Page 110 of Miss Understanding

Chapter Fifty-Three

Liam

After moving Kendall’s things into my place, we settled into our new living arrangement. Although I missed seeing her in the office each day, I was happier to have her to come home to. With each moment we spent together, I felt more and more complete. I savored hearing she loved me. Holding on to her every night. Knowing she was giving us a chance.

Being a part of her first appointment where we got to see our baby on the ultrasound screen filled my heart. Although I might still have some insecurities about my ability to be everything she and this baby deserved, at least I could acknowledge I was a work in progress.

But there was one thing I couldn’t stop thinking about. One thing I wanted more than anything. So on a Saturday morning, I put my plan into motion while she slept in. As soon as I heard her in the bathroom, running the tap, I took a deep breath, ready to go. Game time.

“Morning,” I said, walking in to watch her finish brushing her teeth.

She gave me a toothy grin. “Morning.”

“I have a surprise for you in your side of the closet.”

“Do you now?”

I nuzzled her neck and splayed my hand against her tiny baby bump, wanting nothing more than to get her back in my bed. But I kept my mind on my goal. “Go in and check it out.”

She kissed me lightly before giving me a sleepy smile. “I’m intrigued.”

I grinned when I heard her laughter. Following her into the walk-in closet, I took in the scene of her eying her green, ugly, puffy jacket hanging with her sparkly lavender boots lined up on the shoe rack below. She may have relegated those items to a storage box, but I’d made sure to give them proper placement in our closet.

Her brows went high. “I knew you had a thing for this coat and boots.”

“From the moment I saw you swallowed up in that ugly coat in the Walmart parking lot, trying to get up into the truck, I was gone for you.”

She quirked a brow. “You hid it rather well.”

“Fought it, more like. Check inside the pocket. I think there’s something in it.”

She scrunched up her brow in confusion before wiggling her hand inside the outer pocket. She sucked in a deep breath when her fingers found what I’d hidden inside. After pulling out the platinum-set diamond ring, she looked toward me and pressed her hand against her chest.

“I know you said you want to wait until after the baby, and if it’s truly what you want, we can. But I know what I want. And it’s you, Kendall. I love you. And I want to share my whole life with you. If you want to quit the firm tomorrow and start your culinary classes or begin working at Walsh’s restaurant, I’m supportive.” I’d already told Phil Kinkaid about my relationship with Kendall. He’d been shocked. But I was done hiding it. And if living with Kendall meant I wouldn’t get the named partnership, then so be it. For once I wasn’t the one hoping to feel good enough. I was flipping the tables, recognizing I didn’t want my name on a firm that didn’t value family.

“I wouldn’t have insurance if I quit my job. Or maternity leave.”

“You would have my insurance if you marry me.”

“You want me to marry you for your health insurance?”

“I want you to marry me so we can fly both our families to Hawaii next month, and they can watch me stand in front of the very best thing that’s ever happened to me and pledge my eternal love. I want to marry you because I dream of spending our weekends binge watching Little House on the Prairie with your nan—with the exception of that blind school fire episode which made Game of Thrones look tame—and learning how to make pasta, or maybe just eating it because, I’ll admit, it’s much sexier watching you do it than helping you. I want to have dinner with your family every Sunday. And finally, I want to marry you because the rest of our lives still doesn’t seem like enough time to love you.”

She stood there, a hand over her mouth as she watched me drop to one knee.

“So with all of that, will you marry me?”

“But, it’s early and….”

“The pregnancy changes nothing. I want you to be my wife. Period. And I should tell you now, I’m not accustomed to not getting my way.”

She smirked. “You do realize you’re not doing yourself any favors by challenging me to say no.”

I swallowed hard, my stomach flipping. “It’s a joke. My way of masking the fear you’re going to reject me.” All this bravado and confidence had been a façade over the years. But in this moment, I was putting it all out there.

Unexpectedly, she got down on her knees, too, cupping my face. “The answer is yes, Liam. A hundred times yes.”

I kissed her with relief, joy, and love. My heart was fuller than I’d ever experienced. Sealing the deal, I put the ring on her left ring finger. “Let’s take this back to the bed to celebrate.”