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“You can teach our kid,” he says stubbornly.
I cross my arms. “Why do you have such a problem with me working?”
He runs a hand through his hair. “I guess...I just think it’s important for a kid to have at least one stay-at-home parent. My mom never worked until she had to. That was the best part of my childhood, when my dad was alive and my mom was always home.”
He sounds so wistful it makes my heart ache. Part of me wants to rush into his arms and agree to everything he’s offering. Sure, his version of Happy Ever doesn’t match up with mine. But what he’s offering is so much better than most women get.
Unfortunately, there’s a stubborn voice inside of me that I can’t quite shake. “If you think it’s so important for a kid to have a stay-at-home parent, why don’t you quityourjob? You’ve got more than enough money to retire if you want to.”
Gage gives a sharp, surprised bark of laughter. “You can’t be serious.”
But he can see from my expression that I am.
He takes a step toward me. “Violet, that doesn’t make any economic sense. Art teachers barely make any money. That’s how you ended up working as my assistant.” His voice lightens. “And it’s not like you’re particularly good at that.”
I know he’s teasing me, but it still stings.
Gage doesn’t think what I do is as important as what he does.
He doesn’t understand why I might like working as much as he does, if only I could do the kind of work Iwantto do.
He doesn’t know me as well as he thinks he does, and he’s too arrogant tolistento what I’m trying to say.
My heart is pounding in my throat. “Gage. Why do you want to marry me?”
He scowls. “I just told you. So we can raise our kid together.”
“Is that all?” I ask desperately.
“Isn’t that enough?” he counters.
We stare at each other over a rooftop of flowers, as the sun sets over the greatest view of the greatest city in the world. It should be the most romantic moment of my life. But everything about what’s happening feels so fucking hollow.
“No,” I say slowly. “No, it’s not enough.” It breaks my heart to say it, but as soon as I say the words, I know I’m right.
He reaches for me. “Violet—”
“You asked me to marry you, but you never said you loved me, Gage,” I say. “I thought the worst thing would be if you wanted a future with me despite me being pregnant with a kid you didn’t want. But it turns out you only wanting to get marriedbecauseI’m pregnant isn’t actually that much better.”
He looks like I just socked him in the stomach. “Violet, I...you know I care about you.”
“Do I? Or are you just willing to say anything you need to, to get what you want? You lied about an engagement to get what you wanted before.” My voice cracks. “How do I know I’m not just another thing for you to win?”
He grits his jaw and looks away.
I know I should stop. I know I’m hurting him. But I need him to understand what he’s doing to me. “I love you, Gage. You’re smart, determined, loyal, and incredibly kind when you let down your guard. But you don’t know how to be in a relationship. You only know what one is supposed to look like from the outside.” I gesture to the rooftop around us. “This looks like the perfect romantic gesture. But it’s all wrong on the inside. And I think we both know it.”
Abruptly, he turns away and strides to the edge of the roof. He’s highlighted by the setting sound, the city at his feet. He looks like some kind of immovable, implacable god.
But I need him to be human for me. And he’s not interested in showing me his softer side.
Maybe Peggy and the other assistants were right. Maybe Gagecan’tfall in love.
Or maybe he just can’t fall in love with me.
Still, he looks so lonely right now.
I take a step toward him. “Gage—”
