Here With Me: An Ex-boyfriend’s Dad, Age Gap Small Town Romance (Sugarland Creek Book 1)
Here With Me: Chapter 34

TEN MONTHS LATER

“Good mornin’, beautiful,” I whisper in Noah’s ear as she sleeps beside me.

Waking up with her in my arms each day is a life I never knew possible. A year ago, I was positive I’d never replace love and die alone. It was what I told myself I deserved. Until Noah jumped into my view at the rodeo and won my heart with one simple phrase—

“Happy Anniversary,” I say, and her eyes pop open.

I chuckle at the panic in them as the realization hits her.

“One year ago today…”

“The rodeo.”

We leave tomorrow for this year’s competition, but tonight, I have plans for us.

“You know what I realized? Remember that napkin you wrote your number on? Had you given me the other one, I would’ve recognized Jase’s and all this never woulda happened.”

“Oh my God, I forgot about that. I even offered to show it to you, but you didn’t wanna see it. Imagine if you had.”

“How one little decision coulda changed everythin’.”

“Imagine how awkward that woulda been for you to open it up to your son’s number and realize who I was—besides being the family you’d be workin’ for but also someone he’d dated. Had you known that night, do you think you woulda said somethin’ or ignored it?”

“Honestly, I probably woulda walked out right then. But thank God I didn’t know.”

“No kiddin’! We wouldn’t have gotten together, and Jase wouldn’t have met Amelia.”

“Crazy how it all turned out, huh?”

Amelia’s a local trainer who came to Noah’s fundraiser event last year. They followed each other on social media and started talking regularly after the fire. It wasn’t until she invited Amelia to the ranch that she met Jase since he was here to watch Noah perform on Donut. She was determined to get back on him and do the same tricks she did the day she got hurt so Donut could heal from the trauma. After that, she signed Delilah, and a few months later, she joined a trick riding team. She’ll be at the rodeo tomorrow for her first big show.

Once Jase and Amelia met, they hit it off and have been dating ever since.

Though Jase and I still go to our grief meetings once a month, he’s still talking to his therapist, which makes me happy. Knowing everything he went through to get to this point, he’s working hard each day to be the best version of himself, and that makes me proud as hell as a father.

We visit Lyla on the second Saturday of each month and take her fresh flowers. When Noah got cleared to walk on her foot again, I brought her along so I could “introduce” them. Now it’s a family tradition where the three of us go and update Lyla on all the recent events and small-town gossip.

I know Lyla would love hearing about Noah’s horses and all the drama we hear from Gramma Grace’s old ladies’ club.

“Speakin’ of, I invited them to Sunday supper tonight. Your mom said it was okay, so I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. It’s always a fun time when I can tease him about datin’ his dad.”

I snort because they do really fight more like siblings than anything, which is hilarious, considering I want to make Noah my wife.

Once we added onto her cottage, there was room for me to move my stuff in so I could stop living out of a duffel bag each night I slept over. She wanted to stay on the ranch, and I wanted to be wherever she was. Jase got a nice commission after he sold my house, so it was a win-win.

I hired a contractor to expand the primary bedroom and kitchen, and add a second bathroom. We both spend hours on our feet each day and deserve a way to relax at night, so I bought the biggest whirlpool tub I could replace. Our nightly tradition is to soak in it together and catch each other up on our day.

“Our breakfast is gettin’ cold, so get dressed and meet me out in the dinin’ room.”

“You cooked?” She points her nose in the air. “Oh my God, you made bacon!”

Laughing, I help her up and hand her one of my T-shirts. “C’mon, let’s feed ya. You’re gonna need your energy for today.”

“Don’t have to convince me.”

After a day of horseback riding and having a picnic lunch off Sunset Trail, we spend the afternoon downtown. Magnolia insisted she come to help Noah replace a new dress for the occasion and get their nails done. They hung out at the salon while I made a pit stop at the jewelry store and then returned with their favorite coffees.

When Noah and I arrive at her parents’ for supper, she’s glowing in a new pink sundress and matching nails. Magnolia talked her into getting a blowout at the dry bar, so I waited while they did that.

But hell, it was worth it.

Noah’s gorgeous on her sickest days, but tonight, she’s goddamn stunning. I can hardly keep my eyes and hands off her. I thought seeing her in a cowboy hat with braids was cute, but her all dressed up and looking happy as ever has me even more excited for tonight.

“Mrs. Hollis, you look lovely.” I kiss her cheek as she greets us in the kitchen.

“You dress up nice yourself, Mr. Underwood.” Her cheekiness makes me grin. She knows what’s coming and has been sworn to secrecy.

We say hello to the rest of her family, and once Jase and Amelia arrive, we take our seats for supper.

Noah’s mom and grandma made her favorite dish, beef baked stew with French bread, and of course, her favorite dessert, peach cobbler.

“One whole year of puttin’ up with my sister. Congrats. You deserve an award.” Wilder holds up his glass, and I tense because Noah won’t put up with his shit.

“Hey,” Noah scolds. “Why not one year of me puttin’ up with him? Misogynistic much?”

“Relax.” Wilder rolls his eyes as he taunts her with a devilish grin. “Anyone who can deal with you that long deserves an award.”

