Chapter 1
Rose Drake
It was Christmas.
My favorite time.
I just enjoyed any holiday when my family could come together.
My brother was staying.
He’d go back to Nashville when needed, but he was back.
It made me happy for Luna.
She missed him.
Just like I missed Tyler.
Tyler wasn’t supposed to happen.
It just did.
He’s my cousin’s boyfriend’s best friend.
We just instantly clicked.
Tyler was so easygoing.
Carefree.
Talented.
So fucking smart.
I wasn’t supposed to fall for him.
But I did.
Harmony pulled me into a conversation.
“How are you doing?”
I sighed. “I’m hanging in.”
“Is Tyler supposed to be down?”
I shrugged. “I know he had a little time off, but not long. So I have no idea.”
She smiled sadly at me.
"Ryder hasn't talked to him much."
I smirked. "That's because I'm cooler than Ryder."
Harmony and I both laughed.
"Don't tell Ryder that."
I laughed.
Harmony and I kept talking and laughing.
How we always did.
Then the room was too quiet.
I frowned.
Slowly turned my head toward the door and froze.
No fucking way.
Was that Tyler?
I blinked.
Then rubbed my eyes.
It fucking looked like him.
I looked around the room.
My eyes landed on Luna.
She smiled and nodded at me.
My eyes filled with tears.
I looked back at Tyler.
Didn't think.
I just ran.
He barely had time to set his duffel down before I was in his arms.
He caught me.
Of course he did.
A laugh escaped his lips as he lifted me effortlessly off the ground.
Spinning me around.
The entire barn erupted into cheers and laughter.
"How?" I cried.
Tyler rested his forehead against mine.
"I've got a week."
The tears I’d tried to hold back weren’t holding back anymore.
They were spilling from my eyes.
"I missed you," I said.
“I know.”
He gently brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I missed you too.”
I didn't say anything else, I just cupped his face with both of my hands and kissed him.
It had been too long since we'd kissed.
Tyler smiled into the kiss, wrapping his arms around me again.
He held me.
Like he wasn't planning on letting me go anytime soon.
Holy fuck.
I missed him.
Six months.
Too long.
I didn't want to let him go.
He eventually tucked me to his side.
I felt like if I let go, he'd disappear.
He grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers together.
He gave my hand a gentle squeeze.
“I’m here, Rosey.”
My lip wobbled.
Damn him.
I quickly brushed at the fresh tears rolling down my cheeks.
Emerson walked over.
A smile on his face.
He pulled Tyler into a hug.
Best hug he could manage with me plastered to Tyler.
I wasn't letting him go.
Tyler laughed.
“Good to have you home, man.”
Tyler hugged my brother back.
“It’s good to be home.”
Emerson stepped back.
Tyler looked down at me.
I was already looking at him.
I honestly couldn't believe he was here.
Eventually everyone got their turn with Tyler.
Hugs.
Handshakes.
Back slaps.
A few jokes.
Once everyone got it out of their system, Tyler pulled me over to the couch.
I curled against his side.
I just stayed snuggled against him.
I wasn’t paying attention to anyone.
I was just happy he was here.
This was real.
Tyler rubbed his fingers against my arm.
I peeked up and smiled at him.
He smiled back.
Ryder clearing his throat had me looking in their direction.
“Harmony.”
She turned toward him.
“What?”
The room slowly grew quiet.
Every conversation faded.
Harmony looked around.
“Why is everyone looking at me?”
No one answered.
She narrowed her eyes.
“...Ryder.”
He walked over to her.
“Harmony...”
“What are you doing?” she whisper-yelled.
A few people chuckled.
I looked over at Tyler.
He was grinning.
Oh fuck.
No way.
He was going to fucking propose.
She shot all of us a glare before looking back at him.
“I love you.”
Her expression softened instantly.
“I love you too.”
“You walked into my life when I wasn’t looking for anybody.”
He smiled to himself.
“Truth is... I wasn’t even sure I deserved somebody.”
A tear slipped down Harmony’s cheek.
Tears slipped down my cheeks too.
“But then you happened.”
He took both of her hands.
“You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
“You made me laugh again.”
“You made me want a future.”
His voice cracked.
“You became my home.”
Silence filled the barn.
Ryder slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
Harmony’s hands flew to her mouth.
Tyler’s fingers stilled against my arm.
Ryder pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and opened it.
“Princess...”
He smiled through watery eyes.
“Will you marry me?”
