Protecting the Boundary (LA Wolves #8)

Chapter 50

FIFTY

Even though I interviewed well and got accepted into the Boston program, I decided to wait until the fall and go to a school in LA. I am not cut out for the cold Boston weather, and I never wanted to move that far away in the first place. Boston seemed ideal at first, but only because I was running away from my pain and heartache.

When Romel and I returned to LA, he made it clear things were going to be different. I believed him, but he proved it to me even more when he moved me into his room. He even brought up the idea of moving to a new house, but considering we hadn’t even talked about the details of the future at that point, I thought buying a house together seemed a little too extreme for where we were in our relationship.

Besides, I didn’t mind sharing the space Sydney once held. Her family was now mine and I felt a kinship with her.

It’s been two months since we returned from Boston, and life is better than I ever could’ve expected. The Wolves didn’t end up going to the playoffs, but it was still a decent season. As planned, Romel announced his retirement once the season was over. It was received how we all expected, with fans mourning the end of the Fierce Four, but sharing their love for Romel and best wishes for his future.

We’ve been getting into our new groove but trying not to change too much for Kaylee. Romel never told her that I quit in the first place. He told her I needed to help my dad for a while because he didn’t have the heart to tell her I was gone. We were both grateful for that because she doesn’t need any extra stress at her age.

Today, we’re taking Kaylee back to the aquarium for our adventure day. My smile is practically glued to my face as Romel takes my hand while we walk around. He gives me a heated look and a flirty smile that brings out that dang dimple.

“You better stop whatever you’re thinking,” I whisper sharply.

He laughs.

“There are kids around,” I hiss, but I can’t stop my own smile from lifting my cheeks.

He pulls me into his arms while Kaylee has her face on the glass staring at the shark swimming by.

“You bring out the naughty in me, apparently,” he says against my ear before nipping it.

“You’re terrible.” But my smile gives away how not terrible I find him. In fact, neither of us can stop smiling at each other.

Kaylee glances at us, and her little face lights up. “Is it time, Daddy?”

He chuckles as I arch a brow in question. Then he squats down to his daughter. “Do you think this is a good time?”

She looks around the space. There’s a handful of people mingling around, but overall it’s not very crowded today. She looks at her dad and nods.

Then he puts one knee on the ground and pulls a robin’s egg blue box out of his pocket. My smile falls as shock fills my face.

“Oh my God,” I whisper.

Romel looks up at me with so much love in his eyes, my heart feels like it could burst. “Meredith, you brought me back to life—both of us,” he says, wrapping an arm around Kaylee while still holding out the ring with his other hand. “We would be honored if you’d officially become a member of our family. Will you marry me?”

Tears blur my eyes, and I nod my head like a damn lunatic. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes.”

His smile is radiant as Kaylee starts jumping up and down excitedly. He takes the beautiful oval ring that’s got to be at least three carats out of the box and slides it on my left ring finger. He wraps his hand around mine and brings it to his lips, kissing the ring as his dark gaze holds mine.

Kaylee grabs my other hand, pulling my attention from her dad—the man who’s captured my heart. She pulls again, which is usually what she does when she wants to tell me a secret, so I squat down to be on her level. Romel does the same and takes the opportunity to wrap his arm around my back.

“What is it, KayBear?”

She almost looks bashful as she leans in to whisper—which isn’t really whispering when you’re four. “I call you Mommy now?”

When she pulls back so she can see my face, there’s the faintest fear of rejection shining in her eyes. I wrap my arms around her and hug her tight as Romel says, “Yeah, baby girl. This is your mommy.”

I twist my head to the side to catch the love in his eyes, and I hope he can see the same emotion in mine. He gave me everything I could ever want, and I love these two more than any words could express.