His face softens as he rubs his hands up and down my upper arms.“Okay,mo agra,” he says, unconvinced. “But I had every chance to say something. I was there… at school, at every bar hop, every house party…”
“I know,” I admit, looking between his lips and his eyes. His brows pinch together, confused.
“How… why didn’t… You knew?”
A soft smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. I wipe the tears that slowly trailed down the apples of his cheeks with my thumbs, taking in every detail from the random freckles to the scars that were almost undetectable. I lean in, resting my forehead against his.
“Yes, Cal, I knew. I was scared that if I said something you’d… disappear,” my voice trails off to a whisper.
“Maeve,” he says, his voice broken.
“I wanted to tell you so many times, Cal. Because I knew you were the only person in this world who would bring the color back. Without you, life was bleak. Everything was dull and tasteless. There were days when food was so bland I asked myself why I even bothered.”
“Maeve,” he clears his throat, steadying his breath. “I love you. Hell, I had this whole speech mapped out in my head, but it looks more like a group chat with Ronan and his three a.m. conversations with himself.” We both giggle, sniffling as we look at each other. “I know it may seem fast, insane even, but I can’t hold it in anymore,” he steps back, reaching into his pocket, and my heart stops.
“Cal, what are you doing?” I ask cautiously. His nerves are on full display as he slowly lowers to one knee. My hands fly to my mouth as he opens the tiny green box.
The ring is out of a fairytale, something I wouldn’t have dreamed of. There’s a huge rectangular diamond, flanked by two rectangular emeralds on either side, with an intricate gold band that allows all three stones to sit perfectly beside one another. The ring has me stunned as I look from it to him, then back at the ring again. He grabs my left hand after he pulls the ring from the box and holds it at the tip of my finger.
“Maeve Imogen Collins, will you do me the honor of being my wife, not only in this lifetime but in every lifetime that is to follow?” he asks me, and I see a tiny hint of worry swimming in those ocean eyes.
“Callum,” I choke out. “You’re fucking crazy,” I say, shaking my head. “Yes, you insanefeck. Yes!” I laugh loudly, nervously, and he stands and begins to slide the ring on. The moment it is secure on my finger, I jump into him so hard he staggers back, holding me just as tight as I’m holding him. He buries his face in my neck, breathing deeply.
“I love you, Maeve,” his voice muffled.
I’m probably an idiot for saying yes to a man I haven’t spoken to in almost a decade, butfuck it. You only live once. This is what I havewaited for my whole life. This moment. Here with him. Every dream I’d had my entire life had him in the center of it. He was the one who rescued me from the nightmares. This man is mine. Mine.
“And I love you, Callum.”
Chapter 36
Callum
Habromania (n) a form of delusional insanity
My hands are still shaking as she pulls back from my embrace, a huge grin on her face. I laugh as a wave of relief washes over me, and she leans in to kiss me, her lips lingering on mine. When we break apart, all of the sights, sounds, and smells of the gardens seem to come rushing back in at full blast, when just moments before, all I could see was her. I reach for her hand, intertwining our fingers as we walk back down the white marble steps.
Our steps are in sync as we stroll to meet the three stooges at the front of the property. Maeve leans on my shoulder, resting her other hand on my bicep. She lets out a heavy sigh. I look down at her, and she meets my gaze with a light in her eyes that has been growing brighter over the past few days.
We’re reaching the front of the grounds when I see Ronan lying spread-eagled in the grass. Saoirse’s eyes are hidden behind her sunglasses, and she’s reclining on a bench, her head leaning back against the stone wall and her arms crossed over her chest. Orin is leaning against the frame of a nearby stone archway, scrolling through his phone. He nods his head as we approach and pockets his phone, a knowing grin on his face.
“What have you three been doing? Taking naps?” Maeve asks as we pause in the center of the three of them. “Ronan looks like he’s trying to connect with Mother Nature, spread out for the taking.” Orin chuckles, and Ronan jumps up, wiping the grass from his clothes.
“Hey, I can’t help it if ladies can’t keep their hands off me,” Ronan jokes, winking at Saoirse.
“Yeah, because all the women want a man who confuses being insufferable with being irresistible,” she fires back.
“You could have your hands all over this if you’d just admit you like me,” Ronan gestures to his body as he walks toward her. Orin rolls his eyes, also.
But it’s Ronan’s next comment that rips the veil off this perfect moment.
“Well, glad the contract is out in the open now. Glad she said yes,” Ronan blurts, clapping me on the shoulder.
“What contract?” Maeve says, turning slowly and releasing my hand. I grit my teeth, trying to keep my anger under control.
Ronan and his goddamned mouth.
“It’s nothing. It’s something stupid our fathers wrote up when we were kids,” I confess, glancing angrily at Ronan, who is now standing wide-eyed.
