Page 96 of Enemy Ex's Secret Baby

“Hey…” he says softly and takes my hand.

Something about his touch is so soft and something about his eyes is so urging I’m not sure I can fight him anymore.

“Just do this with me, Gillian.”

This is…something’s going on.

Oh my god. Is this the something? The something that would be crazy it was happening because we’ve only been back together for a month and it’d be crazy for him to ask and even crazier for me to say yes, but I know I would in a heartbeat?

No way. Right?

“Alright.”

Axel and I get out of the car and kick off our shoes before walking carefully down the beach. “The water’s too high,” I say. “My dress –“

Before I can say anything more, Axel sweeps me off my feet into his arms. I squeal. “Axel!”

“I’ll carry you.”

Axel carries me until it’s safe for me to walk on my own. I round the rocky outcrop, almost expecting the cove to be decorated with candles and rose petals.

However, there’s nothing.

Gillian, you’re crazy.

I walk into the middle of the cove and sigh. “Okay. Here we are. Romantic, isn’t it?” I say through a chuckle.

Axel doesn’t respond.

“Sorry, I know I’m being a little bit of a pill. We’re just already late and I want to–” I turn back around to face Axel and am stunned to find him on bended knee before me. He’s holding a ring box. It’s happening. “Oh my god.”

“You nearly ruined a good surprise, Gillian,” Axel says with a broad smile.

I put my hand to my lips. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?”

I stare at him.

“Do you…want me to stop?” he asks nervously.

“No, no, don’t stop.”

Axel laughs at himself. “Okay. Good. That’d be awkward. Um…I had a whole thing memorized, but now that I’m here with you, my mind has gone blank.”

I smile, my eyes starting to well with tears.

“This has been our spot for a long time. Even when we didn’t come here together, I always thought of this as our spot. We might have spent a long time apart, but you never left my heart, Gillian.” Axel gulps, trying his best not to let his anxiety show through his smile. I know him too well, though, I can see it. “You’ve given me so much love and kindness since we were kids. You’ve given me a child who even after just a month, I can’t imagine my life without.”

My smile is so big it’s hurting my cheeks.

“And after just a month of being with you, I know I need to be with you for a lifetime.” He opens the ring box, revealing an emerald set on a gold band. Stella’s birth stone. Same color as their eyes. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes. Yes. Of course. Yes.”

Axel starts to reach for my hand, but I drop to my knees, not caring if my new dress gets dirty. Who cares when I’m literally a second away from being engaged?! I put my hand out for him and wriggle my ring finger. “This one.”

“Thank god, I was definitely going to have to ask.”

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