20. Be My Baby…Forever
BE MY BABY…FOREVER
BASIL
I had never been this nervous in my entire life.
Not when I pitched my company to investors, not when Stratos signed its first big contract, and not even when I had to fire Drew and cut ties with the people I once called friends.
But standing in Summer’s shop, an engagement ring burning a hole in my pocket, surrounded by Summer’s friends—who had, graciously, accepted me back into their lives—and my mother, who was beaming like she had personally orchestrated this entire moment…yeah, I was feeling it.
Summer was having an open house with drinks and snacks, which was why everyone was there.
Felix clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Breathe, man.”
I exhaled. “I am breathing. ”
“Then stop looking like you might pass out.” He chuckled. “Bad optics for a proposal.”
Meadow, who was in on the whole thing, sauntered up. “You ready?”
“Nope.”
She grinned. “Good. Let’s do this.”
“What if she says no?” I asked.
“Then ask me, I’ll say yes,” Meadow suggested. “That ring is massive .”
“You’re a big help,” I muttered.
Summer, oblivious to my mini nervous breakdown, was arranging a new display of candles while she talked to Ocean.
She always looked beautiful, but it was more than that. She looked happy, and according to her, that was largely due to me. Of all the things I’d achieved, making Summer happy was the biggest and most treasured.
I cleared my throat. “Sunshine.”
She glanced up, then did a double take when she saw everyone watching us.
Her brows pulled together. “ Uh . What’s going on?”
I stepped forward, my heart hammering. “I have something to say.”
She eyed me suspiciously. “Is this some inappropriate dramatic declaration in my place of business?”
Laughter rippled through the room, but I barely heard it, because in that moment, it was just her and me— us .
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring. I’d decided to not have a box—why add an extra step to an already fraught process.
Her lips parted, and her breathing faltered.
Rain, who didn’t know, gasped. “Oh my God.”
Bodhi, who also didn’t know, whispered, “Damn, that’s a big ring.”
I ignored them and focused on my woman.
Summer blinked. “Is that for me?”
I shot her a look of mock exasperation. “ No , I got it for Meadow.”
“I’ll take it.” Meadow raised her hand.
“Oh, shut it.” Summer put her hand out. “Gimme.”
“Patience.” God! She made me happy. So, fucking happy. “I have to ask first.”
She let out an exaggerated sigh as if she was bored. “ Fine , ask.”
“You know, you can pretend to help me make this romantic because we’ll have to tell this story to our children,” I reminded her.
She shrugged. “We’ll just cook up a story.”
“Great, you haven’t even had kids and you plan to lie to them,” Ocean teased. “The Mother of the Year committee is gonna be waiting to hand out an award, Summer.”
“Basil, ask,” Summer demanded impatiently.
I grinned. I couldn’t help it. “Sunshine, I’ve been in love with you since the first time you made me drink that disgusting wheatgrass shot at Ocean’s smoothie place.”
Ocean muttered, “Rude.”
”I wake up happy every day because you’re next to me.”
Her eyes glistened with moisture.
I squeezed her hand. “I love you. I love your friends, your insane attachment to essential oils that smell like dirt….”
Someone—probably Meadow—snorted.
“I love the way you make me better. And I swear, if you let me, I will spend the rest of my life making sure you are happy and loved.”
A single tear slipped down her cheek. I wiped it and took a deep breath.
“Sunshine, will you marry me?”
Silence.
“Baby?”
“ Oh , I can say yes now?” she sassed me.
“This marriage is gonna be work.” I sighed dramatically as I slipped the ring on her finger, making her mine .
“Hey, I didn’t say yes,” she protested, but she was holding her hand up, looking at the ring. “It’s so pretty. Isn’t it?”
The room erupted.
Meadow screamed, Ocean cheered, and my mother clapped her hands together, beaming. Felix said it was a quirky but solid proposal .
“Well, Sunshine, you ready for this marriage adventure?”
“With you? I’m ready for everything .”
Then she laughed, wrapping herself around me, and I kissed her like I had just won the whole damn universe.
Want more Basil and Summer? Read the bonus chapter: Small Big Changes on my website at www.MayaAlden.com .
Don’t forget to rate and review Regretfully Yours, Basil . I am grateful for your support.
Also, check out, Regretfully Yours, Ansel where our heroine overhears the hero say some very hurtful things.