I rested my head on Lucas’s chest while he played with my hair.
“You aren’t upset we didn’t go out?” Lucas asked as he rested his chin on the top of my head.
I looked up at him and shook my head.
“No, I like to be groped in the privacy of my own home.” I expected him to laugh, but he just nodded.
“Hey, you okay?” Lucas looked tense for some reason. I would think he felt the same weight lifted off his shoulders that I did. He could give up his apartment and officially move in. I was afraid maybe he was having second thoughts.
“Know what I was thinking?” Lucas asked. “That night I met you at the bar. God, you were stunning. You were always beautiful, but there was something about you that night. It was always there; I was just too stupid to see it all those years ago. I had a feeling I was done for by the time I walked you to the train. I spent the next three months trying to be your friend when I was falling for you a little more every day.”
I sat up next to him and kissed his cheek.
“I was done for the day you walked into Daina’s yard on the Fourth of July.” Lucas smiled and looked away.
“When you told me that day in Starbucks that you wanted to take a chance on us, I knew. I knew then you were it for me. I couldn’t imagine being away from you or with anyone else—ever. I would never let you go. I got to know Bella, and then I fell in love a second time.” He smiled at me, and my eyes filled with tears.
Why is he bringing all this up? Unless he’s …
“I belong to you. I always have.” Lucas stood up from the couch and reached into his back pocket. He pulled out a black velvet box and got down on one knee. My heart went into my throat as tears streamed down my face.
“And I want everyone to know that you belong to me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you, Bella, and me to be a family—an official one. I love you. It was always you. Samantha, will you marry me?”
He opened the box, and I recognized the pink diamond ring he caught me drooling over at the jewelry store. I sobbed so hard, I opened my mouth to speak and nothing came out. What were the chances I’d actually get the one thing I wanted most for my entire life? Lucas was my dream come true.
“Don’t do this to me again. If you can’t speak, just nod.”
I laughed and tried to swallow the tears so I could speak.
“Did you really think I could ever say no? Yes! Yes! A million times yes!”
Lucas breathed what looked like a sigh of relief and slid the ring on to my trembling finger. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him.
“I can’t believe you remembered this ring.” Lucas raised his eyebrows and gave me a sideways glance.
“I actually got it that day. Remember when I went back in to get my phone?”
I hit his arm. “You little sneak. Wait, that was months ago. You’ve had the ring all this time?”
Lucas nodded. “I wanted to wait until your divorce was final. Once I got this ring on your finger, waiting to marry you would have been torture.” Lucas brought me back to his lips, then trailed kisses down my neck.
“So, want to get married this week?” I asked. Lucas stopped kissing me and looked up at me strangely.
“This week? Where?”
“City Hall. I think we can get the marriage license the same day.”
Lucas looked disappointed, and I was confused. His happiness was palpable just a moment ago.
“Babe, what’s wrong? I thought you’d want to get married right away, but I understand if you want to wait.” I ran my hand down his cheek, and he shook his head.
“No, I definitely don’t want to wait. But I think we deserve better than City Hall, don’t you think? Plus, I think my mother and sister would be pissed off at me if I did that. They’d want to be there, at least.”
“Even if you’re marryingme?” His sister wasn’t my biggest fan.
“My mother loves you. And my sister will be apologizing to you the next time she sees you, I promise you that.” Lucas kissed my ring finger.
“Okay, but not big. I want our wedding to be about you and me, not the party.” Lucas wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer.
