Dad exhales and his shoulders drop. “Thank you for understanding. It’s been difficult between my two boys. I wish it didn’t have to be like this.”

Josh steps into the living room, hands in his pockets. We all look at him, waiting for him to offer Raegan an apology like Dad.

He shrugs. “Sorry.”

Anger courses through me. I open my mouth to say something, but Raegan’s hand pats my shoulder. “I’ve got this,” she says.

She walks toward Josh, a small smile on her sweet, innocent face. When she gets in front of him, her fist rockets toward his face. Mom gasps, and Josh rears back, pinching his nose as blood spills out of his nostrils. My jaw drops.

Raegan steps closer to him, pointing her finger in his face. “That wasn’t for me.”

“Then what the hell was that for?” he asks, backing away from her.

“That was for screwing around with Jaxon’s ex.”

I don’t try to fight the smile that’s spreading across my face. I pull Raegan to my side and plant a kiss on the top of her head. “I can’t wait to see what you do to him for stealing the ring.”

She smiles. “I’m not going to retaliate against him for the ring.”

“You’re not?” Josh and I ask at the same time.

“Everything that happened has led us to this point,” she says, looking around the room. “Jaxon and I might not be together if Josh never stole the ring. It was a crazy roller coaster ride, but we’re here. So I’d like to put all of this behind us now and start fresh. A clean slate.”

Raegan walks over to my father and extends her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Waters. You and your wife have a lovely home.”

Dad chuckles, shaking her hand. “Thank you, Raegan. It’s a pleasure to meet the girl who captured my son’s heart.”

“Let’s all have a seat at the table.” Mom ushers us into the dining room. “Dinner’s ready.”

We take our seats and dig in.

It’ll take me some time to forgive my father for conspiring against me, but I know I’ll get there. As for Josh, who’s sitting across from me with a bloody tissue shoved up his nose, I don’t think things will ever be okay between us. Maybe he’ll change. Maybe he won’t.

Either way, I’ll always have the memory of Raegan punching him.

I look at the beautiful woman beside me, who’s icing her swollen hand.

God, I love this woman.

Epilogue: Two Years Later

Jaxon

“Happy Anniversary, baby.”

Raegan clinks her glass against mine. “Happy Anniversary.”

“Can you believe we’re here? After everything we’ve been through.”

Her eyebrow arches. “You mean after everything you put me through?”