Harmony was already nodding before he’d even finished asking.
Oh my gosh.
Ryder you cheesy fool.
I couldn't help but grin.
Tyler looked down at me.
A smile on his face.
“Yes.”
She laughed through her tears.
“Yes.”
“Yes!”
The room went nuts.
I couldn't believe it.
My cousin was getting married.
My aunt and my uncle were crying.
Honestly, Uncle Austin was probably freaking out inside.
Harmony was the oldest.
His first baby.
Now she's getting married.
I dabbed at my eyes.
Shit.
Fuck you Ryder for making me cry.
Also fuck you Tyler.
But I couldn't be mad at either of them.
I wanted this.
Not the ring.
Not the proposal.
Just him.
Here.
A life where six months didn’t pass between kisses.
I wasn't going to lose this time with him.
Not a second.
Wherever he was, I'd be.
That is, if he wanted me there.
A while later, our family started opening gifts.
The barn was full of love and laughter.
I was happy.
I had Tyler.
I had my family.
I looked over at my mom.
She smiled at me.
“I love you,” she mouthed.
I smiled at her. “Love you too.”
Tyler shifted beside me and stood up.
I looked up at him.
He shook his head.
“I’ll be right back.”
I nodded.
He went over to his duffel and dug around.
He pulled out a small box and another wrapped box.
My heart thumped against my chest.
Nerves taking over.
Tyler walked back over to me.
I could see he was nervous.
His leg bounced.
He did this wrinkle with his nose when he was nervous.
I smiled.
“What is it?”
He took a deep breath.
I narrowed my eyes.
“Why are you nervous?”
“I’m not.”
I raised an eyebrow.
His nose wrinkled again.
Liar.
“I got you a gift, Rosey.”
My heart did that thing it had been doing since he came here.
“I see that,” I teased.
He rolled his eyes and handed me the little box.
My hands shook as I took it.
I pulled at the little pink bow, a smile spreading across my face.
I lifted the lid.
My breath caught as I took in the charm bracelet.
Oh my God.
It was gold.
My favorite type of jewelry.
My fingers brushed over the charms.
There were four.
The first one was a camera.
My eyes started to water.
“The camera is for your passion.”
He laughed. “You carry that damn thing everywhere.”
I let out a watery laugh.
I touched the next one.
It was a seashell.
I gasped, meeting Tyler’s eyes.
His looked shiny too.
“That’s where we met.”
Okay.
That did it.
The tears were falling now.
“Plus, I know you love the beach.”
I smiled at that.
He was right.
I did love the beach.
Mainly, I loved my family being in one spot.
Us having a full month together around the Fourth of July.
His hand squeezed my thigh.
I looked back at the next charm.
My fingers tracing it.
A football.
He didn't have to explain this one.
I knew it was for him.
The next one was a heart.
My fingers stilled, and my eyes met his.
“That one...” He cleared his throat.
My pulse sped up.
“Is because I love you.”
I met his eyes.
"I love you, Rosey."
My vision was blurry.
I was crying hard right now.
"You asshole." I mumbled through a watery laugh.
His eyebrows shot up.
“What the fuck did I do?”
I laughed harder, wiping uselessly at my cheeks.
“You made me cry.”
His shoulders relaxed.
“Jesus Christ, Rosey. I thought I fucked up.”
I shook my head and grabbed his face.
“I love you too.”
He leaned forward, his lips brushing softly against mine.
Oh my god this fool.
I'm tired of crying today.
Tyler showing up.
Ryder proposing to my cousin.
Then these damn charms and their meanings.
God.
He pulled away leaning his forehead against mine.
"I have one more."
I sighed.
"Don't make me cry again."
“Sorry.” He laughed, but it sounded a little watery too.
I saw the unshed tears in his eyes.
I reached for the other gift.
It was bigger.
I pulled the box apart and pulled out the leather-bound photo book.
I gave him a look.
He just nudged me.
“Just look at it.”
I sighed.
The first page was a photo of me.
I stilled.
My eyes watered again. “Damn you.”
He chuckled.
There were photos from our trip.
One of us.
Then the photos changed.
There were some of a sunset.
It wasn’t the beach.
Nashville.
“You took all these?”
He shrugged. “Most of them.”
I looked back down at a picture of myself laughing, my camera hanging around my neck.
“Why?”
His thumb brushed over my knee.
“You’re always behind the camera.”
I looked at him.
He smiled.
“Figured somebody should take pictures of you for once.”
