by Ella James
I want to come up with a fun surprise for Luce, but I’m not good at things like that. When Ollie falls asleep, I lie him in his bassinet and tuck the note against his soft, blue gown. I hold the ring up to his hand, curious to see if it is big enough to slide over his tiny wrist.
It’s not.
But Ollie reaches out and grabs it. He falls back asleep with the ring enclosed in his fist. I can’t help laughing.
Lucy walks out in a new, red robe, a soft smile on her mouth.
“What’s funny?”
I can’t help beaming at her, then laughing again, out of nervousness.
“Oh, nothing. Just the baby.”
“Ohh, I want to see him.”
My heart is pounding so hard as she walks over, I have to turn around and pretend to look at Grey as he stretches in the windowsill.
I hear a faint crinkle.
“What’s in his—”
Lucy gasps. I turn around in time to find her staring down at Ollie, huge tears rolling down her face.
“Oh my God.” She starts laughing as she lunges for me. “Liam—oh God! Oh God!”
I pull her up against me. “Did you see what Ollie has?”
There’s screeching, wailing, and then crying as she opens up our baby’s hand and I take the ring from her.
“Lucy Rhodes…” I get down on one knee. “I know it’s still a little soon, but I can’t wait. Will you marry me?”
The baby cries. Lucy wraps her arms around my neck, pressing my cheek against her flatter belly.
“YES!”
That’s not how our story ends. It’s the beginning.