Page 201 of Mr. Infuriating

I didn’t hesitate to move to his side of the booth.

He slid his arm around my shoulder and murmured, “That’s better.”

My heart felt like it was going to burst, and I wondered if it was possible to die from happiness.

He took my hand and said, “I have something very important to ask you.”

My breath caught in my throat, and I whispered, “Okay.”

“Will you and Jake come home with me tonight?”

I immediately replied. “Yes.”

“And never leave?”

I hesitated. Not because I didn’t want that, but I was scared this was too good to be true. It was all happening so fast.

He must have taken my hesitation to mean something else, because he pressed on.

“You and Jake healed a place inside my heart that I was afraid could never heal. The kids were right—Ineedyou. I need you if I want any chance of happiness in my life.”

“I need you, too.”

The corner of his mouth lifted.

“Good,” then he stole a quick kiss before nuzzling my neck and whispering, “I have one more important question.”

“Okay?”

“Will you make lasagna now?”

****

Gabe

She made the lasagna, and it’s now one of our family’s favorites.

Epilogue

Gretchen

To say the kids were thrilled Gabe and I were together would be an understatement.

It warmed my heart how easily Brittany and Brayden took on the role as Jake’s older siblings, and how happy Jake was to let them.

We even got a dog from the shelter that Jake named Bluey.

We decided to sell my house since Jake and I had moved into Gabe’s place. It was bigger and had room for all of us, with the ability to add more bedrooms, should we ever need more.

“Oh, we’re going to need more,” Gabe assured me with a wink.

The question was no longer if, but when.

I was due for another birth control shot, and we’d been discussing if I should get one more before we started trying.

We’d boxed the last of what I was moving and made one final pass through the house, pausing in the kitchen to admire Gabe’s work one last time.

“I almost hate to leave them,” I said wistfully as I traced my fingertips along the grain of the drawers. “They’re what brought us together.”

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