AllFreeNovel
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”Is that my girl?” Braden says. “Naw, it can’t be. How is my baby walking so good already?”
He comes over and sweeps Harper into his arms. It makes my heart happy. After all the shit we’ve been through, that we’ve made it this far… I’m so grateful. I just hope this news doesn’t mess any of that up.
We’re in a much better place now, right?
Right.
“How was the trip?” Braden asks.
“Good. It was good.”
He tilts his head at me and smiles. “Good? Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I just need to tell you something.” Great, my voice is all weird and pitchy.
“Come on.” He nods to a nearby table and we sit. He bounces Harper on his lap, making her giggle. “What’s up?”
“I—well—okay, I’m just gonna say it. Vince asked me to marry him. I said yes. We’re engaged.” I stare at him way too intensely, waiting for his reaction.
His brow furrows slightly. Then, in a chipper voice, he says, “Okay.”
“Okay…?”
A sly smile creeps onto his face before it breaks into a laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“Who? What? What’s going on?”
His laughter grows until I give his leg a quick kick. He clears his throat and turns to me. “Sorry. Just… I know.”
“What?”
“Vince came to talk to me like a month ago. I knew he was going to propose. I assumed you’d say yes—”
My eyes go to the window. Vince, who is parked directly outside the building, is watching us and laughing.Jerk.
“I knew he was too easygoing about me coming in here alone. I can’t believe him.”
“You were so worked up. It was hard keeping a straight face when you walked in.”
I bite at my cheek as I look at him. “So, we’re good?”
He looks at me sincerely, then reaches for my hand. “Yeah, we’re good. Promise. Congratulations, by the way. I know this has been a tricky area for us, but I really am happy for you two.”
“Thank you.”
“Let’s see it.”
“Huh?”
“The ring.” He nods toward my conveniently hidden hand.
I pull it out and let him see. His eyes get huge. “Damn. Is Vince secretly loaded? That’s a hell of a ring.”
“It was Ella’s.” The words cause emotion to swell inside me. No matter how many times I say it, the weight of what that means hits me hard.
