Page 140 of David's Love

A few moments pass, his eyes evading mine, and then a faint smile crawls to his lips.

“I had some big plans for us today, Elizabeth.”

He brings his eyes to me, and my heart falls backward.

He sets his drink on the nightstand, and my eyes follow his hand when I notice a beautiful dark blue velvet box with golden trim next to his glass.

It looks expensive.

It looks important. It also looks irrelevant under the current circumstances.

“And I was kind of nervous about the whole story.”

He picks up the box, and my eyes go wide with angst.

“I was afraid you’d say no to… Not to me as much as the idea.”

A soft smile curves his lips.

“It just happens that Julie…”

He stops, fighting his emotions back.

“Julie hates the idea of people getting married. Not in general,” he says, regaining his composure. "But when it comes to her. And I thought… Because why the hell not… You're only slightly older than her, so you might hate the idea, too.”

I have to bite my lip hard to stop my chin from trembling.

“So I was happy. And anxious. And also nervous that you might say no to me. And then…” he says, setting the jewelry box down. “My life changed within seconds. And everything I thought I knew about my life turned out to be a lie. The most of which was me––the man I thought I was. All this time, I've been a fraud, trying so hard to live someone else’s life. Someone I created to close the wound I carried around. Back in time, I couldn’t imagine living other than how I lived with you thesepast few days. I didn’t want a lot of things, but I learned to like them. So that ploy of mine––impersonating someone else––has gone to waste, and with it went my fears that you might say no to me. My fears were part of who I thought I was. Not who I actually am. So whether you say yes or no to me, I can live with it.”

His fingers rest on the blue box.

He ponders for a few moments.

“I’ll take a paternity test when we get back. I already talked to Miranda but asked her to let me do the talking when we return. I don’t want Julie to freak out. I owe her that much.”

He locks his jaw and looks down.

“I would be extremely honored if you agreed to be my wife. I’m sorry… I can’t say I want to be your boyfriend because I don’t.”

His eyes find mine while I struggle to keep my tears at bay.

“I want to be your husband. And if you say yes, you’ll be Julie’s stepmother. So that’s that,” he adds with a tinge of humor.

A few moments pass.

“Which one is it?” he asks.

“I think it’s yes.”

He flashes a smile.

“You’re not sure?”

“I am sure.”

He watches me stoically fight my tears.

“So you’re not angry with me?” I ask in a faint voice.

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