He took my free hand, threading his fingers through mine, and for a second, his thumb brushed over my knuckles like he was steadying himself, too.
“Nora Margaret Miller,” he said, voice low, the corner of his mouth tipping. “Will you make me the happiest man and be my girlfriend?”
“Of course,” I said instantly, like there was no universewhere my answer would’ve been anything else. “Nothing would make me happier.”
Theo let out a slow breath before pulling me into him, giving me the kind of hug that made my body go soft.
But since we did have a tiny audience, he eased back and looked down at Charlotte. “Can you close your eyes real quick, sweetie?”
“Otay,” Charlotte said, slapping her hands over her eyes with full dramatic flair. “I’m not loooooking.”
Theo’s gaze flicked to mine, amused, and then he bent down and kissed me.
Not rushed. Not shy. Just sweet and sure—like he’d been wanting to do it all day.
I kissed him back, smiling into it because I was just so dang happy that we didn’t have to hide how we felt about each other from anyone now.
And when we finally pulled away and looked down, Charlotte’s fingers had a gap the size of the Grand Canyon.
Yep, she was absolutely watching.
And she wore the biggest, beaming grin I’d ever seen.
The little stinker.
We all laughed, because apparently, Charlotte Archibald was the kind of kid who could witness a whole romantic moment and still find a way to steal the show.
Theo reached for the larger bouquet on the table and handed it to me carefully. “Read the note.”
So, I slid the little card out with shaking fingers.
And there it was. Another heartfelt note in his handwriting.
Nora,
I’ve tried a hundred times to write somethingbig enough for what you’ve done for me, but I’m going to keep this simple.
You came into my life and somehow made everything lighter. You made our house feel warm again. You made me remember what it feels like to look forward to tomorrow.
You make my mornings better.
My nights calmer.
My heart fuller.
I love you, Nora.
And I want you. Not just for a weekend. Not just for now.
I want you in this life with me.
And if you’ll let me… I’d really like to call you mine.
—Theo
For a second, I couldn’t move.
Couldn’t blink.