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That’s not entirely true, I remind myself. I do have feelings for Ivy.
You were not planning on proposing, a voice inside my head says.
Maybe not, but I would have at some point.
Then tell her your reasons.
I shake off the conversation going on in my head. I might have agreed to propose to Ivy to save the clinic, but I’m also excited about having Ivy as my fiancée.
Her hand feels so soft in mine. So vulnerable. Protective feelings well up inside me, and I feel so happy that I’m proposing to her. As her fiancé, I’ll be able to take care of her the way I want to. My mouth goes dry. I draw in a long, deep breath.
“Ivy Martin, will you marry me?” I know I should have had a whole speech lined up, but that will feel like a lie.
Her face creases into a gentle smile. “Oh, Alec, you don’t have to propose to me to get me to move in with you.”
That takes me aback. So much has happened in a short time that I forgot I’d asked Ivy to move in with me.
“I promise, that’s not why I’m proposing to you. I’ve never felt about another woman the way I feel about you. I want you in my life permanently. I want us to raise our baby together.”
Her eyes fill up with tears. “Oh, Alec,” she nods vigorously. “I never thought I would say this, but yes, I’d love to marry you.”
Syrupy warmth spreads across my chest. I bury my head on Ivy’s lap, and she caresses my head. I’m so happy. Stupidly happy.
After a moment, I raise my head and lean forward to kiss her on the lips. She gives me her finger, and I slip on the ring. It’s a perfect fit.
She stares at her hand. “It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.”
We kiss. A long one this time. We forget that we are on the porch. A shooting pain rips through my back, and I break the kiss. I stand up, and the pain disappears. Ivy stands up too.
“I want to call Molly and my parents,” she says with a huge smile on her face.
My heart skips a beat. It’s becoming very real.
“I wish they could see my ring.”
“Make it a video call,” I suggest.
Ivy slaps her forehead. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
32
Ivy
I shouldn’t be this nervous considering that I’m Alec’s fiancée and his baby’s mother.
“Do they know we’re engaged?” I ask Alec in the car. He’s quiet for so long it makes me wonder whether he heard my question.
“They’ll find out soon enough. My brothers will be bummed that I beat them to it.” A chuckle fills the car, but it sounds strained.
Is Alec worried about telling his family that we’re engaged? Confusion whirls in my mind. Alec is the most composed person I know, so seeing him fazed leaves me with a weird feeling.
“We don’t have to tell them tonight,” I tell him.
“Why would you say that?” he says, glancing at me genuinely perplexed.
“You seem nervous.”
