Page 237 of The Re-Proposal

“Ow,” a feeble voice comes from the bed. Joel’s eyes are slightly open.

“Joel, are you in pain?”

“I’ll call the nurse.” I press a button by the bed.

“Clarissa?” Joel croaks.

“I’m here.”

“It feels like,” the teenager winces, “someone cut my chest open.”

I glance at his hospital shirt where, just beneath the fabric, is a nasty gouge. “You had us really scared, kid.”

“Scared why?”

“Your heart stopped.”

“Only that?” Joel moans.

“Only that?” Clarissa echoes, her eyes wide. “You barely made it back to us.”

“But I made it.”

“You’re a miracle,” Clarissa says.

“You shouldn’t have doubted me, but I get it. My biggest skill,” Joel meets my gaze, “is being underestimated.”

I swear, my heart expands to the size of a building.

“Here, let me get you some water,” Clarissa says. She rounds the bed and puts the cup at Joel’s lips.

The kid drinks and then flinches again. “By the way, I think I overheard Cody giving a marriage proposal? Was I having a nightmare?”

“I think you mean ‘dream’,” I say dryly.

“No… I meant nightmare.”

“Yes, I proposed. What about it?” I narrow my eyes.

He glances at Clarissa. “You sure you want to get married to this old man when you could have a young buck like me?”

“You need to stop flirting with her. She’s going to be your new foster mom.”

“Over my dead body.”

“You’re not out of the woods yet, kid. That can easily be arranged.”

“Ehem.” Clarissa interrupts us. “I haven’t said yes.”

My eyebrows crash together.

Joel grins.

“There’s something you need to do first,” Clarissa says with a mischievous smile.

“Name it,” I growl. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to put my ring on her finger.

“Get my mother’s blessing.”

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