“Then what can I do to change it?”
“Tell me when you’d like to schedule our annulment so I can stop the delusions that are playing games in my head.”
“What delusions?”
That this could actually mean something…
“My family truly believes we’re together, and it’s all they’re talking about in our group chat,” I said. “They’re making plans tocome to New York and a lot of other things that’ll never happen. Theylikeyou, Nicholas.”
“So do you.”
“I know…” I sighed. “When would you like to schedule our annulment?”
“I guess we should plan it for…” He hesitated, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Never. I don’t think we should get an annulment at all.”
“Huh?” I sucked in a breath as he pulled me even closer. “What are you saying?”
“That I would like to remain married to you, Jenna Dawson,” he said. “Not under the guise of getting an inheritance, not under the guise of playing pretend for an audience. I would like it for real, for the rest of my life.”
I blinked a few times, certain I’d misheard him.
“I spend most of my time with you already and it never feels like enough,” he said. “I talk to you all day, every day, and—and I can’t deal with the thought of you ever being with anyone else.”
“Marriages are meant to be monogamous, Nicholas…” I tried to make him come to his senses. “You’re not the settling-down type…”
“I haven’t had much of a dating life since you, Jenna,” he said. “Last I checked, neither have you. And for the record, I would never fucking cheat on you.”
“I don’t want anyone else,” he continued, answering my next escape clause before I could say it. “You’re my wife-to-be, and I want you to stay that way long after we make it official, if you’ll say yes to staying married to me.”
I stared at him, my mind racing a mile a minute, the words choked back in my throat.
He exhaled slowly, like he was bracing himself. “I should probably re-propose, right?”
I nodded, and he got down on one knee. Then, after clasping my hand, he pulled a glittering gold envelope from his breast pocket.
“Jenna Dawson, I have a lot to say to you, but I figured given our history, this is probably the best way to handle this.” His gaze held mine, unyielding. “Will you do me the pleasure of giving me the top thing on my wish list?”
“Depends.” I nodded as tears fell past my cheeks. “Are you going to correct your mistake from earlier this month and put me on the nice list?”
“You know better than to ask me that.”
“My answer hinges on whether you put me on there or not.”
His low laughter sent fluttering butterflies against my stomach, and he gently opened the envelope, showing me the card.
Dear Jenna Dawson,
I made a list and checked it twice,
to determine if you were naughty or nice…
You are (still)
NAUGHTY.
But I can make an exception just this once if you say yes to marrying me…
Please say yes.
