AllFreeNovel
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It took her a while to find a gig at a new media company. It was a lucky break. A friend of a friend.
She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to manage the work.
But she did.
She was fucking amazing.
Honestly, I don’t understand half her job duties. Something about researching popular media to help the production team decide where to focus their efforts.
She writes long, detailed reports about TV shows, movies, albums. She can analyze the world’s most inane pop song and come up with something brilliant.
She’s really fucking good at her job.
Everyone there loves her.
They tell me how much they love her every time I visit.
I appreciate their praise, but I still remind them she’s mine every fucking time.
And this.
Fuck, if this works—
“Can we steal her?” Quinn jumps right back to her favorite topic: Ilsa. “Just for a few months?”
“You’d never let her go.”
She nods true. “Maybe we should have one.” Her hand goes to her lips. “Did I just say that out loud?”
“Yeah.”
“Pretend I didn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because…” She clears her throat. “You’re scared of commitment.”
“Says who?”
“Me.”
That was true once, but not anymore. “No more than you are.”
“Well… um… I’m not even close to ready for that.” Her gaze shifts to the driver, who is still incredibly uninterested in us. “I, um, I mean it would be fun. The part where we try.”
“It would.”
“But it’s a lot of responsibility. And, uh, I, uh…”
“I think we should.”
“What?”
“Not yet. But eventually.”
“Really?” Her eyes light up. “I mean, I, um, really?”
“Yeah.” I take her hand. “Or maybe I want an excuse to fuck you every day.”
“Since when do you need an excuse?”
“I’ll drop by on your lunch break. Take you in the bathroom.”
Her eyes go wide.
“Or your office.”
She clears her throat.
“You keep doing that and it keeps not working.”
“I’m hoping you get the hint.”
“You know I don’t get hints.”
“How about—” She leans in to whisper. “Stop trying to embarrass me with the driver.”
“How about I keep doing it?”
She shakes her head.
“You gonna keep blushing?”
“Maybe.”
“Then I’m going to keep doing it.”
“You’re evil.”
“I consider that a compliment.”
Her gaze shifts to the window. She watches as the car passes our hotel. “You really want kids?”
“I do.”
“Since when?” she asks.
“I don’t know. Today, maybe.”
Her eyes meet mine. “Today?”
“Maybe.”
“That’s not a long time.”
“Are we going to start trying tonight?” I ask.
“Well… no. But, um… I thought, with your mom—”
“I did too.” I swallow hard. Shit is still messy with my mom. She dragged her feet for a long time. She’s in recovery now, but it feels so tenuous. Like she might slip at any moment.
Our relationship is still messy. But we’re getting there. Slowly.
And even if we don’t, if she stops trying…
I won’t like it. I won’t take it well. But I will survive it.
“Oh.” She presses her lips together. “Well, um, I’ll take that into consideration.”
“Will you?”
She nods. “Yes, like with the sex.”
“Oh?”
“Mhmm.”
“I’m not getting lucky tonight?” I ask.
“You might. You might not.” Her smile lights up her hazel eyes.
Fuck, she really is beautiful. And her joy is everything. And this—
God dammit, this thing must be a million pounds. It’s burning a hole in my pocket. And I can’t even make a stupid joke about how I’m used to carrying something huge.
I can’t tip my hand.
The car turns. Slows to a stop. “We’re here,” the driver says.
“Thanks.” I pay the tab and help Quinn out of the cab.
She looks around the waterfront with wide eyes.
I take her hand. Lead her onto the path. There are miles and miles of cement curving around Lake Michigan.
Every inch of it is beautiful, but this spot is my favorite.
The city glows against the starry sky. The moon casts highlights over the massive lake, the metal railing, the two of us.
Fuck, she looks beautiful like this.
I need a better word, but that shit isn’t my strong suit.
Quinn is lovely. Radiant. Gorgeous. Perfect.
She’s an anxious mess sometimes, she’s awkward as all hell, she still can’t cook to save her life.
But she’s perfect.
Fuck.
I can’t fuck this up.
I squeeze her hand.
For a few minutes, we walk in silence.
Then I stop. It’s not as seamless as I’d like, but I can’t wait for seamless.
I need to do this.
I need her to make this official.
“I’ve been thinking for a while.” I press my hand to the railing.
She turns to the lake. Watches the water rock back and forth.
“This has been a busy year. It’s been hard. Everything with my mom, and flying back and forth to Chicago, and all that shit with Chase.”
She nods.
“I’ve had a lot of bad days. But every time I get home and see you, that shit fades away.” I turn to face her. “You’re the best thing in my life.”
Her eyes meet mine.
“I want you in my life for a long time. Forever.” I take her hand. Lower myself onto one knee.
Her jaw drops.
I pull the ring box from my pocket and pop it open. “Quinn Thorn, will you marry me?”
