Page 162 of A Major Puck Up

He presses his lips to mine, and for a moment, the world fades away.

Twenty minutes later, the car stops. Gavin has been awfully secretive about the plans he made for tonight, but when Jacob, his driver, opens the door and the entrance of the bar where we first met comes into view, I give my man a knowing look. “Bringing me back to your old playground?”

With a dark chuckle, Gavin holds out his hand and helps me out of the car. “Rented it out for the night again.”

Jacob shuts the door and rounds the car, leaving us alone again. I stare up at the restaurant as memory after memory flits through my mind, then shake my head. “I can’t believe you rented this place out again. What could you possibly have planned for tonight?”

His responding smirk is wicked. “Figured maybe I’d get down on my knees again for you.”

I roll my eyes and huff a laugh, but when he tugs on my hand and drops down onto a knee on the sidewalk, I suck in a breath.

“What are you doing?” I whisper-hiss, looking one way, then the other in confusion.

Gavin simply smiles up at me, his eyes never leaving mine. “I was upset that when I told you I loved you for the first time, it was on a whim. But for so long, I couldn’t put into words my feelings for you. These feelings were so much bigger than what any one person had ever spoken. Any word I’d ever read.

“Infatuation. Obsession. Love.” He shakes his head in dismissal of each one. As if they’re beneath him. Beneath us.

“Infinitely and endlessly yours. Love wanes. Obsession tires. Infatuation can be toxic.” He bows his head for a moment, rubbing soothing circles over the back of my hand. “When I call you mine, that encompasses my feelings. We belong to one another. Your heart and mine. I am infinitely and endlessly yours, Millie. I know I asked at the hospital—on a whim, once again—but you deserve me on my knees, begging. Please be mine for eternity. Marry me. Be my wife.”

I’m nodding before he even finishes. Then I tug him until he’s on his feet and in my arms, crushing myself against his chest as I cry.

“Peaches, I need your words,” he whispers into my hair. Hands cupping my cheeks, he gently forces me to look at him.

“Yes, I’ll marry you,” I sob out, my vision blurred and my breaths stuttering.

He presses a kiss to my lips, then sticks a hand in his pocket. When he pulls it out, he’s holding a gold band adorned with a beautiful round diamond. “Give me that finger.”

Watery laughter bubbles out of me as I hold out my shaky hand, and he slides the diamond ring on. The smile that overtakes him is so wide it makes my heart ache.

God, have I ever been this happy?

“I have something else for you,” he adds with a squeeze, his own hand trembling along with mine.

I wipe under one eye, then the other. “Yeah?”

“The paperwork came through this afternoon. We’re Vivi’s parents. It’s official. You’re her mom.”

Screw trying to collect myself. My whole body ignites in delight, and tears flow down my cheeks. “Really?”

Gavin nods. There was a moment when we thought it would be a real battle—when Sebastian Lukov intimated that he may actually want to be Vivi’s father—but his true motive was money. When the Bolts agreed to pay him the full amount his contract had stipulated, even though he was fired mid-season, he signed the papers. Knowing he gladly traded his child for it makes me sick, but we’ll spend our lives ensuring that Vivi is loved and cared for. She never has to know that part of her story.

The only thing that little girl will know is that Gavin and I loved her so much we had to have her, and whether she’s my biological child or not, she’ll always be my little girl.

“Ready to go inside, Future Mrs. Langfield?” Gavin swipes the tears from my face.

Pressing my cheek against his palm, I laugh. “Oh, a new nickname? I like it.”

He kisses me again and then taps my ass, urging me toward the entrance. “So what are we actually doing—” As Gavin pulls the door open, my words are drowned out by a chorus of surprises.

Teetering on my heels, I latch on to Gavin for support.

He circles his arms around me, swaying as he leans down and whispers in my ear, “We’re celebrating, Peaches. It’s Mom and Dad’s night out to celebrate.”

My dad approaches and shakes Gavin’s hand, then pulls me in for a hug, telling me how happy he is for me. Lake is next, with a hand on her belly, already listing wedding ideas.

My brothers appear after her, along with my mother, who seems to be on her best behavior. Paul brought his new boyfriend—not the manager Lake fired, but a new guy who seems to be a bit more down-to-earth and is even smiling and chatting with Lake.

The women at a table in the corner, Sara, Hannah, and Ava, have become close friends. The kind I always wished for. They’re always up for mimosa Sunday brunches and helping with Vivi when I need them.