Page 95 of Blooming
It wasn’t the wrong tag. It was the right one, I knew it as soon as I read the words engraved on it.
But it didn’t sayAster.
marry me?
I remembered an evening, almost a year ago, and just a few dozen feet away, when we’d danced in the nursery, exhausted and uncertain, but together. Being together had been all that mattered in that moment. And Milo had said, if he ever proposed to me, he might have to enlist the help of a kitten. Because I could never say no to a kitten.
I chuckled, heart swelling at the thought of my perfect dork of a boyfriend.
No. Fiancé.
Because there was no way I’d ever say no to him, either.
Milo peeked back into the room at that moment. I might’ve kept him in suspense, but I couldn’t stop myself from grinning at him like he was the most incredible thing I’d ever seen.
Because, well, he was. I’d always thought so.
“I love you,” I said, not wanting him to wonder for another second. “And I obviously can’t say no to a kitten.”
“So…?” he asked, rubbing nervously at the door frame.
“I’ll marry you,” I said, feeling another swell of love and joy at how perfect he was. “I would’ve married you a year ago.”
“Today’s our one-year anniversary,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Y’know, from when we decided we were boyfriends. In the hospital.”
“I would’ve married you then if you’d asked,” I said. “I’d been in love with you for months.”
“Oh,” Milo looked down, smiling his shiest smile down at the carpet. “Well. Same.”
“Milo,” I said, ducking my head to catch his gaze. He glanced up at me, still smiling like he always did, pretty eyes so hopeful I couldn’t stand it anymore.
I set Aster aside and climbed out of bed, crossing the room in a heartbeat, sealing our mouths together, curling one hand around his shoulder and tangling my fingers in his hair with the other, pulling him close.
Milo made a surprised noise, but he didn’t even hesitate to kiss me back.
I laughed into his mouth, heart soaring.
I couldn’t wait to call him my husband.
