Page 128 of Used

“Marshall’s sisters and a bunch of your friends have been coming over to help unpack and decorate for the past few days.” She says, still smiling. “Do you like it?”

Tears well in my eyes, and my vision goes blurry as I look around.

“It’s wonderful,” I say through watery tears. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” She says, giving me a squeeze on my shoulder. “It was all his idea.”

Just then, Marshall comes back into the room with a very awake Bridgit in his arms.

“Did you wake her up?” I scold.

“No!” He retorts with a smirk. “She wanted to see the place, though.”

I narrow my gaze at him, but he keeps smiling his charming playboy smile.

“I’ll leave you two to it,” Mamá says, backing into the front entryway and grabbing her keys and purse before making her exit.

When Marshall and I are alone, well as alone as you can be with a newborn, I let myself relax fully. I hobble over to the couch, which must have been brought over from my apartment, and set myself down.

Marshall comes over and sits down next to me and settles our daughter in his arms so she can take in everything around us.

“You did all this?” I ask softly.

“Yeah.” He says with a shrug. “I wanted her first night out of the hospital to be at our home.”

“That’s so... sweet,” I mutter, my eyes welling with tears again.

I reach over and take Bridgit from Marshall’s arms, tucking her in close to my chest and breathing in her baby scent.

“It’s perfect,” I whisper.

“This is our first night of the rest of our lives.” He says dreamily, and I can’t help but chuckle at his dopey expression.

We sit in a comfortable silence for a while, Marshall’s arm draped around my shoulder and holding me and our daughter close while we lounge there.

“Elsie? If I ask you something..., will you promise not to kick me out this time?” He asks tentatively.

“Depends on what the question is,” I say with a small smile, nuzzling into his shoulder further.

“Will you marry me?”

My eyes pop open wide, and I lift myself upright, which is a struggle when your body aches and you have a baby in your arms.

“Marry you?” I repeat.

“Will you marry me?” He asks with so much earnestness in his voice.

I’m stunned silent for a moment, and I can see the panic beginning to form in his eyes while I try to gather my thoughts and calm my now racing heartbeat.

“Elsie.” He says, unwrapping himself from around me and lowering himself to one knee on the ground. “I know things have been a roller coaster between us. But this is it for me. You’re it.”

He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a small box.

“I know you don’t always believe me when I say it, but I love you, and I plan on reminding you of that every day for the rest of our lives if you’ll let me.”

Opening the box, he reveals a gorgeous emerald-cut diamond ring.

“Marshall.” I breathe out, clutching Bridgit tighter to my chest but quickly loosening my grip when she begins to squirm.

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