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While I admired Thea’s desire to take care of herself, I also wanted to make her life as easy as possible. And if she didn’t want to take William or Ciel’s money, she’d just have to take mine. So I spoke up, even though I knew Thea wouldn’t like it. “If anyone is giving their money to Thea, it’s me. Once we’re married, it’s going to be hers anyway, so we might as well start now.” I turned to Thea, who was gaping at me. “It doesn’t mean you’re weak or unable to take care of yourself. Stop being too proud to accept help when it's offered.”
William lifted his glass, his frown replaced with a wide smile. “Hear, hear. I’ll drink to that.”
He finished the rest of his wine and fished under the table for one of the three ice buckets I knew he had the staff stash under there. Once he found what he was looking for, he popped another bottle of champagne. “Let’s have another drink.”
Thea hadn’t said a word after my little speech, and I put my arm around her chair, leaning closer to make sure she was okay. There was a look of wonder on her face when she leaned her cheek against mine so only I could hear her. “You want to marry me?”
I placed my lips to the corner of her mouth. “Of course. I’m in love with you. There’ll never be anyone else for me. And if it wouldn’t sound completely unhinged, I’d ask you to go to the courthouse with me as soon as we can get an appointment.”
“You’re crazy.” The goofy smile on her face told me she wasn’t as averse to my proposal as I’d thought she would be.
“You’re not getting married without us,” Ciel interrupted, his voice tinged with excitement. “Designing a dress and organizing a wedding is going to take at least six months. And then there are the bridesmaids’ dresses, of course.”
“Not sure I can wait that long,” I said, never taking my eyes off Thea, who was looking much less shell-shocked. And when she placed a kiss on my arm and leaned into me, I knew I had nothing to worry about. I might have gotten there before her, but she wasn’t far behind.
William scoffed. “Well, you’ll have to, because our girl deserves the best. And we want her to have the wedding of her dreams, which includes a gorgeous dress and you in a tuxedo.”
Thea sat back up, holding up her hand that wasn’t clutching mine. “Whoa, okay, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’re not even engaged yet.”
I knew my first stop once I was back in Chicago would be to buy a ring. The thought of going back by myself gave me a hollow feeling. I didn’t want to leave Thea in San Diego, but I understood her decision to stay.
“What will it take for you to go with Archer tomorrow?”
Thea tensed at William’s question. “What do you mean? We already decided I wasn’t going to go right now.”
“Seriously, baby girl, what’s holding you here?”
She shifted in her seat. “My life is here. You guys. My job.”
“Doesn’t sound like your dream job. And if Archer had to punch someone, it also doesn’t sound very safe. And we’ll be in your life, no matter where you live.”
We’d chatted many nights about her coming to Chicago with me, but she’d always ended up refusing. I didn’t understand her hesitation. Maybe William would be more successful at convincing her than I had been.
She waved him off. “It’s fine. I’ve worked at plenty of diners before.”
William shook his head. “But the difference now is that you no longer have to. Tell me the real reason why you don’t want to go.”
Thea curled in on herself, looking down at the table. “I don’t want to suffocate Archer. Or worse, make him think I was taking advantage of him.”
My body went taut, and a pained growl escaped from deep within me. “Do I not tell you every chance I get how much I want you to come with me?”
Her hair covered her face, her whole body moving when she took a deep inhale as if bracing herself. “We’re still so new. And I don’t want you to think I’m using you as a crutch. Going to Chicago with you makes me look like an opportunistic gold digger who’s going from one sugar daddy to the next.”
“I’ve never once thought you were using me.”
She still wasn’t looking at anyone, and William and Ciel had identical pained expressions on their faces. But at least we were finally getting somewhere.
Putting my free hand on her cheek, I turned her head to the side and waited for her to look at me. When she did, the breath escaped my lungs in a rush. Her eyes were brimming with tears that she was frantically trying to blink away.
“Now, let’s try this again. Thea, will you please move to Chicago with me? Not for a visit but to live?”
She let out a sob-laugh and nodded, saving me from the heart attack I thought I might have while waiting for her answer. “I want nothing more than to go with you.”
William cheered. “Great decision, honey. I would have hated to tie you up and put you on a plane.”
Ciel chuckled. “I wish you were joking. But I would have probably been right next to you, helping you carry her.”
Their banter faded, and then all I could see, taste, and feel was Thea. My mouth was on hers, my arms holding her to me.
