Chapter 10
TEN
Milo
“Thanks for coming with me,” Lilou says, and I squeeze her hand.
“Of course.”
I let her go ahead of me into her grandpa’s hospital room, and I stand by the doorway, giving them some space.
“Grandpa Joe!” She cries, rushing over to his bedside.
“Lilou Lady!” He says back, a wide smile stretching his weathered face.
I can’t help but smile as I watch them embrace. You can see and feel how much they love and care for each other. After hearing more about her childhood and how her mom has treated her all her life, I’m glad that her grandpa is still around and that she still has some family left.
“Is this your fella?” He asks Lilou, and she blushes as she looks at me.
“Yeah, this is Milo. Milo, this is my Grandpa Joe.”
“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” I say, stepping forward to shake his hand.
“You too. Have you been taking good care of my granddaughter?” He asks.“Grandpa!” Lilou starts to protest.
“Of course, sir. Lilou deserves nothing but the best, and I’m going to make sure that she has it.”
He hums, but I can see that I’ve won him over.
A nurse comes bustling in, and I step to the side, letting Lilou talk to her and fuss over her grandpa. I leave to get us all some food a few hours later, and then we’re signing the transfer paperwork and making the final arrangements to have him transferred to his full-time care facility.
“It’s getting late. You two should get some rest,” Joe says, and I nod, moving closer to Lilou.
“We’ll be back first thing tomorrow morning to help with the move,” she tells him, and I nod.
“Let us know if you need anything else in the meantime. We’re at the hotel right across the street,” I add, and he nods.
I can see that he’s tired, so after Lilou has kissed him goodbye, I usher her out of the room and down the hall. I can tell that today has drained her too. She’s almost swaying on her feet, and her eyes are starting to droop.
“Why don’t you wait here? I’ll go get the car and pick you up.”
“I can walk,” she argues, and I smile.
“I know. Let me be a gentleman, though. Your grandpa could be watching,” I whisper, and she laughs.
I grin before I take off towards the rental car. I hop in and drive back to pick her up.
“Are you hungry? I can grab food before we go back to the hotel room.”
“Yeah, just something quick,” she says through a yawn.
“Tacos?” I ask, nodding to the restaurant next to our hotel.
“Perfect.”
“I’ll drop you off at the room and go get it. That way, you can rest.”
She nods, and I pull up to the front of the hotel.
“Want me to walk you to the room?” I ask, and she shakes her head.
“I’ll be okay. See you in a few.”
She closes the door, and I wait until she disappears from my view before I pull out and go grab our food. By the time I park and make it back to the room, Lilou is just stepping out of the shower. Her stomach growls, and I smile as I set down the bags of food.
“Dig in,” I tell her as I pull out one of the chairs at the small table.
“Thanks.”
“No problem,” I say, sitting down next to her.
“No, really. Thanks. For this and for coming with me and for paying for our arranged marriage so that I can pay for his treatment and just…for everything.”
“It’s really no problem,” I tell her. “Lilou, I want to do all of those things. I keep telling you that I would do anything for you, and I mean it. I love you, Lilou. I have for a year, since the first day that I saw you.”
“Wh-what?” She stutters, and I reach for her hands, holding them in mine.
“I love you, Lilou. All those times that I asked you to hang out? To grab coffee, or dinner, or go see a movie? I was asking you out.”
“But…but you turned down all of the other girls in town. Bethany is so pretty, and you told her to leave you alone,” she blurts, and I frown.
“Who?”
“Tall blonde with a perfect hourglass figure,” she says, but it’s not ringing any bells.
“I don’t know who that is, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve only ever wanted you. I wasn’t going to settle for anyone less. It’s why I bid on you in the arranged marriage auction. I couldn’t let you be with someone else.”
She blinks, and I can see her brain trying to process everything that I’m saying.
Good. I want to finally lay all of my cards on the table.
“I’ve known that we were meant to be for a while, but I know that it might take you longer to feel the same way about me,” I start, but she shakes her head.
“I love you too,” she tells me, and it feels like my heart is about to burst out of my chest.
“Say it again,” I order, and she smiles, her pretty eyes welling with tears.
“I love you, Milo. I’ve had a crush on you for so long, but I never thought that you would see me that way.”
“It’s the only way I’ve ever seen you. You’re gorgeous, Lilou. So smart, and sweet, and funny.”
She blinks, and a tear spills onto her cheek. I can’t stand to see her cry, so I pull her into my lap.
“I love you. I always will.”
“I love you too.”
Our lips find each other, and I kiss her softly, pouring my heart into the embrace. I want to take things further, but I know that she’s had a long, taxing day, so I pull back and rest my forehead against hers.
“Eat. Then we can go to bed,” I tell her, and she nods.
I keep her on my lap as we each grab a taco and start to eat in silence. After a few minutes, she turns to me with a soft smile.
“I know that you said we would wait until I was ready, but I’m ready,” she says and I know instantly that she’s talking about marrying me.
“Are you sure?” I ask her, and she nods.
“What do you think about getting married in Santa Barbara, so that my grandpa can watch?”
“Lilou, it’s like I keep telling you. I’ll do anything for you. Now, tell me what you want for our wedding,” I say, and I sit back and smile as we plan out our future together.