Chapter 2 After the Yes
The food arrived before any of them finished arguing about who got to carry me to the couch if I “swooned again.” For the record, I did not swoon. I very calmly needed to sit. Jake practically tackled the door when the bell rang, yelled “FOOD!” loud enough to scare the neighbors, and sprinted back inside with enough takeout bags to feed a football team.
Josh took two bags from him before he dropped something. “Jake, why did you order everything on the menu?”
Jake blinked. “You said she needed food. I panicked.”
Drew sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “Of course he did.”
I was still curled on the couch, wrapped in a blanket I didn’t remember being given. Mike winked at me like he knew exactly what I was thinking. “He wrapped you up while you were staring at your ring,” he said. “Like a little burrito.”
“Oh my god,” I muttered, tugging the blanket over my head.
“Don’t hide,” Josh said, pulling it back down. “Come eat.”
Jake dropped onto the rug in front of me and opened boxes with theatrical gasps. “Look. They sent extra fries. They knew about the engagement. This is fate.”
Mike reached for a fry. Jake slapped his hand away. “No. Emmy’s fries.”
“She can share,” Mike said.
Jake narrowed his eyes. “Can she?”
I laughed. “I can share. You act like I’m going to starve.”
“You almost passed out,” Jake said.
“I did not,” I insisted.
Josh sat beside me and handed me a plate piled high with food. “You almost did. I saw the face.”
“What face?” I demanded.
Drew sat on my other side. “The one where your eyes get shiny and your knees do that wobble thing.”
Jake nodded. “The wobble is strong with you.”
I groaned into my hands. “Stop talking about my wobble.”
“You love us,” Mike said, nudging my leg with his foot.
Unfortunately, he was right.
We ate quietly for a few minutes, mostly because Jake made dramatic noises every time he took a bite of ribs. Josh gave him a look that said he was two seconds from shoving a roll in his mouth to silence him, but Jake just kept eating, making happy noises like a puppy getting belly rubs.
As soon as I finished half my plate, Drew gave me a soft smile. “Better?”
“Much,” I admitted. “Still a little lightheaded.”
Josh shot him a look. “See? Wobble.”
I elbowed him. “I’m engaged, not fragile.”
Mike smirked. “Engaged and fragile can coexist.”
“Shut up,” I said, but I couldn’t help the smile forming.
Jake suddenly gasped. “We need a group selfie.”
“No,” I said instantly.
“Yes,” he said, already pulling his phone out.
“Jake—”
Too late. Flash.
He shoved the screen in my face. “Look how cute we are!”
I groaned, but the picture was cute—me squished between Drew and Josh, Jake stretched across the floor like a happy golden retriever, Mike leaning into frame with a smug grin, and Patrick standing behind us with one hand on the back of the couch looking like he owned the entire planet.
“You’re sending that to Dom, aren’t you?” I asked.
Jake blinked. “I already did.”
Josh groaned. “He’s going to call any second.”
Patrick’s phone vibrated. He lifted it, glanced at the screen, and silently hit decline.
“Did you just hang up on him?” I asked, stunned.
“He’ll live,” Patrick said simply.
Mike snorted. “Brutal.”
After the food massacre, Jake sprawled onto the rug and groaned like he was dying. “Don’t let me move. Ever again.”
“No one was planning to,” Mike said, wiping his hands.
“You’re all mean to me,” Jake said dramatically.
Drew patted his head. “You’ll survive.”
Josh leaned back against the couch and pulled me into his lap like I weighed nothing. “Now that you’ve eaten, how are you feeling?”
“Good,” I said, snuggling in. “Still overwhelmed, but good.”
“Overwhelmed is normal,” he murmured against my ear. “You just made a life-changing decision.”
Jake sat up. “We should celebrate!”
“We are celebrating,” Mike said. “With food.”
“No,” Jake insisted. “We need ice cream. And matching shirts.”
I stared at him. “Matching shirts?”
Jake nodded enthusiastically. “One for each of us. Team Fiancée.”
“Oh my god,” I whispered.
Mike laughed so hard he had to bend over. “Jake, I swear—”
“It would be adorable,” Jake said.
Josh rubbed his face. “Absolutely not.”
“I want one,” I said casually.
All four brothers turned toward me with offended betrayal.
“Emmy,” Josh said slowly. “No.”
“Yes,” I insisted. “The chaos energy of matching shirts speaks to my soul.”
Patrick smirked. “I’ll wear one.”
“TRAITOR,” Josh hissed.
I covered my mouth, trying not to laugh. “Well… maybe I’ll get us shirts for the wedding party.”
Mike choked on air. “You are terrifying.”
“That’s what you get for picking on me,” I said sweetly.
Jake climbed onto the couch and flopped between me and Drew. “I can make a shirt design.”
“No,” all four brothers said at once.
He pouted. “You’re crushing my artistic dreams.”
Drew ruffled his hair. “You’ll live.”
The room was warm, loud, messy, perfect. Josh’s hand rubbed circles on my hip. Drew leaned comfortably into my side. Jake rested his head on my knee. Mike lounged like he owned the place. Patrick stood behind us, arms crossed, keeping silent watch like always.
Everything in me settled.
The fear eased.
The shaking faded.
The yes in my chest grew warmer, fuller, solid.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I’m really happy,” I said quietly. “Even if I’m still a little overwhelmed.”
Josh kissed the top of my head. “Good.”
Jake beamed. “Best day ever.”
Patrick nodded once. “Agreed.”
Mike gave a playful bow of his head. “Welcome to the beginning, sweetheart.”
Drew squeezed my hand. “We’ve got you.”
And surrounded by the five of them—full, warm, loved in a way that wrapped around every part of me—I believed it.
I really did.