Page 103 of Insufferable Boss

"We're in a relationship. This wasn't some one-night stand with a stranger," he pointed out.

After that, I didn't know what else to say.

"Okay," I finally replied, but he seemed even more perplexed.

"Okay?" he asked, seeking clarification. So I decided to be direct and explain myself.

"This was sudden," I said.

"So you've said." he responded.

"Exactly. I don't know what to do. I feel... great about having your baby, but our relationship is so new. We haven't even had time to properly establish our bond, and I thought that having a baby would happen a few years down the line. So now... I don't know how to feel or what to do. But what I do know is that I'm falling in love with you. Maybe I already have, but I'm also too logical to trust that. There are some things that only time can truly tell."

He stared at me, processing my words.

“You believe time is the true determinant of the success of a relationship?"

"In most cases, it is. With time, the other person's flaws and unacceptable quirks start to appear, or they change so much that you don't recognize them anymore, and then you start seeing why you weren't a match from the beginning," I explained.

"Those telltale signs are never sudden," he pointed out. "We just refuse to acknowledge them until it's too late."

"You're right," I admitted with a nod.

"You think we won't make it?" he suddenly asked, and I was shocked by his question.

"That's a direct question," I replied, and he nodded.

"Yes, it is."

I looked at him, tears welling up in my eyes.

"I think we have a really good chance."

We watched each other in silence, and then he nodded.

"An alternative," I said. "We could just continue the way we are and resolve issues together as they come up, and if a year or so down the line we know better, then we'll do better."

"No," he replied, surprising me.

"What do you mean?" I asked, my eyes widening in surprise.

"I'm sure of you," he said. "And I want to do better now."

I stared at him, perplexed.

"You do?" I asked.

"In the face of this, yes," he replied. "And it's something that I have considered long before this. I just didn't think you were ready."

My eyes filled with tears as I processed his words.

"Yeah," I replied. "I didn't think I was ready either, but let's do it this way. Everything in life is uncertain, no matter how much preparation you have at first. But I know in my heart that I'm more than ready to take this step with you."

I stared at him, feeling my heart swell with joy and excitement. He stood up and came over to me, squatting down to be at eye level. I gazed into his eyes, unable to contain the overwhelming emotions inside me.

"I want you with all my heart, and I want the life we can have together," he said. "So, what do you say we take this year by year?"

Tears streamed down my face as I nodded, filled with a mix of emotions.

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