Page 107 of 10 Signs You Need to Grovel

“I would miss so much,” Sadie whispers, her voice cracking.

“Honey, I know. Being away will be hard. I’m not pretending it won’t. But lots of parents travel for work, and your entire life the past ten years has revolved around being a mother and doing for others. This is your time, Sadie. Your chance to spread your wings and see what you can accomplish, and the I-miss-you sex will be fucking fantastic.”

She covers her mouth and laughs. “Am I really doing this?”

“We’re doing this. Together.” I nudge her hand away and kiss her, a soft press that ricochets through me. Yeah, the I-miss-you sex will be mind blowing.

“With that settled.” I guide her toward the final frame on the wall. “We have one more artwork to discuss.”

She’s still shaking slightly, stealing glances at me as we approach the wall, probably overwhelmed with all we’ve discussed. It’s about to get more intense. Like, forever-and-a-day intense.

She gives her head a small shake and appraises the piece. “It’s a purple envelope, and by the perfect angles and folds, I’d say you didn’t make it.”

“Maybe there’s something inside,” I say not so smoothly. I’m buzzing with nervous excitement, not bothering to hide my wide grin.

She scowls at me, but her eyes are dancing. “Desmond Bower.”

“Sadie Jones.”

“What are you up to?”

I nudge her forward. “You’ll find out shortly.”

“If there’s something gross in there, you’re dead.” Tentatively, she pushes to her tiptoes and lifts the envelope flap. When she peers inside, she gasps. “Oh my God.”

By the time her head whips my way, happy tears are shining this time, and I’m already on bended knee. “This only works if you actually take the ring out.”

“Oh my God,” she says again, softer this time, glowing as bright as I hoped.

Reverently, she pulls the engagement ring from the envelope and stares at the small round-cut diamond. The stone is shiny and clear, perched on a slim white-gold band. Nothing fancy. Simple elegance. My entire soul captured in a time-honored gesture.

“It’s gorgeous,” she breathes.

“You’re gorgeous. Now get over here.”

Instead of taking my offered hand, she gets on her knees too, holding the ring between us. Her eyelashes flutter. “What was the artist thinking when he bought this?”

I clasp my hands around hers, both of us holding tight to the ring. “He was thinking he was too young to be so in love.”

She crinkles her nose. “I wouldn’t call thirty-four too young for love.”

“I bought this ring eleven years ago, Sprite.”

Right there. That expression—how her mouth softens and eyes widen, the pink on her cheeks growing deeper. I’d like to frame that look. “Before you left?”

I give a sheepish shrug. “Carried it around with me for weeks, scared of how much I loved you, worrying about stupid things. Planned to propose our last night together, but I obviously chickened out and missed my chance to ask you for forever. But I’m not worried anymore. I mean, I’m still a stupid guy who’ll make stupid mistakes, but you’re it for me, Sadie. You make me a better man. You’re the reason I’m here now, finally pulling myself together, and I love you so much I ache with it. I want to spend forever putting you first and making you and Max happy.”

I take the ring from her trembling hands and slip it on her finger. “Sadie Jones, will you do me the absolute honor of being my wife?”

She nods, tears escaping. “Yes,” she says against my lips, cupping my cheeks and kissing me hard, tugging me closer.

I don’t need the encouragement. This is everything. My promise to quit letting my past dictate my future. Her finally allowing herself to follow her dreams. Us working together to raise a happy, healthy kid, while figuring out the logistics as we go.

Sadie Jones and me, eleven years later, but at the exact right time, finally promising each other forever.

EPILOGUE

Two Months Later