Everyone at the table began laughing, prompting Paxton to toss several napkins in their direction.
Braxton knew it was now or never; he may not get this opportunity again with the way the night was going, and he had been planning this all day. He pushed away from the table, dropping to one knee in front of Alissa and holding out the velvet box that contained her two and a half-carat princess-cut diamond.
“Marry me?” Braxton asked. “Be my partner in life and business, because I honestly can’t imagine a minute of my day spent without you. I want it to be you and me always. Conquering the world with you by my side.”
When Alissa didn’t immediately answer, a lump formed in Braxton’s throat. He began to wonder if he’d messed up the proposal by doing it so publicly. He hadn’t considered that she might say no to him in front of everyone. Dread began to weigh heavily on him, and he could no longer continue to offer up his heart for rejection. Braxton shifted off his knees and commenced to stand.
Alissa launched herself into his arms, knocking him backward and slightly off balance, and it took every muscle he had to keep them from falling to the floor.
“Yes.” she nodded. “I’ll marry you.” Her lips found his as they sealed their commitment to each other, causing clapping to resonate not only from their table but from those around them.
After a few moments, Braxton broke their kiss. “I thought you were going to say no, babe. You had me scared there for a minute.”
Alissa smiled at him. “That was the worst proposal on the face of the earth, so you deserved it. You’re lucky I know how much you love me and that you were sincere.”
He proposed to Alissa. You’ve got to be freaking kidding me.
He couldn’t possibly mean it. The Braxton, Paisley had known her entire life would have come up with something more romantic—something from the heart.
She was destined to be alone for the rest of her life because she loved a man who didn’t reciprocate her feelings. At least, not the same way she cared for him. Still, she continued to hope, and hated herself for it.
Paisley had seen it during the last year. She was the first one he called to share all his celebrations with, or when he felt like he was losing control of a situation. Not Alissa. Even growing up, Braxton had told her everything before he even told Paxton. Paisley knew she’d always be the biggest part of his heart. Maybe someday he’d come to his senses and realize it. That hope would have to be enough to get her through tonight.
Part II
The Present
Chapter 12
Present Day
Braxton looked at his best friends, his eyes darting back and forth between them. Paxton stood before him, looking as equally stunned as Braxton. Paisley sat beside him, her hand resting on his forearm. She appeared as though her world had been ripped apart. Tears fell from her eyes, and it was apparent she felt the same as Braxton.
“What am I going to do?” Braxton didn’t expect an answer. It was more of a statement than a question. “I have no experience being a parent, let alone a responsible one. Alissa was supposed to guide me through this, show me the way and teach me.”
Braxton placed his head in his hands. His elbows rested on his legs, and he began to cry once again. He was a ship lost at sea, sailing through a dense fog with no idea which way to go and no compass to guide him to safety. It was just him and the gusting winds threatening to capsize his boat.
“It’s going to be okay, Brax,” Paisley promised.
“How can you say that?” he snarled at her. “You have no idea that it will be okay. None at all. Christ, Paisley. Listen to what you just said. It won’t be alright. I have no clue what to do. Grow up.”
Braxton immediately regretted what he’d said. He knew she was just trying to comfort him, but he didn’t need someone appeasing him. He needed fucking help. He needed Alissa.
As if a fire had burned her, Paisley pulled her hand from his arm “I’m sorry. I was just trying—”
“Trying to help,” he snapped “I know that’s what you want to do. That’s all you’re ever good at—trying. but you never help.”
Paisley stood, her hand against her mouth. “I’m sorry, Brax.” With tears in her eyes, she turned and ran out of the room.
Paxton glared at him. “Was that necessary? I know you’re hurting, brother, but taking it out on us isn’t going to make it any better.” Paxton walked a couple of paces and then stopped and turned to face Braxton. “Get your shit together. Or you will know what being alone and doing this by yourself really means.”
Just like that, Paxton left, and Braxton was all alone. He pressed his face back into his palms, breathed in deeply, and sighed. What next?
Braxton stood in front of the window of the hospital nursery. It shielded him from the screaming babies, offering him a brief respite from what was to come. Having the cries muffled gave him a sense of protection from the unknown. His insecurities were trying to reach up and drag him into the depths of hell. A hell he knew was soon to come, once he left here with his child—alone. His daughter lay in her plastic bassinet resting—oblivious to the fact that she had no mother.
She didn’t cry, not even when the nurse placed a nasal cannula under her nose. Her eyes remained fixated on the light above her. Beneath the blanket that swaddled her, her little legs kicked back and forth. A pink beanie covered the top of her head—a head that
