But I don’t answer her. Tiny flakes of snow fall from the sky like little cotton puffs, collecting in a line at the edge of my windshield, and falling into piles and little hills along the sidewalks. I pull into the driveway of the two-story colonial we’re here to see.
When I get out and come around to open Romilly’s door, she frowns at me. My palms are actually sweating in my gloves, but the cold air nips at my nose and turns Romilly’s cheeks pink. Her mittened hand feels impossibly small in mine as she lets me help her out. “What on earth are we doing here? I mean, I’m pretty sure this place is vacant.”
I thread our gloved hands together, leading her to the door. Swallow. “It is right now. But it won’t be for long.”
Together, we crunch up the snow-packed path. Our boots leave behind the first footprints this house has seen in months.
“Hang on a minute.” Romilly shakes her head, turning to face me. “Are you saying you bought this place? What about your apartment? You just signed a lease.”
We stop at the base of the stairs leading to a wraparound porch that circles the blue and white-trimmed exterior. Awooden swing hangs at one end, dusted with snow. I can already imagine Romilly sitting on it with a steaming mug of tea in her hands.
I shrug. “I broke it.”
Her mouth falls open. “Wait, you’re actually serious? This is your house?” Romilly squeals, clapping her mittens together.
“Our house.” My voice shakes on the way out.Come on, Bash. You got this.Dropping to one knee, I take both of her hands in mine. “Romilly…I know it hasn’t been long, but I love you. I didn’t know it was possible, but I love you even more now than I did when I first told you. And I promise to let my love continue to grow for you with every passing day. Will you marry me, live in this house with me, and make me the happiest man in the world? It’s even vintage inside, just how you like it. I checked before I bought it.”
Romilly covers her mouth with her hand. The glistening on the surface of her eyes makes a knot clog in my own throat.
I reach into my pocket and produce the ring I picked out last week for her. It’s shaped like an oval, with clusters of little diamonds surrounding the stone in the center. As soon as I saw it, I knew it belonged with her.
Hold it together, Bash.
She sniffles, wiping her eyes before our gazes reconnect. For a moment, the world around us completely fades.
It’s just us.
Me and Romilly.
She takes my face in her hands. “Yes.”
Yes.
She said yes.
Taking her mitten off so I can slide the ring onto her finger, I crush her against me, making her laugh. Then I pepper kisses across her hair, her face, and finally, her lips.
“Wait a minute!” She pulls away from me. “I know you’re like, a super popular fighter right now, and you have lots of money, but you’re still kinda new. Is this house something you’ll be able to afford long-term?”
I grin. “So responsible. Don’t worry, pumpkin. There are more fights in me where that last one came from.”
“Now, that I believe.”
We stare at each other for a long moment, both of us grinning. “You’re going to be my wife,” I say. I still can’t believe it. “Officially.”
“And you’re going to be my husband. Officially.”
Kissing her again, I soak it all in—our life right now, and the promise of our future together. It’s all too good to be true. I can’t help but think back to the person I was before I met Romilly. I was so sure being untethered from anyone else was the best way to go. But loving her has made me feel freer than ever before.
“Wait,” she says, pulling away. “What about kids? Do you want them?”
I smile. “Do you?”
“I want to be a foster parent so bad,” she says. “But I know not everyone?—”
“We’re doing it,” I tell her. Warmth radiates throughout my body at the idea. “We can start right away if you want to.”
Romilly nuzzles her head to my chest, and I breathe in the scent of her skin. “There’s no rush. We can take our time. We have the rest of our lives to figure out how we want to live them.”
