Love, Utley - Page 179

My niece turns back to face us, hands on her hips.

She moves her gaze up to the beaded chandelier hanging from the ceiling. “That’s cool.”

Maddox shifts beside me. “Reminded me of those baseball necklaces.”

Chelsea smirks. “Kinda does.”

“Maddox…” I whisper.

“No one lives here?” Chelsea points at the floor. “In this room.”

“Not yet.” Maddox shifts his hold on my hand so he can turn to face me. “I’d like to change that though.”

“Maddox, you —”

He shakes his head. “I’m tired of living in an empty house.”

“But…”

He lifts my free hand and presses it to his chest. “I love you, Hannah. I love you, and I’m not missing another fifteen years. I don’t want to miss another fifteen days. I want you with me.”

“I’ll always be with you,” I whisper through more tears. “But—”

“I understand you not wanting to work with me. I don’t agree with it, because I want to see you at the office every day. But I’d rather see you at home every night.” He tips his head toward the room. “And I won’t split up your family. I’d never dream of it.”

Maddox lets go of my hand to brush away the tears that just won’t stop.

“Your house is perfect,” he tells me. “And if you’ll let me, I’d move in there with you three. But we’d need a bigger bed in your room because that atrocity of a mattress just won’t do. I don’t care whose house it is. I just want to be with you.”

I shake my head at the ridiculousness of it all.

Before I can say anything, Mom walks into the room and pats Maddox on the back. “You did a fine job with my room, Maddy. I’ll move in tomorrow.” Then she turns and walks back down the hall.

Maddox’s shoulders relax the smallest amount.

I was so caught up in my own stunned feelings I hadn’t thought about how nervous he must be about showing this to the three of us.

Chelsea moves to the bathroom and flips on the light.

She slowly turns back to face us, her eyebrows high on her head. “My own bathroom?”

Maddox lifts a big shoulder. “Yeah.”

Chelsea whistles. “I dunno, Aunt Hannah. He’s kind of a dork, but this place is nice as hell.”

Maddox snorts, and I feel another layer of tension fall away from him.

“But our house…”

Chelsea drops onto one of the beanbags, melting into the cushion. “Our house has no privacy. And did you see that kitchen?” She lifts her head to look at me. “You know how nice it would be to bake in there? And Max already asked for more cookies for Christmas.”

Max. Because Maddox video called from Arizona, and his brother personally thanked Chelsea for his number nineteen cookie. Before he then asked for more.

“And.” Chelsea points a finger at us. “No offense, but if you guys are gonna be all lovey dovey, we’re gonna need a big house. I don’t want to see that.” Her finger twirls.

Maddox nods. “I understand.”

“And did I say our own bathrooms?” Chelsea repeats.