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No unfinished business waiting somewhere in the house.

Just us.

I rested my head against his chest and closed my eyes.

Caspian hummed softly with the song for a few seconds before leaning closer to my ear.

“You gonna cry through this whole dance?”

“You proposed to me after coming back from the dead. I think I’m allowed to be emotional.”

“Fair.”

I laughed softly.

His hand moved along my back as we continued swaying. “You remember what I told you before everything happened?”

I already knew what he meant.

“When I was ready, I could come home to you.”

“And?”

I lifted my head. “You said you’d be here.”

“That’s right.” Caspian rested his forehead against mine. “I meant that shit, Lakelyn. I couldn’t come get you that night, but I never stopped waiting for you.”

My arms tightened around his neck.

“And now you’re here,” he continued, “so you ain’t gotta spend another day wondering if your man is coming home. Sun up, sun down, whether you can see me or not, I’m still here.”

That only made me cry harder.

A shaky laugh slipped out between the tears as I wiped at my cheeks, but more immediately replaced them.

My chest felt too full, like six years of grief, relief, anger, love, and everything I had never gotten to say were all trying to come out at once.

He smiled. “Damn, woman. I’m gonna need a towel if you keep this up.”

“Hush!” I laughed and smacked his shoulder lightly. “I’m trying.”

Caspian’s smile softened as he brushed his thumbs beneath my eyes. “I know, baby.”

I pressed my lips together, but my face crumpled anyway, and I leaned into him before I completely lost it.

“You don’t understand how many times I prayed for this. How many nights I begged God to just let me know you were okay somewhere.”

His arms wrapped tighter around me.

“And now you’re standing here, talking to me, holding me, proposing to me…” I shook my head against his chest as fresh tears spilled down my face. “I don’t know what the hell I’m supposed to do with all of this.”

Caspian kissed the top of my head. “Cry if you need to. I got you.”

I laughed weakly. “At this rate, you really are gonna need that towel.”

“Shit, I’ll get the whole damn linen closet.”

We shared a laugh.