Page 264 of Tell Me Something True

“I do.” She licked her lips. Darted a quick, embarrassed look at him. “I thought it was going to be something else.”

Any doubts that might have been strong enough to survive the last six months with her, any fears that had hung around, simply disappeared.

“I love you,” he said again, taking the box from her. He pulled the necklace out, holding it so that the heart pendant hung down, swinging in front of her like a hypnotist’s watch.

Right next to the house key he’d added to the delicate silver chain.

Her mouth parted and she pinched the key between her thumb and forefinger. Searched his eyes.

“One day,” he said, “when you’re ready, I’m going to ask you to marry me.” He curled his hand around hers, still holding the key, then lifted her hand to his mouth. Kissed her knuckles. “Until then, move in with me. Be with me. Please. I want to share my life with you, starting today. I want to wake up with you every morning and fall asleep holding you in my arms.”

“When we were together before,” she admitted softly, “I knew we had an expiration date. Each moment I had with you made me feel like a thief taking something that wasn’t meant to be mine.”

“And now?”

She exhaled, long and low, her eyes never leaving his face. “Now I know those moments weren’t stolen. They were a gift. And I want more of them. So, yes,” she continued, through her tears. “Yes, I’ll move in with you. And one day, when you ask me to marry you, I’m going to say yes to that, too.”

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