Forever Better Together
Page 17
“I also wanted to congratulate Griffin on such a crazy accomplishment. Doubling up to become a cosmetologist and earn your business degree was a lofty goal, but if anyone could have done it, it was you. And of course, you did it with flying colors.” I pulled a paper from my pocket and turned the crowd. “Bear with me, I’ve got a bit of a throwback to share.” I caught a glimpse of Momma and Mae with shaking hands covering their mouths. Max smirked and winked. I turned quickly to face Griffin. “G, four years ago, we wrote a little something and I’m thinking it’s time for you to pay up.”
Griffin rolled his eyes and laughed.
“Would you please read the text of this document?” I handed the sheet of paper to Grif.
He took the paper, shook it out a bit, cleared his throat on a chuckle and began to read.
“We the undersigned do mutually agree to enter into an intimate relationship on the date signed. By mutual agreement, if either party feels uncomfortable in the relationship or decides he wishes to back out, the relationship will immediately return to ONLY adopted brothers and best friends. There will be no weirdness or hurt feelings.
In addendum to the above stated contractual text:
The undersigned agree that IF and WHEN an intimate, committed relationship proves successful, Griffin Murphy-Sanders will admit he was WRONG and should have listened to Quincy Sanders sooner.”
I coughed. “I’m sorry, can you read that last part again, please?”
Grif smirked as he glared good-naturedly. “In addendum to the above stated contractual text: The undersigned agree that IF and WHEN an intimate, committed relationship proves successful, Griffin Murphy-Sanders will admit he was WRONG and should have listened to Quincy Sanders sooner.”
I cleared my throat and waited.
Griffin laughed out loud, his cheeks pink. “Fine, fine. I was wrong.”
“Little louder for the people in the back.” I bit my lip to keep from busting out laughing.
“I was wrong. Taking the next step and making our relationship more was the perfect thing to do. You were right.” Griffin kissed me. “There. Happy?”
“Actually, I think you should read the rest of our contract for our guests. Just to give them the whole experience.” I gestured toward the paper.
Griffin frowned but shrugged. “In addendum to the addendum: IF and WHEN the above stated intimate and committed relationship reaches a milestone of both Griffin and Quincy graduating college, the mutually agreeing parties will entertain the prospect of making the relationship more permanent with a marriage proposal by one or the other of the undersigned.”
By the time Griffin reached the end of the contract, I’d dropped to my knee and fished a black, brushed metal wedding ring from my pocket.
Griffin turned to hand the paper back and found me on my knee. His eyes went wide and he gasped. Someone in the crowd whistled; I would place bets it was Dani.
“Griffin, from the moment that scared little boy stood in my room, to the moment two scared kids pushed their beds together, to the moment we took things to the next level,” I paused and grinned with a wink and Griffin snorted. I knew we were both thinking about which time we took things to the next level. The moonshine and hand jobs? Our accidental kiss in the living room? Or when I finally convinced him to give us a chance.
I took his hand. “Those moments and every other moment between then and now have led us to this time and place. We’ve proven over the past four years that we are perfect together. We were great as brothers and best friends, but we’re even better as partners. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. Will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down Griffin’s face as he nodded his head. “Yes,” he croaked.
I took his hand and slipped the ring onto his finger as the crowd cheered. I pulled the matching ring from my pocket.
Griffin threw his arms around my neck and kissed me through tears and laughter.
We spent the next several moments chatting with friends and accepting congratulations. When the crowd dispersed and it was just family and Diane, Momma pulled us into a big hug.
“Pops would be so proud of you two and so happy for you.” Her voice was full of tears, but strong. “He always said you two were good together.” She held us tighter. “My boys have always been better together.”
Griffin and I laughed through our tears and replied in unison, “Forever.”
Acknowledgments
It’s always so hard to write this part because I’m worried I’ll forget someone without meaning to.
Readers- you are the reason I write. As long as you continue reading my stories, I’ll continue writing them. Thank you for your support.
Bloggers- your support, reviews, and promotion are very much appreciated. Thank you!
My author buddies- I don’t know that I could keep doing this without our brainstorm sessions, laughter, road trips, meals, wine, and friendship as my support.
Thank you to my betas, editors, proofreaders, and ARC readers! Your eyes and input are beyond important to me.
Brett and Gage- as usual, I doubt you even grasp how much your support, input, and friendship mean to me. This author journey has brought many wonderful things into my life, and you both are two of the BEST! I’m blessed to call you friends.
My family and friends- thank you for your love and support, always.
About the Author
A.D. Ellis is an Indiana girl, born and raised. She spends much of her time in central Indiana as an instructional coach/teacher in the inner city of Indianapolis, being a mom to two amazing school-aged children, and wondering how she and her husband of almost two decades have managed to not drive each other insane. A lot of her time is also devoted to phone call avoidance and her hatred of cooking.
She loves chocolate, wine, pizza, and naps along with reading and writing romance. These loves don’t leave much time for housework, much to the chagrin of her husband. Who would pick cleaning the house over a nap or a good book? She uses any extra time to increase her fluency in sarcasm.
Find all of Ellis’ contemporary romance and male/male romance at www.adellisauthor.com
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Also by A.D. Ellis
The BJ Boys Series (3 books)
Something About Him Series (6 books)
His Reluctant Cowboy
What Blooms Beneath
Plus several other titles:
The Storm’s Gift
Holiday Island
Devoted (a Something About Him novella)
Saving Us
Stranded Hearts (a short story)
Eli & Gage (a Something About Him short story)
A.D.’s first stories (all male/female except Sawyer which is male/male) are in the Torey Hope and Torey Hope: The Later Years series. Find the 8 book box set HERE