Chapter 17
ROSIE
The bathroom tiles feel cool against my bare feet as I pace back and forth, my heart racing like I just ran a marathon. I can’t seem to stay still, but there’s nowhere to go. My eyes dart between the little white stick sitting on the edge of the sink and my reflection in the mirror. I look… scared. But there’s something else behind the fear. Something that makes my chest tighten with emotions I can’t quite put into words.
The little timer on my phone buzzes, and I freeze, staring at the test. Three minutes are up.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to calm the flutter of excitement and nerves swirling in my stomach. When I open my eyes, I step forward, pick up the test, and look down.
Two pink lines.
My breath catches in my throat, and a soft, choked laugh escapes my lips. I’m… pregnant.
I sit down on the edge of the bathtub, the reality of it slowly sinking in. My heart feels full—bursting with happiness and a sense of wonder as I imagine what our baby would look like. Maybe a little boy with Knox’s thick, dark hair and those mesmerizing green eyes that make me weak in the knees. Or maybe a girl with his crooked smile and my own deep brown skin.
Tears well up in my eyes as I picture our future, but alongside the joy is this nagging worry. What’s Knox going to say? We haven’t even talked about starting a family yet. We’ve been so caught up in each other, in the intensity of our relationship, that I don’t even know how he feels about kids right now.
I’m still sitting there, lost in my thoughts, when I hear a soft knock on the door.
“Babe?” Knox’s deep voice calls through the wood. “You okay in there?”
I quickly swipe at the tears on my cheeks, trying to steady my breathing. But I can’t quite control the tremble in my voice when I answer. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
There’s a pause, then I hear the doorknob jiggle. “You’ve been in there a while. What’s wrong?”
He sounds panicked, and I know I can’t keep this from him much longer. I take a deep breath and stand up, walking slowly to the door. When I open it, Knox is standing there, his brow furrowed with concern.
The moment our eyes meet, I feel a wave of emotion crash over me. Before I can say a word, I throw my arms around him, burying my face in his chest. The tears come harder now, and I can’t stop them.
“Rosie,” he says, his voice laced with worry as his arms wrap around me, holding me tight. “What’s going on? Talk to me.”
I pull back just enough to look up at him, my lips trembling as I try to find the words. But instead of speaking, I reach into my pocket and pull out the pregnancy test. I hold it up, showing him the two pink lines.
Knox stares at the test for a second, his eyes widening in realization. And then, in one swift motion, he lifts me off the ground, spinning me around as a wide, joyful grin spreads across his face.
“You’re pregnant?” he laughs, his voice filled with awe.
I nod, still crying, my hands clutching his shoulders as he sets me back down on my feet. “I… I didn’t know how you’d feel about it. I wasn’t sure if you—”
“Babe,” he interrupts, cupping my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away my tears. “I’m so damn happy right now. You have no idea.” He presses his forehead to mine, his voice dropping to a tender whisper. “We’re gonna have a baby, Rosie. Our baby.”
I let out a choked laugh, the weight of my earlier fears lifting as I see the pure joy in his eyes. He leans down, kissing me softly, then more urgently, his hands gripping my waist like he never wants to let go.
“I love you so much,” he murmurs between kisses. “You’re everything to me, and now we’re starting a family.”
As he pulls back slightly, I catch my breath, resting my hands on his chest. But before I can say anything else, Knox steps away from me, a serious look on his face.
“Wait here,” he says, holding up a finger. “Don’t move.”
“Knox, what are you—”
“Just wait,” he insists, disappearing down the hallway.
I stand there, bewildered, still trying to process everything when he returns, holding something behind his back. He steps toward me, his green eyes gleaming with mischief and love.
“Rosie,” he begins, his voice steady and full of emotion. “I was going to wait for the right moment, but… there’s no better moment than right now.”
Before I can fully comprehend what’s happening, Knox drops down on one knee, revealing a small black velvet box in his hand. My breath hitches in my throat as he opens it, revealing a stunning diamond ring that catches the light in the most beautiful way.
“Marry me,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “Not because of the baby, but because I can’t imagine my life without you. I’ve known from the start that you’re it for me. So, will you marry me, Rosie? Be mine, forever?”
I stare down at him, tears streaming down my face again. My heart is pounding in my chest, and my whole body feels like it’s buzzing with happiness and disbelief.
“Yes,” I whisper, my voice shaky. “Yes, of course.”
Knox lets out a relieved laugh, slipping the ring onto my finger before standing and pulling me into his arms. He kisses me—long, deep, and full of promise. My hands tangle in his hair, and for a moment, everything else fades away. It’s just him and me, and this overwhelming sense of love and joy that fills every part of me.
When we finally pull apart, I can’t help but laugh again, wiping at my tears. “I can’t believe this. You had the ring all along?”
Knox grins, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “I’ve had it for a while. Just waiting for the perfect moment.”
I shake my head, still in awe of everything that’s happened in the last few minutes. “You really had this all planned out, didn’t you?”
He pulls me close, resting his forehead against mine. “I’ve always known, Rosie. It’s always been you.”