I told myself to choose door number two, but old habits die hard and door number one ripped off the damn hinges when I opened my mouth. “And what if we don’t work?”
She laughed. Like literally laughed right in my damn face. “Since when has that ever been an option for us? You told me yourself that you didn’t even have to chase me for the world to bring me back to you. Well, guess what? I’m sick of running. I’m sick of pretending this isn’t where I belong.” She grinned, playful and flirty. “And fine, I’m sick of denying that fate ever had another plan for me.”
I believed in fate. Always had, but I’d never honestly cared whether she did or not. In that moment, when I heard her say those words, it mattered.
It mattered because it meant she understood that there was something bigger for us out there.
A plan.
A purpose.
A forever.
And finally, it was all within our reach.
Hoarse with emotion, I replied, “I’m kinda sick of all that too.”
“Good.” Her smile stretched and she walked her fingers up my chest. “Then, Bowen Michaels, will you make me the happiest woman alive and marry me?”
My whole body went rock solid. Holy fucking left field. I had not been expecting that.
I had but one answer.
“No.”
Her face fell and her back shot straight. “What? Why the hell not?”
I suddenly sat up, plucking her off my lap and setting her beside me. “Because you’re not proposing to me.” I stood and planted my hands on my hips. “That’s my job.”
“Yeah,” she scoffed. “And you already did it once.”
“Yeah,” I mimicked. “But you don’t remember it.”
“So?” She curled her lip.
“So, if we’re doing this, I’m going to fucking do it right. I’ll get you a new ring and plan some—”
“I don’t want a new ring. Do you still have my old one?” She rose on her knees and peered up at me.
“No. I mean…yes, I do. But I want you to have something that’s special. Something…Remi Grey.”
Pressing her palm against my stomach, she forced me back a step and then climbed off the mattress to stand in front of me. Hooking her pinky with mine, she swung our hands. “But you already bought a ring for Remi Grey, and I’ve never worn it. Bowen, the past exists. I think we both failed at trying to erase it or change it. The more we try to avoid it, the more it will become the wall that divides us. The only way we are ever going to work is by facing our history head on and learning from the mistakes. Together. Always together.” She pushed up onto her toes and didn’t so much as kiss me as she spoke against my lips. “I want to marry you. I don’t care if you propose or I do. Old ring, new ring, no ring. It’s not the how, what, when, or where that matter. I know the who. The who will always be you.”
Fuck. Me.
Fucking fuck me.
I was a man who’d just gotten proposed to and I couldn’t find it in myself to give the first damn. She wanted to marry me. Make a life with me. Spend forever with me. That was enough. It would always be enough.
“In that case, I will absolutely, one hundred percent, without question, marry you, Remi Grey.” I kissed her hard and fast and then folded her hand in mine. “Come with me.”
She giggled as I dragged her through the house at the speed of two wide-eyed kids who were up to no good. When we reached my bedroom—fuck, our bedroom—I sat her on the edge of the bed, snatched open the drawer on my nightstand, and started digging.
“You kept this,” she breathed, leaning over me, pulling out the framed photo of us from when we’d first started dating. I’d packed it away when we’d started dating again so she wouldn’t see it, but I’d moved it to my nightstand as of recently. I couldn’t bear to leave it out, but it was always there if I needed it.
She traced her fingers over my face. “I’m so stupid.” She lifted her eyes to mine and laughed. “You never had a beard in my dreams. I always felt so safe and comfortable with you that I never thought about it.”
I found the little black box and closed the drawer. “I can shave it off if you want.”
She squinted one eye and tilted her head from side to side, examining my face. “Nah. This version of you is my favorite.”
“Good call. I think it solidifies my whole edgy, bad-boy vibe that really sets me apart from the other nerds.”
“Oh, absolutely.” She turned the picture in my direction. “This guy? Geek central.”
Chuckling, I shook my head.
“Hey, do you think we can leave it out? I mean, just look at these kids. They are too damn happy to be hidden away in a drawer.”
