Page 115 of Under Ground

I fix my gaze on Lana. “I know.”

“Did she tell you she came over to tell me off?”

I feel like I’m catching flies as my mouth falls open. “She did what?”

He nods. “Yeah, last week. You were all busy, so she came over to the house and ripped into me. It was just what I needed, on top of Pania giving me shit. I’d just been so distracted, worrying about what my parents had done, and didn’t really give proper thought to the wider implications. I’m really sorry.”

“You already said that, and I’ve already accepted your apology. Let’s go tell the girls.” I grin.

Reece turns and laughs.

All three of them are watching us.

“I think they already know.”

* * *

Lana went into bat for me. Just when I thought I couldn’t love her any more …

I’ve not exactly been attuned to her needs lately. We moved all the way here and I buried myself in work in an attempt to move my career forward and provide for her. But everything got a bit crazy, and I know now what I need to do.

Across the room, she’s deep in conversation with Pania and Delaney. God, how beautiful she is. She flicks a lock of blonde hair behind her ear, and the three of them burst into laughter. The joy on her face warms my heart.

The one thing I managed to get right was surrounding her with these people. They’ve taken her into their hearts and made this feel like home. Hell, it is home. And now we’re starting our own family.

I had plans for tonight that got curtailed by our visit here—not that I have any regrets. Now things are resolved between Reece and me, I hope we can look forward to more gatherings like this. We’re not all just co-workers; we’re friends.

I wait until there’s a pause in conversation and make my way over to Lana. Her eyes light up, and she grabs my hand when I reach her side.

“I’m so glad we came this evening,” she says.

“Me too.” I pause. There’s no reason why I can’t go ahead with what I had planned for what I thought would be a quiet night at home. We just need a little privacy. “Come with me.”

I lead her out the patio doors to the small courtyard outside. Everyone else is busy, and it’s just us out here. This is something I’ve been planning to do for a little while, but now seems the right time. Especially after what Reece told me.

Lana fought for me.

She deserves the world.

“I know things have been screwed up for a while, and between work and this thing with Reece, I’ve been pretty stressed.”

Lana, my sweet Lana, caresses my cheek with her palm. “I understand.”

“No. You deserve better. I brought you over here and basically left you to fend for yourself while I was working. I know you had Delaney and Pania, but you should have had me.”

She tilts her head. “It’s not like we haven’t had time together. We did manage to make a baby.”

I nod. “And that’s what makes how I’ve been acting even worse. You told me, and I know I barely reacted, but—”

“You told me you took it in your stride like everything else.”

“I also had a lot of other things on my mind at the time. You should come first, no matter what.”

“Alex.”

I drop to one knee.

She gasps.

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