“Me too, Little Red.”
And I do. Just like I didn’t think much about being a parent before Maddy, I never thought all that much about getting married until Emma. I love her and she loves me, and I know we’re forever, paper or not. That’s part of the trust I’ve fought to learn over the last few months. But something about my ring on her finger and hers on mine and words likemarriedandhusbandandwifemake it all feel more real. I want that life.
“So ask Emma to marry you today, and we can all be official.”
“What are you guys whispering about?”
Emma comes in from the kitchen and hands me a mug. She’s wearing leggings and one of my sweatshirts she threw on this morning after our little game of share the shower, and even though she wears my clothes all the time, seeing her in it still has need pumping through my veins.
“I found a cookie dough creamer at the grocery store this morning. I think it’s gross, which means I’m sure you’ll love it.”
She grins at me and leans up for a kiss but pulls away too soon for my liking. Winding an arm around her waist, I tug heragainst me and bring her mouth to mine for a longer, much more satisfying kiss.
“Thanks,” I say, kissing her one more time before trying the coffee that is, as Emma predicted, fucking amazing.
“So, what are you talking about?”
“Jeremy wants to ask you to marry him, but he’s worried about taking over my day or whatever. I told him that’s stupid, but he won’t listen to me.”
“Jesus Christ, Little Red,” I mutter.
She just shrugs. “I was afraid you wouldn’t do it, so I decided to do it for you. And don’t swear.”
“You want to propose to me?”
Emma turns to me, her green eyes glowing and her freckles standing out against her flushed cheeks. My heart knocks against my ribs. I guess this is happening now. I kiss her cheek and then bring my forehead to hers, breathing her in.
“I have for weeks, Ems.”
I reach into my pocket and pull out the ring box I stashed there.
“Get down on one knee,” Maddy hisses, and Emma laughs.
I kneel down, but I pull Emma down with me so we can both be at Maddy’s height. I know she gets it because her eyes gleam with love and understanding. I hand Maddy the ring to hold and take both of Emma’s hands in mine.
I hesitate, looking down at the floor for a second to collect my thoughts because I want to say all the words that are in my heart, and I don’t want to leave anything out. I want to make this perfect for her because she deserves perfect.
“Jeremy.”
I look up, and Emma’s eyes are full of understanding, a smile on her face.
“Tell me something true.”
My anxiety melts away at her words—our words. She’s telling me without telling me that she doesn’t need perfect, she just needs true and real. She needs…me. And what a fucking gift it is to be needed like that. So, I open my mouth and tell her all my truest things.
“Ems.” My voice is already thick with emotion, but I am determined to get this out. “I never thought that this kind of love was out there for me. But then you came into my life and even though it took us some time to get here, I wouldn’t trade our life now for anything in the world. You have given me love and patience and understanding and a family of my own. You made me feel like I belonged somewhere for the first time in my life, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not filled with gratitude for you and for this life we have together. I swear that no one will ever love you like I do, understand you like I do, and take care of you like I do. You are my favorite person in the entire world, and I want to spend every minute of every day loving you the very best way I can. I love you, Pretty Girl. Marry me. Be my family forever.”
I glance over at Maddy, who already has tears running down her face, and let one of Emma’s hands go so I can wrap an arm around Maddy and hug her closer.
“Be our family forever.”
The tears I’ve been holding back spill over as I finish, and Emma barely gets out the muffled “Yes” though her own tears before she throws herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck and hugging me tightly. I bury my face in her hair, closing my eyes and breathing her in, feeling myself settle completely at the feel of her body against mine.
“You need the ring!” Maddy exclaims, tears forgotten. She hands me the box and I flip it open. Emma gasps when she sees it, eyes flooding with more tears.
“My mom’s ring,” she whispers. “How did you get this?”
“Mimi. I drove to Cleveland last week to tell your grandparents I wanted to ask you to marry me, and she gave it to me. She told me to tell you she’s been holding onto it for you and was only going to give it to the right person. Apparently, that’s me.”
