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Tom blinks.
And then he gives me a lopsided smile. “Well okay, then.” He slaps me on the back. “Welcome to the family. If she’ll have you.”
“She’ll have me,” I say determinedly.
I’ve spent the last two months learning exactly how to make Violet happy.
Now it’s time to prove to her that I’m all in.
I’m not worried. I’ve won every important thing I’ve ever gone after.
I see no reason to stop now.
* * *
I go backinto the restaurant just long enough to say goodbye to my colleagues and tell my mom I’ll be out of the office for the rest of the day. I have some personal business to attend to. She doesn’t ask questions, but I’m pretty sure she can tell from my good mood that there’s a grandchild in her future.
Then I text Violet and tell her to cancel all my meetings for the day, take the afternoon off, and meet me at the Empire State Building at 7:00 p.m. It’s going to be nearly impossible to get the top deck reserved at such short notice, but when Violet and I were watching TV the other night she mentioned that she thinks it’s one of the most romantic spots in New York.
And if Violet wants romance, I’m going to get it for her. No matter how much money and how many favors it costs me.
I spend the rest of the afternoon bribing and bullying in equal measure to make logistical miracles happen. But by 7:30 the top deck of the Empire State Building is closed to the public and full of so many flowers you can hardly walk. It will open back up to the public in twenty minutes. But twenty minutes is all I need.
As long as she shows up.
The wind whips and whistles around me, scattering flower petals as the sun sets. And for the first time, I’m nervous.
What if I got this wrong? What if Violet doesn’t want to marry me? What if I don’t have it in me to be the kind of dad I want to be?
My gut twists with a fear I can barely name.What if I lose her?
The doors open, and Violet steps out onto the deck with me. Her hair whips in the wind and her navy-blue coat is buttoned up tight against the chill. She’s so beautiful, it takes my breath away.
As I look at her, my fear fades away, replaced by determination.
This is too important to screw up.
So I won’t.
Violet looks around at all the flowers and the city lights glimmering at our feet, her lips parting in wonder. “Gage. What is all this?”
I cross to her and slowly, deliberately, go down on one knee. “This is a proposal. Marry me, Violet Miller. For real.”
23
VIOLET
Ilook down into Gage’s blue eyes, my heart racing with hope and fear and a million other things I can’t name.
Gage takes my hand and squeezes it. “Normally I’d give you a ring at this point, but you’re already wearing mine. I’m hoping that’s a good omen for me.” His smile is cocky and mischievous, and my heart flips.
I want so badly to say yes to everything he’s offering.
But I can’t. Not until he understands how much more complicated my life is about to get.
I pull him to his feet. “Gage, I need to tell you something. I know I said I was on birth control, but something went wrong, or, I don’t know, something went really, really right. Depending on your perspective. Sorry, I’m babbling.”
He cups my cheek with one of his hands and smiles down at me. “It’s okay, Violet. I know.”
