“Well, yeah,” Charlie replied, yawning. “I told you it would happen eventually.”
“But in a jail?” I demanded, completely incredulous as to how Charlie had written it.
Charlie grinned. “Okay, it’s not the most romantic setting, I admit.”
When he’d said that Tremaine would propose, I’d expected something a little more… I don’t know. Hearts and flowers? Not in jail when his lover was the prime suspect in a murder case.
“So you’re done reading for the night? Because I’m very tired.”
“But… but….”
“Are you upset because it wasn’t a really sweet gesture? Could you really see Tremaine getting down on one knee and asking Lucien to spend their lives together?”
Well, no. Now that he said it that way, it would have seemed weird. “No, I guess not.”
“He’s not really one for over-the-top declarations,” Charlie reminded me. “Me, on the other hand….” Charlie slipped a hand into his pocket and withdrew a pewter gray box. He opened the lid, and inside was a brushed metal band with gold edging on the top and bottom. My shoulders started shaking as he got down on one knee. “Do me a favor, would you? Read the dedication to the book.”
I flipped back to the beginning and started to read.
This book is for Matt, the love of my life, who brings me joy that I couldn’t find anywhere but in his arms. If he’s reading this, I need him to answer a question for me. Do you think you might wanna marry me?
I began to cry. I looked up at Charlie, who had gone blurry around the edges. “Really?” I squeaked.
“You’re the only thing in my life I need to keep,” he said, his voice husky. “Life just makes more sense when you’re in it. So what do you say?”
Married? Me? I had honestly never considered it before, even with Charlie here.
“You’re not saying anything,” Charlie said quietly. “If you don’t feel ready—”
“Yes.”
“Yes… what?”
I cupped his cheeks in my hands and pulled him toward me. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He chuckled. “I love you, and tonight I’d like to show you how much.”
Did he mean….Oh hell.
