Page 118 of Forever Love

Vince

You can do this. Just walk through the goddamn door.

Forcing out a breath, I take a step forward and pull on the handle, not giving myself any time to back out of this. I know Iwantto do it, but that doesn’t make it any less scary.

“Hey, Vince,” Leo says, and I realize I’m standing in the kitchen like a fucking moron, not saying anything.

A great start.

“Hey. What are you cooking?” I ask, walking over to the kitchen island.

“Making a batch of gnocchi. You and Maia want to join us for dinner tonight?”

I know Leo well enough to know that’s not a question.

“Of course. Not that there’s really any choice once Maia finds out what you’re cooking.”

He smiles at me. “Gnocchi has always been her favorite. She used to help me make it when she was little. She was obsessed with getting just the right shape and indent with the fork.” He shakes his head and laughs before looking back at me. “So, what brings you over here?”

I swallow hard.

Say it. He’s not going to freak out. Hopefully.

“I want to ask Maia to marry me.” It tumbles out of my mouth like it’s all one word.At least I said it.

He stops in the middle of cutting a strip of the dough and stares at me.

I don’t move. Or breathe. But my heart is beating so loud I’m positive he can hear it. I try not to swallow audibly, wanting to keep my cool exterior. Mercifully, he smiles.

Then he nods.

After trying to silently breathe out the huge breath I’ve been holding, I say, “I’m not here to ask forpermissionbecause it’s Maia’s—”

“I know. But, for what it’s worth, you have my support. I’d be honored to officially have you as a member of my family.”

This time I do let out an audiblephew.

Leo laughs. “Were you really that nervous?”

“I didn’t know what you’d think. If you’d want us to wait or—”

He shakes his head and points to one of the stools. “Sit. I want to tell you something.”

I sit down across from him and he slides me a tray of cut pasta dough and a fork, then nods for me to shape the gnocchi as he talks—and cuts more dough as he does.

“When they were younger, like everyone else, I thought it would be Maia and Braden doing this one day. But as time went by, I began to feel less sure about that. And then one day, I was talking with Maia about panic attacks. Without much thought, she said to me you were the person who eased her panic attacks the most. Like you knew exactly how to handle it all—exactly what she needed. She was still with Braden. I know there were no underlying feelings there, but that was the moment I understood the potential you two had. I guess you could say I’ve been waiting for this day since then.” He stops and looks at me sincerely. I try to keep my mouth from dropping open at his revelation. “I know how you love my daughter and granddaughter. The greatest respect you could ever pay me is taking care of them the way you do.”

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

“Does Maia have any idea? Or better yet, do you have a plan?”

I know Maia feels the same way I do. We’ve talked about wanting to get married, but haven’t set any kind of timeline. “I don’t think she has a clue, and that’s the goal. But I’m going to need some help to pull it off. I’d like to do it next month when we’re in the mountains for the ski trip.”

He smiles brightly. “She would love that. And I’m happy to help however I can. Are you going to tell anyone else?”

I nod, then get to work on the pasta I’ve been ignoring while telling him my entire plan, how I want to surprise her, the help I’ll need, and the ring I have for her. I’m excited, to say the least. And nervous as hell. I know we’re already practically married, but I want to get this right. She deserves that.Wedo.

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