Page 33 of Finally, Our Forever
“Don’t be cute, Maci. We’ve talked several times since then. How am I supposed to take care of my family if you don’t tell me what’s going on?”
“I didn’t realize that would be something you’d need to know.” As soon as I speak the words, I want to suck them back in. The pain in his expression is enough to make me want to rewind the past twenty-four hours.
“I’m sorry, Reece. I shouldn’t have said it like that. It’s just that I know you’re busy at Panthera, and I didn’t want to bother you with something I had under control.”
“You didn’t want to bother me? Maci, I thought we were in this together. I thought we were driving down the same road, in the same fucking truck.” He says, punctuating his last words by slamming his hand down on the counter.
“We are, Reece. I want all of those things with you.”
“When I said I wanted everything with you, I meant every single thing. I don’t just want the fun and shiny parts of you. I want the ugly and hard. I need the dirty, the real-life shit that comes with being a husband and a dad. That means I not only want to take care of Bennett when he’s sick, but that I need to. You two are my priority, above all else.”
“I want that too, Reece, but I’m scared to want it. I’m scared that letting you in is going to ultimately push you away. Being a parent isn’t easy, and then you have my ex to deal with, too. I can’t help but think that it isn’t fair to you. You should get to start this journey fresh with someone, not tagging in at the end of the first quarter. I get so caught up in it. I don’t even want to give you the hard, because then you might leave or resent me for it.” I say, as the truth drips from my eyes in tears.
“That isn’t your choice, Maci, it’s mine, and I’ve already made it. I’m not going back on my word, and I’m never going to change my mind,” he says to me as I hear the sincerity of his words.
“You’re my dream, Reece. A dream I gave up on. Then, my dream came back to me, out of the blue, basically delivered to my doorstep. I’m scared to get wrapped up in my dream and wake up to the reality that I can’t keep you. I haven’t been all in because I was holding a little back for myself.”
He wipes my tears from my face and kisses my cries silent. When they turn to moans, he grabs my ass in both hands and lifts me, so I’m able to wrap my legs around his center. He carries me to my bedroom and lays me down in the middle of the bed. He lies on top of me and holds my face with both palms on the side of my head, so that I’m looking into his eyes.
“Give me that last piece, Maci Kate. You are my fucking queen, the only one who can rule my soul. I went into this with eyes wide open. I knew you had baggage before I even came to that barbecue. I went there with the intention to see you again, and hopefully get you to go out on a date with me. You, my girl, were my dream first. I want it all, do you hear me, Maci? I’m marrying you. I’m adopting Bennett, and we are facing all our demons together. You good with that?”
I’m stunned. Did he ask me what I think he did?
“Are you asking me to marry you?”
He grins at me and digs in his pocket for something. Then, he pulls out a little black box and opens it.
“No,” he says.
“No? But you just…and it’s…my God, Reece—”
“I’m not asking. We are getting married, Maci. When I found out that you kept the news about Bennett being sick from me, I knew I needed to make the place you both hold in my life clear.” He takes out the vintage looking white gold ring, centered with a round solitaire diamond, out of the box, and slides it onto my fourth ring finger.
“And where’s that?” I whisper, stunned by the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen, and the profound meaning behind it.
“Beside me. You’re meant to be right beside me, always,” he says, before kissing me silent.
