Page 86 of The I Do Over

“Well…I think it’s only fair since you do the same to me,” she countered. “I mean…you swoop in here like a knight in shining armor, take me to the doctor, demand that they give me something so I can stop getting sick, get me dinner and dessert, and then…as if that wasn’t enough…you tell me you love me and want to marry me. Tell me. Not ask. Tell.” With a little huff, she crossed her arms. “Kind of bossy.”

Slowly, Knox came to his feet and walked around the tiny table until he was at her side.

Then he got down on one knee.

“I don’t have a ring. All I have are my words. A promise. I knew you were it for me the first time I saw you in homeroom in the seventh grade. There is no one else that I want to spend my life with, no one else I want a future with. It’s you. It’s always you. I love you, Madalyn. I’ve missed you so much—and not just this past week, but the past seventeen years. You’re a part of me. The best part of me. Will you do me the honor of finally being my wife so we can have the life that we started so many years ago?”

Now she was actively crying.

“This isn’t even about hormones,” she said as Knox leaned forward to wipe her tears. “This is about this being the greatest moment of my life.” Reaching out, Maddie cupped his face, reveling at the feel of his scratchy jaw. “I don’t need a ring because your words are everything. And just like you, I knew all the way back then. Even when people said it wasn’t possible to meet your soulmate when we were so young, I knew. I hate that I forced us to take this detour, and…”

He placed one finger over her lips. “No looking back, Mads,” he said softly. “Only forward. We’ve got the greatest future in the world ahead of us.”

Swallowing hard, she nodded because it was too hard to speak. This was something she used to dream about—the time when Knox Channing would ask her to marry him again. She just didn’t believe it would happen. Even a few weeks ago when they talked about living together, it just seemed like that was all it was going to be—casual, no real commitment.

A few weeks ago, she struggled with the thought of leaving her life in Chesapeake and moving it to Raleigh, but now…now she couldn’t imagine being anyplace else. For a little while it felt like Knox was expecting her to give up everything for him, but now she realized it was about compromise.

They were quiet for several moments before Knox cleared his throat. “Um…I’m not trying to be a smartass or anything, but…you still haven’t answered the question.”

That’s right. She had started crying in the middle of her acceptance. “There is nothing in the world that I want more than to be your wife. Again.”

And if she wasn’t mistaken, his eyes shone a little brighter with unshed tears.

“Forever this time,” she said, feeling stronger. “We’re going to build that life that we always dreamed of and it’s going to be so much better because we’ve worked so hard for it.”

“All relationships go through hell, real ones get through it.” His words were low and intense and sent a thrill through her.

She hated every second of the hell they went through, but to be here right now with him like this was worth it.

“When you’re ready, Angel Face, we’ll have the wedding of your dreams,” he told her and then chuckled. “I happen to have a great connection with some wedding planners.”

Maddie couldn’t help but giggle at that. “You sure do. I think if we didn’t use them, they’d be offended.”

He shrugged. “Maybe, but I doubt it. I think they’d all just be thrilled that we’re back together.”

“You think?”

“Um…yeah. They were in the middle of an intervention for me when Babette called, so…” Chuckling again, he told her about how Josie wanted to keep the box of letters so she could read them.

“You told them about the letters?”

“I told the guys about them but clearly they are nothing but a bunch of gossips. It’s ridiculous. I can’t even imagine what else they’ve told Josie and Daisy.”

“How about you give me some dirt on them and the next time we’re all together, we can turn the tables and embarrass them! Fun, right?”

His smile turned downright smitten as he looked at her. “That’s my girl.” Standing, he stretched. “I know I’ll regret asking this, but…are you ready for ice cream?”

Her initial instinct was to say yes, but there was something else that she wanted more.

Slowly Maddie came to her feet and pressed up against him before going up on her toes to kiss him. It was meant to be quick and sweet, but the moment her lips touched his, she was lost.

And apparently, so was he.

The kiss went deeper and was so full of promise that all thoughts of dinner and ice cream were pushed aside. Carefully, Knox lifted her and carried her into the bedroom, but came to an abrupt stop next to the bed.

“What’s the matter?” she asked, as she tried to bring his lips back to hers.

“I don’t think I’m going to fit in this bed. Is it a full?”

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