Her brows shoot up. “No way!” She sets her Kindle on the nightstand and pats my side of the bed. “Come sit. I need all the details.”
I unzip my snow pants and shove them down, leaving me in just my thermals. The shower’s calling, but so is stripping every layer off and climbing in next to Alley.
I kick my pants aside and slide into bed next to her. She greets me with a kiss. “So? What did Jeff say? How did it even come up?”
I give her the cliff notes from the bar, about Jeff getting emotional. She gasps in all the right places, asks a million questions. She’s locked in, and not just about Jeff, but every piece of my day. Which runs I did, which were my favorite, if I beat Matt at any of them. We laugh over all the stupid shit Matt and I joked about. I even tell her about the number he scored from some woman he ditched me mid-run to chase.
It’s easy. Natural. Feels like us. But the whole time, my eyes keep drifting to the manila envelope sitting between us, a big-ass elephant in the room just waiting to be recognized.
“Tell me about your day. How was the spa?”
“It was so great. God, it felt amazing. I feel like a new woman.” Her grin widens as she leans in, planting a soft kiss on my lips. “Thank you for planning that for me.”
“Mmm.” I savor the warmth of her mouth and go in for another kiss. “I didn’t plan it, Megan and Amber did.”
“I know, but you put the deposit down. You made sure I had an appointment before you even knew if I’d come.” Her hand finds mine, weaving our fingers together. When she looks back up, there’s something in her eyes that’s new, something I can’t place. “Thank you for that. For not giving up on me.”
“I’d never give up on you.”
“I know.” She pauses, studying me, taking her time. “But I don’t know if I deserved that kind of loyalty. I gave up on you.” I open my mouth to argue, but she cuts me off. “I know, I know. I had every right to leave you, to do what I did. But you…” Her voice cracks. “You never gave up on us. You just lost your way.”
“Babe,” I murmur.
She takes a moment to collect herself. “I read your letters.” Her lips press together as she swallows, fighting to keep it together. “And I wish I’d read them sooner.” Her eyes glisten, and her cheeks flush. “I’m sorry I didn’t want to know. That Iwouldn’t hear you.” Her voice is steady, but it’s threaded with emotion.
I squeeze her hand. I don’t need to say anything. I just want to be here, in this moment with her. I close my eyes and let the weight of her words sink in, settle deep.
She clears her throat. “I have something for you.”
My brows pull together, curiosity sparking. Before I can ask, she’s reaching for the nightstand. She picks up an envelope and hands it to me.
I take it, cautious, a little nervous.
“Open it,” she says, a grin ghosting her lips.
“Alright.” I flip it over and slide a finger under the seal.
“Read the letter first.”
I open it and pull out the folded piece of paper, glancing up at her. She’s sitting cross-legged, leaning toward me, hands pressed into the mattress. Her bottom lip’s caught between her teeth, but it doesn’t hide the smile tugging at her mouth.
I unfold the paper.
It reads:
I love you, too.
Look inside the envelope.
I tip the envelope and peer inside. Her wedding ring stares back at me, and my heart constricts, chest squeezing tight. I reach inside, letting my fingers curl around it. Emotion floods in, and my eyes sting as I realize she’s giving me back more than just a ring. She’s giving me us—our marriage, our life together.
“Now look up,” she whispers.
I lift my gaze.
Her hand is out in front of me, palm down, fingers spread wide.
“Now ask me to be your wife,” she says softly.