Noah’s lips curve up as she arches a brow toward him. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll be rewardin’ him all night long.”

“Gross,” Jase whispers next to me, and Amelia chuckles.

“What’s that mean?” Mallory blurts out.

My eyes nearly pop out of my head as I look at Noah’s parents. Her dad scowls at Wilder while Mrs. Hollis’s cheeks flame red. Then there’s Gramma Grace, who smiles wide as if she’s just happy to be here.

“Nothin’, sweetie.” Mrs. Hollis points at her plate as a reminder to eat.

“Noah.” I cough out her name in a hushed, scolding tone.

“What? If he can dish it out, then he can take it.”

Her thick drawl has me grinning and shaking my head.

The conversation goes back to ranch and retreat work stuff, as per usual with their Sunday dinners. The closer we get to dessert, the more nervous I get. My palms are slick with sweat, but I try to act unaffected once the peach cobbler is served.

“Gramma, this is so good.” Noah moans as she takes a large bite.

“It really is,” I agree. I love how the hot cobbler tastes with the cold ice cream.

“When do I get the secret recipe so I can learn to make it?” Noah asks her.

“It’s tradition to pass it on at one’s bridal shower,” Mrs. Hollis says.

“You’re jokin’.” Noah makes a face as if she’s not happy with that answer.

“Guess that means we’re never gettin’ it,” Landen quips, and the other boys laugh.

Mr. Hollis kicks him underneath the table. “Your wives will get it.”

“So we gotta be married to get family recipes? That seems very 1950s, Momma.” Noah pouts before shoving another forkful in her mouth.

“Yeah, what if she becomes a nun?” Wilder muses, and by the look on Mr. Hollis’s face, I swear he’s about to send him out onto the porch again.

“Shush your mouth or I’m gonna—” Noah stops when I stand.

I walk over to where I hid the scrapbook I made for her and bring it back to the table.

“What’s this?” she asks when I set it down in front of her.

“I put together a little somethin’ for you. Pictures of us from the past year.”

She slides her plate to the side and looks at the cover where I added a recent photo of us from my birthday.

“Our First Year Together,” she reads aloud. “Oh my gosh, Fisher! Is this what you’ve been workin’ on?”

I lean over and kiss her temple. “I know how much you like capturin’ memories and keepsakes. Figured this was a good way to document our relationship.”

She knew I started this months ago, but I stopped letting her see my progress when I came up with an idea I wanted to surprise her with.

Noah flips through the pages, touching every little greenery and floral piece, then reads where I added in details of the photos. Each new holiday we spent together, adding onto her cottage, us riding together, me trying to teach her how to clip hooves, her attempting to teach me a trick riding stunt that I gave up on, her birthday party from a few months ago, and when I officially moved in with her. So many memories and milestones from the past year that I can’t even remember my life before she was in it.

“Wow, I’m speechless. This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten.” A few tears spill down her cheeks as she looks between me and the pages. “You decorated this so cute, too.”

“I might’ve gotten some help…” I grin up at Mrs. Hollis and Gramma Grace, who helped with the finishing touches.

When she gets to the last two pages, I dig into my pocket and clutch the velvet box.

“Oh no, I think the photo fell out of this frame.” She traces it with her finger before realizing the date written on top is today’s date. “Wait, what’s this mean?”

As soon as I slide out of my chair, I get down on one knee and pull out the box.

She finally looks over and realizes, then covers her mouth with a loud gasp. “Oh my God. Are you just proposin’ so I can get the recipe?”

I laugh, and everyone follows because that is the perfect Noah response.

“No, baby. Although, that’s a happy coincidence.”

I open the ring box and take her hand. “Noah, I have loved you for no less than three hundred and sixty-five days, and if you’d do me the honor of being my wife, I promise to love you for the rest of my life and all the days after. Goldie, will you marry me?”

She nods frantically before finally speaking. “Yes! Yes, I will!”

When she falls into my arms, I hug her to my chest and bury my face in her hair.

“You’ve made me the happiest man in the world, baby,” I whisper in her ear.

“I can’t believe you planned this, and then did it in front of my entire family and Jase!”

I chuckle as we pull apart.

“You’re tellin’ me,” Jase mutters in a lighthearted tone. “I’m not callin’ you Mom.”

“Don’t sass me or no allowance,” Noah taunts in her unserious tone.

Jase shakes his head and blows out a breath. “And so it begins.”

Everyone bursts out laughing, including me.

Taking Noah’s left hand, I slide the diamond onto her ring finger and beam at how beautiful it looks on her. “I hope you like the one I picked out.”

“It’s stunning!” She blinks at it a few times as if she can’t believe it’s really hers. “But I’d wear a paper ring as long as it meant I was yours forever.”

“Taylor Swift!” Mallory squeals at the song reference. I’ve gotten used to those over the past twelve months.

Noah and I lean in for a kiss.

“Okay, picture time!” Mrs. Hollis stands with her phone in her hand. She was tasked with recording the whole thing because I knew Magnolia would want to see it.

We sit side by side, smiling wide at the camera. Noah holds up her hand to show off her new ring. When Mrs. Hollis counts down and gets to one, I turn and beam at my future wife.

The perfect last photo for the final page of our first year together and the start of our forever.