Page 96 of Whatever It Takes

“What are you thinking about?” I asked, taking a bite of my roast beef sandwich.

She shifted to face me. “I’m thinking about how lucky we are that we got a second chance, and that we are finally going to have that family that we always dreamed of.”

I set my plate down and dusted the sand off my legs. The sun was shining down on us when the thought struck. “I couldn’t agree more.” I leaned in and dipped my mouth to hers. “I’d like to think of this as a new beginning, one where there is no end in sight for us. Marry me.”

I’ve always considered myself a level-headed guy, but I was too caught up in the moment. I didn’t care if I had an hour left, a day, a month, or fifty years. Whatever time I had left on this earth, I wanted it with her.

She pulled back and stared into my eyes. “Quinn…”

I’d taken her by surprise. I didn’t plan this, but when it came to matters of the heart, there was no logic or reason. And there was no way to explain or define the need I had to finally make her mine.

“I know this isn’t a big grand proposal like last time, and I don’t even have a ring. I wasn’t planning on asking you today. I wanted to wait until the divorce was final, but Charlotte,” I pulled her onto my lap, “I don’t want to waste another second. Life is too short. And you’re right, we are lucky that we got a second chance. Not everyone gets those. We need to take advantage of the gift we’ve been given. Let’s make it count. Let’s do it better than before. Be my forever. Be my wife. Say yes.”

Tears flooded her eyes. “People will think we are crazy.”

My pulse raced with anticipation. It seemed like it was taking her forever to answer me. “Is that a yes?”

She slid her hands along the back of my neck, her touch was soft and reassuring. “Yes, Quinn. My answer is and always will be yes. Even though you just proposed to me in between bites of your roast beef sandwich.”

I grabbed her face and swallowed. “I promise, I’ll get you a ring.”

Her smile was blinding. “I don’t need a ring. I already have everything I’ve ever wanted.” She brought my hand down to her stomach.

I stroked her cheek with my free hand. “You have no idea what this baby means to me. It was always supposed to be you. There isn’t anyone else I could ever imagine having a family with.”

Since I was twenty years old, I knew that she was the one. I may have let her slip through my fingers before, but I was holding on tight now. Maybe she was right. There would be people who didn’t understand, but I didn’t give a fuck what anyone else thought.

“I’m sorry that you weren’t the one to give me my firstborn.” The guilt and regret in her voice was heavy.

“Hey.” I brushed a fallen tear off her cheek. “No regrets. I want this life with you and Emery.” I kissed her lips, savoring the moment.

Everything in my life was finally aligned. She was going to be my wife, and I was going to be a father.

This kiss was the official start of our new beginning. There was nowhere for us to go from here but up.

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