“You do?” My son’s brows pinched in confusion, not realizing how life-changing this breakfast was for the both of us.
“You sure do.” Nick nodded while fixing his gaze on me. “You have to kneel, like this.” He knelt on one knee next to my chair.
My breathing halted as my cloudy eyes locked with his.
“First, you have to tell her how much you love her. How she walked into your life and made it mean something, even if she became a runner shortly after.”
A laugh bubbled out through my tears as Nick's eyes narrowed to slits.
“And don’t forget to say how beautiful she is. How it shocks you that she’s yours because you never in a million years thought you could ever be that lucky.” Nick’s hand dropped to my knee and gave it a squeeze.
“Then, tell her how she deserves the best of everything, and you’ll spend the rest of your life making sure she gets it. And say how you’ve both waited long enough, and you'll lose it if she's not your wife—I mean if she doesn't take the present—soon.”
I cradled Nick’s face in my hands, still crying and shaking.
“Mommy’s crying. Maybe she doesn’t want the present after all.”
I glanced over at Jack's frown and couldn't help but laugh.
“Girls are weird, Jack. Sometimes they cry when they’re happy. Hopefully.”
Nick smirked as he opened the box. In taking a closer look, the box didn’t seem new. The velvet inside was faded, and the band surrounding the round diamond had intricate carving around it.
“It was my mother’s,” Nick whispered.
“So, Jack, the way you find out if someone wants a present like this is by asking, ‘Ella-Jane, will you marry me?’”
“Yes!” I swallowed, trying to regain the ability to speak.
Nick blinked, incredulous awe spreading across his face.
“Yes?” His eyebrows shot up to the ceiling.
“Yes.” I wiggled my bare ring finger at him.
“And that’s why you have to ask.” Nick beamed as he slid the ring onto my finger.
“You're getting married? That's the present?” Jack asked as his brows pulled together.
“The best present,” I whispered as tears continued to roll off my cheeks.
“That means you'll stay here. For good?” Jack’s eyes widened in a way I'd only seen on Christmas morning.
“Forever, buddy.” A smile curved Nick's lips as he turned to Jack.
He leaped from his chair and tackled Nick with a hug. Nick’s eyes were glassy as he hugged him back.
Jack’s head swiveled to me. “I'm full. Can I go into the living room now?”
“Sure,” I answered, but kept my gaze on Nick.
The minute Jack’s chair slid across the kitchen tile, and he left the kitchen, Nick crashed his lips to mine.
“You really want to marry me?” Nick murmured against my lips.
I pulled back and nodded. “More than anything. I’ve been so scared you wouldn’t ask after what I said.”
“And I was scared you’d never be ready. I think, finally, we’re on the same page.” Nick kissed me again, slowly and deliberately with long sweeps of his tongue. I whimpered when we broke apart.
