"What in the world?" She stops in the doorway, her eyes wide as she takes in the explosion of flowers. "Chaos, what did you do?"
"Mama!" Liam jumps up and runs to her. "Daddy brought flowers!"
She scoops him up despite the baby bump, settling him on her hip. "I can see that, baby. There must be a hundred flowers in here."
"One hundred and twenty-three," I correct, my voice coming out shakier than I intended. "I counted."
Ruby looks at me, confusion and curiosity mixing in her expression. "What's the occasion? Did I forget something? It's not my birthday, and we already celebrated our anniversary—"
"You didn't forget anything." I take a step toward her. "I just... wanted to do something special."
She sets Liam down, her hand immediately going to her belly in that lovely gesture I've seen a thousand times since we found out she was pregnant.
"Chaos." Ruby moves further into the room, touching the petals of a nearby rose. "These must have cost a fortune. We're saving for the baby—"
"I know. I budgeted for it." I did. I've been saving for months specifically for this moment. For these flowers and this ring and this night. "Just... sit down. Please."
She looks suspicious now, but she lowers herself onto the couch. The same couch where we've spent countless nights cuddling while watching movies. Where we told Liam he was going to be a big brother and he'd screamed with excitement.
So many memories in this room. And tonight, we're making another one.
I hope.
"Are you okay?" Ruby asks, concern creeping into her voice. "You're acting weird."
"I'm fine. I'm good. I'm—" I take a deep breath. "I'm nervous as fuck, actually."
"Why are you nervous?" She tilts her head, studying me. "Chaos, you're scaring me."
"Don't be scared." I crouch down in front of her, taking her hands in mine. They're small and not too soft, the hands of a woman who's worked hard her whole life to survive and protect her kid.
Our kid now. Liam's legally mine. We finalized the adoption six months ago after Marcus signed away his rights. Best day of my life.
"Ruby." I clear my throat. "You know I've never been good with words. I'm better with my fists than with talking about feelings."
"I know." A small smile tugs at her lips. "But you've gotten better."
"Because of you." I squeeze her hands. "You made me better. You and Liam. Before I met you, I was just... existing. Going through the motions. Fighting and surviving and not really living."
"Chaos—"
"Let me finish." I take another breath. "Then you showed up next door with this kid on your hip and your asshole ex on your porch, and everything changed. You were so brave. So fierce. And I knew. I fucking knew from that first day that you were special."
Tears start forming in Ruby's eyes. "You're going to make me cry."
"Good tears, I hope." I reach into my pocket with one hand, the other still holding hers. "Because I'm about to ask you something, and I really hope you say yes."
Her eyes widen. "Chaos..."
"I love you, Ruby Watson. I love your strength and your kindness and the way you make grilled cheese taste like the best meal in the world. I love how you take care of everyone around you. How you never gave up on Liam even when everyone else did. How you gave me a chance when you had every reason not to trust another man."
The tears are falling freely now, but she's smiling. "I love you too."
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you." I pull out the ring box and open it. "I want to wake up next to you every morning and fall asleep holding you every night. I want to raise Liam together and meet our child when they’re born. I want to protect you and cherish you and annoy you with my overprotective bullshit until we're old and gray."
Ruby laughs through her tears. "You do have overprotective bullshit."
"I know. You knew what you were getting into." I look at Liam, who's been waiting patiently. "Little man, come here."
