After we slide in, the driver starts the car, and I sink into the seat, feeling lighter than I have in months.
“Nate.”
“Yeah, baby?”
“You’re amazing,” I say, reaching out and grabbing his hand. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out.”
“Good. Now let’s go home, please.”
He smiles as we pull out through the gates and down the drive. “I fucking love the sound of that.”
The drive home is short, and our fingers are laced and caressing each other. As we pull up to the gate, my security is on the ball and lets us drive right through.
We pull up at the door, and Nate quickly slides out. He grabs my hand, helping me out, and just before we get to the door, he stops, pulling me back to him. I look in his eyes and raise my brow, wondering why he’s stopped me.
“You okay?” I ask, and he takes a deep breath, then suddenly leans down, swooping me off my feet. I squeal as I tightly wrap my arms around his neck, hanging on for dear life through a laugh while he smiles and his deep blue eyes bore down into mine.
“Ria, I don’t want you to think I’m asking this because of the situation, because I’m not. I’m asking purely because I love you. For as long as I can remember, I only saw this outcome for us. So why wait, right?” he asks, confusing me.
“What are you—”
“Let me finish. You, me, and nugget are a team, and a team can’t be complete if they aren’t whole. We’re a puzzle, but one piece is missing. It’s the piece that links you to me.”
My heart skips a beat, and I pull my lips tight in anticipation of what he’s about to say.
“I know I’m doing this all wrong. I’m not on one knee, I’m holding you, and I don’t have a ring. I don’t have an orchestra playing and petals fluttering in the air. But baby, just know, I love you. My love for you is like a symphony all of its own. My heart rejoices every time I hear your name. My lungs can breathe again every time I see your face. You make me feel more than I’ve ever known, and yes, it might be a short amount of time, but fuck! What’s life if it’s not worth living, right? You, me, nugget, we’re a puzzle, and the missing piece is you being my wife.”
Nate takes a breath and smiles. “Ria Shafir, will you marry me?”
Tears stream over my eyelids as my fingers run through the back of his hair. My head slowly bobs as I sniff, trying to keep it together. “For someone who can’t read, you’re amazing with words,” I murmur, and he chuckles, nuzzling his nose against mine.
“You’re killing me here, babe. I need to hear the word.” He swallows hard.
My eyes open wide, and I gasp. “Oh gosh, sorry… yes. Of course. A million times, yes.”
His mouth is on mine quickly, and I press my lips back to his, kissing him so passionately my knees feel weak even though he’s holding me, supporting me like I know he’s going to continue to do for the rest of our lives.
Epilogue
ALEX
One Month Later
The wedding was beautiful, and I’m so happy to attend.
I didn’t think I would be invited, but being part of the Recoil family is incredible, and Lunar made such a beautiful bride.
I’m currently at the reception, and there’s still no sign of Matt. He’s probably having way too much fun with his date, and they got distracted before the wedding, and they’regetting busy,if you know what I mean.
“You look a million miles away,” Ria says as she walks up to me with our drinks, her belly popping out slightly more, her tight dress accentuating her curves.
“Just wondering where Matt is.”
Ria smirks. “Your date not doing it for you?”
I look over to Ronan, the redhead, and my lip curls up as I sigh. “He’s too…” I pause as he starts dancing along to a rock song in an Irish jig.
