Page 91 of Imperfect Match (Imperfect Match 1)
“You’re not?”
He shook his head. “No. Because even though I know I’m not perfect, I’m not my father. You were right. I don’t think like him, and I’m not doomed to make the mistakes he made.”
“No,” I say, tears making his face go blurry. “You’re not. But how do I know you’re really ready to commit to a future with me? I’m done fooling around, Reid. I’m ready for the next stage of my life to begin. How can I trust that you are too?”
He takes me by the shoulders, his expression serious. “I know you’re scared, and I don’t blame you. If you’ve been half as miserable as I have this week, you never want to go through this again. But I’m asking you to give me a chance. Let me prove to you that I mean what I’m saying. That I can make you happy. That I will be the man you want me to be.”
All of this sounds perfect. It’s what I’ve hoped, prayed, and dreamed he’d say all in one fell swoop. And while he might not be scared, I sure as hell am. “I can’t endure losing you again,” I confess as a tear falls down my face.
“Believe me, Willow, I can’t handle the idea of it either. I was a fucking basket case.”
“In the elevator …”
I don’t want to remember it, but it was utter agony for me. I wanted to rush into his arms, take the comfort of my best friend, but he was the cause of the pain.
“What about it?”
“You were fine!”
He shakes his head. “I was the furthest thing from that, Willow. I was a coward, but I wasn’t fine. But in a way, I’m glad I had to see you. It made me see everything so clearly. Looking at you, being that close to you, but not being able to have you was too much. I’d had enough of being ruled by my past.”
“How did you figure all this out?”
“I saw him.”
“Who?”
“My father,” he says as he takes a step closer. “I went there. I wanted answers from him. I needed to know why he was such a piece of shit and a coward.”
“Did he tell you?” Another tear falls. I imagine him standing there, asking his father to explain himself, knowing how hard that must’ve been.
“That’s the thing.” Reid captures my face in his hands. His eyes are full of emotion as he looks down at me. “I didn’t care about those answers anymore, Wills. I got the answer to the only question that mattered and it didn’t even come from him.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It came from you. The way you looked at me. The way you smile. The way you’re strong in your convictions even when it meant walking away from me. You would never become my mother and I am nothing like my father.”
A sob breaks from my chest and Reid pulls me tight in his arms. As he holds me, my world starts to piece itself back together. “I told you,” I mutter and he chuckles.
“I know you did. I wasn’t ready to hear it. I will never treat you like he treats my mother. Our kids won’t have to wonder if I love them because it would never be in question.”
“Tell me this isn’t a dream.” My eyes meet his again and even through the blurry tears that continue to fall, I see the honesty there.
He wants this. He wants us. Not some half-assed relationship—he wants it all. Reid slayed his dragon so he could come back and win me.
“No, sweetheart, it’s not a dream. But I have one more thing …” Then he takes my hands in his and drops to his knee. My eyes are wide and my heart is racing.
“Reid …” I say, giving him the out because he has to be out of his mind.
“I know I don’t deserve you. I know you’re better than me in every way. I’ve lived the last seven days without you, and I never want to live another one like that. I want to wake up beside you, kiss you, make love to you. I want to give you the family you want. There will never be a day that you don’t know how much I love you. I want to watch you walk down the aisle, give you as many kids as you want, and grow old beside you. So I’m asking you Willow Hayes, will you marry me?”
My heart is pounding as I stare down at this man I love with my whole heart. This is everything I’ve ever wanted to hear and nothing I thought I ever would. “Yes,” I say, and then inhale, trying to hold it together. “Yes, yes, yes!”
His smile is triumphant as he gets to his feet. He pulls me to his chest and then his lips are on mine. Our mouths move together, and my fingers hold his face to mine. I wasn’t sure I would ever do this again. I thought it was gone forever, and now, I don’t think I can stop.
I love him so much it hurts.
Reid puts me back down and breaks the kiss. He steps back, reaching into his pocket. “I got so swept up, I completely forgot this part.” He pulls out a little black box. “This wasn’t a kneejerk reaction. You see, I was walking back after my talk, knowing that you were the only thing in the world I wanted and when I looked up, I was in front of a jewelry store.” He opens the box, showing me the stunning pear-shaped diamond ring nestled in the velvet slot. “I looked in the window and there was this ring. I didn’t hesitate one second. I knew right then it was meant to be on your hand.”
