Prologue

Summer, 2006

Sage leaned against the counter as he worked the cork out of the bottle and his heart broke as he watched Maddie sob into a throw pillow. Fuck you, Shane. I hope your dick falls off and you have spectacularly ugly children, he decided then shook his head. How could he? He filled their wine glasses then silently prayed as he went back in.

“I was thinking we could do it on the slopes this time,” he said as he handed her a glass then lowered onto the couch next to her.

“What?” She asked as she curled her feet under her and snuggled against his side.

“The wedding,” he said then kissed her hair. She laughed softly as she tightened her arm around him.

“How old were we the first time we got married?” She asked and his eyes narrowed as he tried to recall.

“I remember you looked stunning with your nose plugs and goggles, so…five or six? You learned how to hold your breath without having to plug your nose the summer we turned seven,” he said and she nodded.

“An underwater wedding was so ahead of its time. We were little innovators, you and I,” she said.

“We were. But the Halloween wedding was my favorite,” he stated and she hummed in agreement.

“We had to do it. You were Han and I was Leia. My bouquet was made of Tootsie Pops, it was perfect,” she said and Sage hissed.

“You’re forgetting about the pumpkin you carried when we got married on that field trip to the maze and the pumpkin patch. People should have more autumnal themed weddings,” he said and she shook her head.

“That pumpkin was so impractical. It was heavy and we thought I broke your toe. Thanks for not holding that against me,” she said and Sage chuckled as he squeezed her.

“It was perfect, until you dropped it on my foot,” he said and she sighed. It caught and became watery and she burrowed into him.

“I wish I could marry you. You’re the only who’s never let me down and the only one willing to do it.”

“Hush. This isn’t about you. He knew you were too good for him but he lied until the very end because he didn’t want to lose you. You’re perfect, Maddie,” he insisted. She snorted then took a long drink from her glass.

“Why is she having his baby, if I’m so perfect?” She asked and Sage shut his eyes and swore under his breath.

“Men are pigs. I don’t know why men cheat but I know it’s because he’s fucked up, not because of you,” he promised.

“I really thought it was going to happen with him. I was so ready. We talked about having a family and he told me he couldn’t wait to be a dad. It’s so unfair!” She cried as she pushed her face into his chest and he shushed her as he rubbed her back.

“You’re going to be an amazing mother one day,” he insisted.

“What if I don’t find a decent guy before it’s too late?” She asked as she looked up at him. Her eyes were red and puffy and her nose was raw. Sage shushed her again as he kissed her forehead.

“Then you can have a baby with me,” he said and she made a dismissive sound.

“Whatever,” she said and Sage shrugged.

“Why not?” He said. Seriously? Why not? It’s not like I’m ever going to have kids, he thought then shrugged again. “You don’t have to wait for the right guy to come along. You’re a real estate badass and everything you touch turns to gold. You don’t need a man for anything and you’ve always wanted to be a mom. You don’t need to be married to do that. If you want to have a baby, I’ll help you,” he offered and her eyes became huge.

“Holy shit. You’re serious!” She said and he nodded. He hadn’t given the idea any thought until a few seconds earlier but the more he turned it over in his head, the more sense it made.

“You’re going to make an amazing mother but I don’t know if you’ll ever find a man who deserves you. It doesn’t have to be now, Maddie. Go about your life and see when it makes sense for you. Maybe knowing I’m your parachute will take some of the pressure off of you. Focus on yourself and your career and if the right guy comes along, go with it. If he doesn’t, I’ll be here and you don’t have to give up on being a mom,” he explained and he was afraid he’d made things worse as tears pooled in her eyes.

“I love you so much!” She gasped. “I don’t know how I feel about being a single mom but I think it does take a lot of the pressure out of it. I won’t settle because I know I’ve got you,” she said and he smiled.

“Always. You were always there for me and stood by me when a lot of people didn’t,” he said and she shrugged.

“It sucks that other people are so stupid but you’ve always been my best friend and the man of dreams. That’s why I made you marry me a hundred times.”

“I’d do it all again in a heartbeat, Maddie the Catastrophe,” Sage whispered as he twined their fingers together and pressed his lips against her hair.