Page 74 of Minted
“But I am, so I want you to open it,” I say. “And don’t get all dramatic.”
She blinks, and her hands move slowly, undoing the bow and lifting the lid. But when she sees the cushion-cut diamond, she doesn’t beam. She doesn’t slide it on her finger, either.
She frowns, which is not promising.
“What is this?”
“It’s an engagement ring.” I stand up, and then I drop to one knee. “I’ve known you for fifteen years,” I say. “And in that time, I’ve gotten to know you really well. At first I was going to ask you to date me, because Barbara Champion, I love you.”
She’s not beaming. “Bentley, I—”
“I know it feels a little sudden, but listen. The more you helped me find someone to date, the more I realized that I only wanted to date you. And then when I thought about dating you, well. You have two little girls you’re fostering—adorable, brilliant, talented little girls. You have a lot on your plate. You don’t need some wishy-washy guy coming over and being like, ‘hey, babe, let’s hang out.’”
She laughs. “So you decided this would be better?”
That’s not exactly the reaction I wanted. “No?” I stand up. “I guess not.” It feels like I’ve been punched in the stomach. Because I don’t see any way that this suddenly becomes the yes I was hoping for.
Barbara stands, too. “Bentley, you date someone for a long time before you propose. Do you know why?”
I shake my head, but I can’t help feeling like a little boy who just got yelled at for sneaking a cookie.
“Because dating and knowing someone aren’t the same. You’re putting the cart before the horse here.” She hands me the blue box. “I don’t think we should get engaged yet, but I would be happy to date you.”
“Kind of buried the lead there,” I say. “But I guess I’ll take it.”
It’s a little awkward as the girls open their Ugg boots, which they blessedly love, and a little more awkward as I insist they take a lot of the food in to-go boxes for tomorrow, but when Barbara finally heads out the door, she stops in the entry and takes my hand. “I’m sorry that I said no.” Her soft smile is kind. “I didn’t want to say no, but I think I needed to, for both of us to have a solid start.”
That gives me a little hope.
Enough hope that I step closer, grab her hip with one hand, and lean down until my mouth connects with hers. And for the first time in fifteen years, I’m kissing the gorgeous, kind, self-effacing woman that I love.
In that moment, I know that she’s wrong. Our start is already as solid as granite bedrock.
But, I’m also okay with waiting for her. I’m alright with her needing to date me first. But I love Barbara Champion right now, and if she’d have said yes, we could be planning our wedding and I wouldn’t be a bit unsure about it. After a very brief kiss that I wish was much longer, Barbara steps back.
At least her cheeks are flushed when she says, “Merry Christmas, Bentley.”
“I love you, too, Barbara.”
She frowns. “I didn’t say—”
I smile. “I know what you meant.”
She’s blushing even more now. But she doesn’t correct me. “It’s going to be a little hard for me right now,” she says. “It’s been a really long year.”
“I’m in a rush,” I say. “I’m not going to lie. But it’s only because I can’t stand seeing you sad, and I love to see you happy. I plan to make that happen as quickly as possible. But I’m okay with waiting as long as you need.”
She nods, but she’s smiling.
“And Barbara?”
She blinks.
“Since you turned me down, I’m giving this to you.” I slide the ring box into the bag she’s carrying.
“That’s not how it works,” she says.
“Actually, it is,” I say. “Because now, when you do want to marry me, you’re going to have to propose.”
