Luckily, she doesn’t have to choose.
Cal is one of those super husbands. Literally can do everything without breaking a sweat. In between teaching classes and doting over his pregnant wife, he’s been meeting with builders and working tirelessly to build their home on his dad’s land. If you ask me, it’s creepy to be neighbors with your mommy and daddy, but I think Cal likes shit a little creepy. He calls it built-in babysitting for when he has to knock his wife up again.
Gag.
I know the truth. Cal Hutton is a momma’s boy. Knowing Kate, she’ll probably make him breakfast every morning and wipe his ass if he asked.
“That’s a wrap,” Professor Goldman says. “Don’t forget to study over the weekend. This test will be hard. That means you, English.”
I look at Charlotte, just to watch her face turn crimson. We all know he was talking about me, but it’s fun to fluster my sister.
“I have good notes,” I assure him with an exaggerated wink. “Bye, Goldie.”
He chuckles and waves at me before he hustles out of the room. I stuff my notebook in my bag and then shoulder it before assisting my sister. The baby will come any day. Charlotte’s belly is so big, I’m afraid she’ll topple over.
She’s lucky she has me in most of her classes.
No one else wants this job.
“You think I can skip out?” she asks, wincing.
“Hollis will whine. Do you really want to hear a grown man whine?”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. But I’m leaving early.”
“Fussy,” I chide as I grab her bag for her. “If you feel bad, just go home.”
“I’m starving,” she grumbles. “And Roux will be there with Ellis. I haven’t seen him but once since she had him.”
We make our way to my Jeep—a brand-new orange one thanks to Dad—and I have to assist her into the front seat. She pulls her hair into a messy bun and doesn’t complain about the lack of doors. My sister has come a long way.
As soon as I make it to Hollis and Roan’s I start bitching.
“Your husband needs to learn how to drive! He can’t park that beast wherever he wants!”
She laughs. “You’re just mad because he took your spot.”
“Hollis’s front yard is my spot. He’s my brother. I win.”
I block Cal’s truck in, parking as close as I can to him just to piss him off. Before I can climb out to assist Charlotte, he shows up out of fucking nowhere like a phantom, pulling his pregnant wife into his arms like she weighs nothing.
While they make out, I leave them be to seek out my people. The backyard is loud, buzzing with laughter and squeals. Emilia and Hope sit in the sand box looking cute as can be. I pause to drop kisses on their fuzzy heads and then say hi to Sebban and Zella. Charlotte is getting mauled by Cal, so I sneak in a minute with Ellis. He snoozes, drunk on milk, on his momma’s chest.
“You guys are going to have a million kids, aren’t you?” I ask, lifting a brow at Roux.
She laughs but then winces. “Jordy and I want a big family. But let me recover from having this one before we start talking about more.”
I’m about to steal Ellis to give him love when a pregnant baby hog swats me away.
“Mine,” Charlotte says. “Wait your turn.”
I roll my eyes at her, but a grin forms when Terrence catches my gaze. He’s standing beside Roan at the grill, a beer in his hand.
“Hey, handsome,” I call out. “Better come kiss me now before my boyfriend sees.”
His eyes darken as he sets his beer down and then prowls my way. “Roan, keep an eye on my kid.”
“Sure, man,” Roan says with a chuckle.
Terrence scoops me up and I squeal, swatting at him. He keeps walking with me in his arms until he reaches the end of the yard where the gliding swing sits. With me in his arms, he sits down and plants a messy kiss on my lips.
“You’re feisty today,” he says, a grin tugging at my lips.
“I’m feisty every day,” I argue.
His touch is gentle as he strokes his finger along my cheek. I get lost in his loving gaze.
“I love you, Penny.”
“I know,” I sass back. “I love you too.”
“Marry me.”
I laugh, but he’s serious. “You’re supposed to ask, not demand.”
“Please?”
“You’re supposed to get on one knee and ask.” I lift a brow, challenging him. “I think you hit your head too hard, Smash. You have it all backward.”
He chuckles and presses a kiss to my lips. “If I got on my knee, your mean-ass would give me shit from now until eternity.”
He’s not wrong. I smirk at him.
His body moves as he digs his hand into his pocket. He retrieves a simple gold band. My heart stutters as he takes my hand and slides the ring over my finger. I may not like the mushy stuff like Roux or Charlotte, but I can’t deny how my heart leaps at the thought of being Terrence’s wife. We’ve been playing house for a while now. It’s about time we make it official.
“Penny, I love you so much. I know we’re a mess sometimes and we have baggage galore, but you’re mine. Mine. I can’t imagine a life without you. I won’t. This isn’t me asking, this is me telling. I need you to be mine. I need you to be a James. If you want me to ask, I will, but your mean-ass better say yes or—”
I cover his mouth with my hand. The gold catches in the afternoon light, making me grin. “Stop talking.”
His brown eyes light up with amusement and affection. I could bask in his stare forever. Rather than answer, I slide my hand away and kiss him deeply.
Terrence knows my answer.
It’s yes.
It’s always been yes.
And it’ll always be yes.
The End
What’s next for this town?
Keep reading for the Note to the Readers and find out!
Note to the Readers
Thank you for reading my Hood River Hoodlums series! I have enjoyed absolutely every second writing them! So much so, that I plan to expand on their world, giving some of the other beloved characters stories too in a spinoff series called Hood River Heroes! Be watching for more in the near future! Thanks for loving my good-hearted bad boys (and Penny ha!)! I can’t wait to give you more!
Listen on Spotify here.
“White Noise” by Badflower
Unsteady” by X Ambassadors
“Pain Told Love” by Tribe Society
“Middle Fingers” by Missio
“Wires” by The Neighbourhood
“Dig the Crazy” by Faith Marie
“Little Pistol” by Mother Mother
“Choke” by IDKHOWTFM
“Writer in the Dark” by Lorde
“Scars” by Boy Epic
“Help I’m Alive” by Metric
“Heart Heart Head” by Meg Myers
“My Heart’s Always Yours” by Arkells
“Sweet Disaster” by DREAMERS
“Like Real People Do” by Hozier
“Lazy Eye” by Silversun Pickups
“Trouble” by Cage the Elephant