wait another second.

Zips didn’t seem “special enough” for this occasion but then I remembered, this is where Margot met my sister for the first time and fearlessly pointed out that Jezzie and I use our dark humor to cover up a lot of uncomfortable feelings.

So given the way she’s helped me piece my family back together, maybe this is the right place after all.

After I helped Torch toss his unconscious friend Buck out by the road, I stop by my truck and pull a blanket out of the back.

The guys are starting a bonfire. Music’s pouring out of car speakers. Stadium lighting brightens up half the track.

My gaze scans the area, finally landing on Shelby, Molly, Libby, and Margot sitting on a blanket close to the fire.

I circle behind Margot and tap her on the shoulder. “I need you.”

I hold out my hand, helping her off the blanket. Her worried eyes meet mine.

“What’s wrong? Is Cain okay?”

“He’s fine.” I take her hand, leading her to a quieter area of the field.

I spread the blanket out and pull her down with me.

“What’re you doing?” She snuggles close to me, sitting so we’re shoulder to shoulder, thigh to thigh.

I gotta get this out before I forget everything I want to say.

“Margot,” I start, my voice lower than I mean it to be.

I clear my throat, glance down at our hands—fingers just barely brushing. Then I pull her into my lap, her legs draping over mine.

She wraps her arms around my neck like it’s instinct.

“You once asked me to teach you…” I pause, letting my hand settle on her thigh. “A few things.”

She ducks her head, silky strands sliding across my cheek.

“And I thought I was so damn clever,” I murmur, “warning you not to catch feelings.” I tip my forehead against hers. “Then I went and caught the biggest case of feelings a man’s ever had.”

A soft laugh escapes her. “How do you know that?”

“Because I’d spill blood for you. Burn down buildings. Burn down the whole fuckin’ world if I had to.”

Her smile falters, eyes locked on mine. “I’d do the same for you.”

“I know it.” I close my eyes, trying to think of the words that have been knocking around in my skull for months. How to piece them together.

“You’re the one who ended up teaching me so many things.” My voice roughens. “And I love you so much. I want to keep learning with you—something new, every day—for the rest of my life.”

Her fingers skim my cheek. “I want that too.”

We just stare at each other, suspended in the moment.

Ring!

Fuck!

I jam my hand in my pocket and pull out the shiny, black box. “Will you marry me?”

“What?” Her gaze slips from my face to the box.

Did she think I was recapping our history for fun?

“I wanted to do something…fancier, nicer, bigger, but—” I say, half apologizing.

“I don’t like big spectacles.”

“Tonight seemed right.” I let out a short laugh. Shit, I’m nervous. “And I’m worried I’m going to lose this if I keep carrying it around, waiting for the right time.”

“Jensen!” She launches herself at me, lips crashing into mine and knocking me backward.

Her fingers thread through my hair, clutching, desperate. She kisses me like she’s starving for it—like she needs to prove I’m real.

In between kisses, I flip us, covering her with my body. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes.” She curls her fingers in my shirt and pulls me forward. “Yes, I want to be your wife. It’s the biggest yes that’s ever been yessed.”

I blow out a long, satisfied breath.

The ring.

It went flying when she knocked me over. In the dark grass, it’s hard to find. We sit up and I pat my hand around the blanket and finally scoop up the box and hand it to her.

She flips the lid open and squints. Even in the semi-darkness, it glitters and sparkles.

“It’s…it’s exactly what I described to you.” She presses her fingers to her lips. “Even the halo of sapphires.”

“I know.” I tug it free from the box and take her hand, slipping it on her ring finger. She holds out her hand, wiggling her fingers, admiring the ring.

“Oh, it’s perfect.” She cuddles close and kisses my cheek.

I feel her eyes on me and turn, staring straight into her eyes.

“You’ve taught me so much more than sex, you know.”

I take her lips in another blistering kiss. “Good.”

She kisses me back, clinging to me like she owns every jagged piece of my soul. The ones she’s helped stitch back together—every one of them belongs to her now.