Page 138 of Awaiting

“Okay… This is not what I came here to talk about,” she replied.

“Well, spit it out, then, Alex. Dinner is waiting for us.”

“I want to marry Bexley,” she said quickly.

Her father leaned forward and placed his glass on the table.

“So, this is a permission conversation?”

“Not exactly. We’re still brand new, so I’m not going to ask her tomorrow, but Idoknow that she’s the one I intend to marry. I want to be free to propose to her when the moment strikes. I know you said this permission thing is outdated and traditional, but I’m going to talk to her grandmother when I see her next and ask her permission as well. I know it’s silly. Bexley’s not anyone’s property, and she can answer for herself, but–”

“You’re a traditional girl,” he said.

“Yes.”

“So, you’re asking me for my permission as King to one day ask Bexley to be your wife?”

“Yes,” she repeated.

“You know there are many steps before you get there.”

“Yes. But if we are sitting at home one night and I just have to ask her, I want to be able to do that. If we’re at a baseball game or gardening out back, and I look at her and think, “That’s the mother of my children right there,” I want to be able to get down on one knee, tell her how much I love her, and ask her to be my wife.”

Her father squinted at her and asked, “And do you feel you’re prepared to be her partner?”

“I don’t know. All I can do is try to be the best person I’m able to be for her. She makes me feel like I can truly be myself for the first time, and I know I’ll support her in anything she does. She’d make an amazing Queen Consort.”

He nodded and said, “Well, as your King, I approve.”

“And as my father?” Alex asked, swallowing hard.

“I have taken the liberty of asking the jeweler to provide you with some options.”

“What?”

“For rings, dear. He’ll have several for you to look at soon so that you can get an idea of what you… well, what Bexley might like.”

“You’ve asked the jeweler–”

“Your mother and I talk, Alex. We know how much you love her. It was only a matter of time before you told us about your plans. We both approve, and you can choose a ring whenever you’re ready.”

???

“You look beautiful,” Alex said, kissing Bexley on the cheek.

“I’m a few minutes late, but I didn’t have anything nice to wear for dinner, so I stopped at a shop and found this.”

“You look amazing,” she reiterated, leaning back in and kissing Bexley on the temple.

Bexley had bought herself a red dress that looked sexy but formal at the same time, and she’d paired it with some black-and-red short heels. She looked perfect, in Alex’s opinion, and Alex wanted nothing more than to finish this dinner quickly so that they could go back to her house and she could take it off of Bexley.

“So, Bexley, you had a meeting this afternoon, I understand?” Alex’s mom asked.

Alex placed her hand on the small of Bexley’s back, ushered her to the table, and pulled out the chair for her after motioning to the attendant that she’d take care of it.

“I did. It was with a doctor friend of mine.”

“Ah. So, just catching up?”

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