She peeks her head around the curtain, giving me a shy smile. “Thank you.”
I take a big step toward her and grab her face, kissing her slowly. “I won’t be long.”
She reaches for me and rubs over the stubble on my cheek. Her eyes trail her fingertips, and I can’t describe how incredibly good both feel.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she says quietly. Slowly, her eyes slide to mine. “But anytime you want to make it official and give me that ring back, I’m down.”
Just like that, my girl has returned. The corners of my mouth pull up. It still feels so foreign. Mila has been slowly bringing out the joy in me. I make her giggle, and she makes me smile.
There’s not one doubt in my mind as to what I should do next.
I drop to my knee and reach in my pocket, pulling out the ring I’ve kept there since I found she’d left it behind.
She pulls her hand behind the curtain, her mouth falling open.
I know she meant it as a joke, but I want her to know she is no joke to me. I love her. I’m not sure how it happened so quickly, but I guess life happens fast.
“Serenity, I love you.”
A small sound of surprise leaves her lips.
“The first time you looked at me, something changed inside. Like the color of your eyes was the very combination to unlock my heart, and goddammit I know how cringe that sounds.”
She pushes the curtain aside and grabs my hand, urging me to stand. When I reach my full height, she tips her head back to look at me while pressing her wet body against my clothed one. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you,” she says.
I chuckle, bending over to kiss her on the tip of her nose. “That’s cute, but I hadn’t asked yet.”
“Oh,” she says. “Well, hurry up and ask.”
“So impatient,” I scold, swatting her lightly on the bottom. Her eyes widen in response but not in a bad way. “Will you marry me, Serenity?”
“I already said yes, didn’t I?” she responds, giving me some of that sass I fell in love with.
“I guess you did.” I take her hand and slowly slide the ring down her slender finger. “But I’m going to need to hear it again.”
When the ring is fully seated, she places a kiss at the corner of my mouth. “Somewhere along the line I fell in love with you, Chase Turner. I’ll say yes to you every day of my life.”
I place my hand on the back of her head and kiss her until she gives me a gentle shove in the stomach. I allow it because it’s followed by the sweetest smile.
“Go on. Your brothers are waiting.”
I reluctantly pull away from her.
“I’ll hurry,” I say before closing the door.
My hand goes to my chest as soon as I’m in the hallway, and I double over.
Carver is instantly at my side. “Is she okay?”
I nod, forcing myself to stand fully. “She’s good. Thank you for bringing her here.”
He chuckles. “She was already here. I just made sure she stayed.”
I start past him. “Let’s go. I want to see what’s on that drive.”
His feet catch up to mine, and he falls in step with me. “We’ve been taking bets on what’s on it. Personally, I think she recorded herself confronting her brother.”
“Ain’t none of you winning this bet.”