“I’m really not mad.” Her voice softened. “Do I seem that petty to you?” Then she nudged him playfully. “Now, start the movie.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Brady grinned and set it up.

Once it started, he snuggled up to her on the couch, their shoulders touching.

“Here.” He held out a plate, feeding her a bite every now and then.

As he continued, Colleen turned to him. Her voice softened. “If my family never agrees to us… how long would you wait?”

A trace of worry lingered in her eyes—worry that he might grow tired of waiting and give up someday.

Brady raised an eyebrow and offered her a piece of watermelon. “I’d wait as long as I had to.”

“Really?” She puffed her cheeks in mock doubt. “Liar. What if it takes a lifetime?”

“Well…” He tilted his head, chuckling. “I’ve got age on my side, don’t I?”

“Hey!” Colleen gasped, pretending to glare. “Are you calling me old?” She raised her fist and swung playfully.

“No, no!” Brady laughed, catching her wrist.

Then, more quietly, he added, “I can’t promise forever… but five years, ten years—I can wait.”

He smiled, and the dimples at the corners of his mouth deepened, just like Hadley’s.

“In five or ten years, I should be able to win your family over. If not…” He shrugged with a teasing grin. “Then I really must be hopeless.”

His honest answer struck something deep in Colleen.

She sniffled and asked, half-joking, “Then what if it takes fifteen, twenty years? Would you still wait?”

I€$? ￠tя? ?η ga?n?νεl?.c

“Fifteen, twenty years?” Brady paused, thinking it over. Then he shook his head. “No. I wouldn’t wait that long.”

“Brady!”

“Wait—just listen,” he said gently, trying to calm her. “It’s not that I’d give up. It’s just too long… I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t want you stuck waiting forever.” He smiled brightly and sincerely.

Reaching up, he gently brushed her cheek. “You’re amazing, Colleen. Even without me, you’d find someone who truly sees that—someone who loves you and treats you right.”

At his words, her chest tightened. A dull ache stirred beneath her smile. “You’re really good at saying things like that.”

But later, when she lay in bed alone, remembering every word, she realized he hadn’t been sweet-talking. He meant every bit of it.

A week passed. Hadley’s phone rang. It was Eric’s voice on the other end.

“Everything’s in place. We move tomorrow night.”

Over the phone, Eric could sense Hadley’s unease, her voice trembling with worry. “Relax, everything’s under control. Just sit tight for my update.”

“Alright,” Hadley replied, exhaling deeply in an attempt to steady her nerves. “I’ll wait.”

.

.

.