Page 133 of Tangled Hearts

Roman steps into the dining room and makes a beeline for Beck. “I have a feeling we’re going to be using Uncle Holden and Uncle Juliana lot.”

Beck pulls him in for a hug, pressing his lips to Roman’s forehead. God, if that’s not me and Eli in a decade, I don’t want it.

“Hey, Lydia,” Roman says, glancing at her with a smile. “Hey, Nic. Thanks for staying back and helping Beck today.”

“No problem. I’m going to go check on Eli and Lexi.” I turn to Lydia. “It was so nice to meet you, Lydia. I was sorry to miss introductions at the fundraiser.”

“You too, love.” Sadness flashes in her eyes before it clears, and she smiles brightly. “We’ll be seeing a lot of each other, I’m sure.”

I give everyone a wave and make my way down the hall to Lexi’s new room. The door is open, and when I step into the doorway, Eli is kneeling on the floor in front of Lexi. Her eyes are closed, and he’s carefully brushing her eyelids with eyeshadow. They’re wearing matching smiles. Eli’s is so radiant that it nearly takes my breath away.

He’s stunning when he’s doing what he loves, when he’s opening his heart and sharing that with others. I can hear Roman and Beck’s faint laughter from the other room, then the door opens and Julian’s low, rumbled greeting and Holden’s excitement fill my ears.

“Where’s my brother?” I hear him ask, and it makes my heart swell so big I’m almost sure it won’t fit in my chest anymore.

When I came here, it was with an empty heart and nothing more than what I could fit in my Jeep. Somehow I found a home. A family.Eli.

I don’t know what comes next, but I know no matter what it is, I’ll have them. I’ll have Eli.

And that’s everything.

Epilogue

Nic—1 year later

Itake a deep breath, then knock on the door to Beck and Roman’s house. I’m a nervous fucking wreck. This past year has been amazing. Wonderful and fucking life-changing in ways I didn’t even know were possible. My heart is constantly full, a smile almost always playing on my lips.

I have my little doll, and my brother, and this huge fucking family. There’s just… one more tiny thing I want.

Beck opens the door. “Hey.” He raises an eyebrow. “Since when do you knock, Nicolas?”

Since I’m coming to ask you for permission to marry your son. My stomach does a violent roll. “Can I come in?”

Beck cocks his head, studying me.

“Good lord, let the man in,” Roman calls, thankfully saving me because Beck opens the door further and steps back. I follow him to the couch, sitting down on the end.

As soon as Beck sits down, Roman leans against him. Eli likes to pick on Holden for how much he likes physical affection, but Holden’s not the only one. “Where’s Lexi?” I ask, looking around for her.

Roman smiles. “She’s having a sleepover with Wren at Uncle Holden’s house.”

“I bet she’s having fun.” I blow out a breath. Okay, I need to do this. It’ll be easy. I already know they’re going to say yes. I just need to spit it out. I just need to ask.

“You okay, Nic?” Beck asks, and I dart my eyes to him. He’s smirking at me. He probably already knows why I’m here. God, nothing gets past these two. Well, nothing gets past Roman, and he usually clues Beck in pretty quickly.

“I—um…” I swallow the lump in my throat, shaking out my hands nervously in front of me. “I was hoping… well—” Jesus, this is harder than I thought it would be. I clear my throat. “I was hoping that I—I want to marry Eli,” I finally blurt out.

“Of course,” Roman says, eyes bright and a little happy gleam in them.

I relax, my entire body slumping.

“No,” Beck responds, and everything tenses up.

“What?” Roman and I ask at the same time. Roman sits up, staring at Beck with wide eyes. “Why are you saying no?”

My heart pounds furiously, threatening to split right in two. Good fucking question, actually. I don’t understand. They’ve…nevergiven me any indication that they don’t like me.

“I want something from you first,” Beck says, shrugging.