“Because you’re strong and smart, and you put up with my family. Because you deserve it after everything. You deserve to be loved. Because I just do, Whit. I’ve been in love with you for ages.”
I blink rapidly, my eyes filling with unshed tears.
“Did I break you?” he asks, pressing two fingers to my thundering pulse.
“No…” I say, wetting my lips. “I love you too.”
He grins at that, capturing my words and tucking them into his chest.
“I have something for you, actually,” I say, needing to be brave once more.
I lean over and reach into the end table to pull out that small black box—the one I bought weeks ago.
“Close your eyes.”
He does, his breath coming out heavily.
“Open them,” I whisper.
His eyes widen when he sees what I placed on his chest. “What’s this?”
“Open it.”
He swallows roughly before opening it, seeing the titanium ring inside.
“Whit,” he says, his eyes filling with tears.
“I bought this for you before Thanksgiving. But I never got a chance to give it to you. You don’t need to wear it. But it’s yours. If you want it.”
“Can I try it on?” he asks and then slips it onto his ring finger. It fits perfectly.
His eyes meet mine, and I clearly see the way he feels. The love he has for me, despite it all.
“I love it,” he says and then rests his head on my chest.
He’s silent a moment, that metal ring cold on my warm skin.
“Should I buy you a ring now?” he asks.
That makes my heart beat increase. “If you want.”
He twirls the ring with his finger. “Does this mean we’re really engaged this time?”
I tug on his hair and force him to look at me.
“It’s that easy?” I ask. How can he just forgive me like this? Shouldn’t I have to grovel more?
He shrugs. “Should I play harder to get? Anne says I’m a pushover.”
I huff a small laugh. “No. Not with me.”
“Good, because for you, I’m a total pushover. Get used to it.”
I blink at him, always in a constant state of disbelief that I’m good enough for him. “How did I get so lucky?”
He kisses the tip of my nose, my cheeks, my lips.
And of course it ends up like it always does—him begging for it.
