Chapter 10
Three weeks. It had been three weeks since he had started dating Grace, and she still believed it was fake. He was over it.
Three days ago, he literally bought a house, and she still didn’t get it. He was staying, and she was really dating him.
Everyone could see it, but she seemed to still be waiting for the bottom to drop out. He was having her over for dinner now that most of the furniture was in the house and was going to level things out.
They’d gone on dates. They were still sleeping together. He’d introduced her to his family via video call. And after each thing, she’d ask if he was sure about this. Stubborn ass woman.
He patted his pocket for the millionth time, making sure the ring was still there. Kristen had gone with him to pick it out this morning.
Caleb checked the time and his phone one more time and then checked on dinner. Everything was coming along, and he hoped and prayed this convinced Grace he was serious.
She didn’t text him first, ever. Every morning, he waited to see if she would send him a message, and she never did. He didn’t ask her why; he knew what it was, but dammit, it was driving him insane.
The quiet knock on the door had him jumping up to greet her. She could just walk in, he told her to, but she wouldn’t do it.
“Hey.” He smiled at her and helped her out of her coat. “Come, tell me what you think with the furniture in it.”
“I can’t believe you bought a house here.”
“Why?” It came out with more frustration than he meant it to.
“Because you’ve been all over the world. I just don’t know why you’d pick here to stay. There’s so much out there.”
“Grace,” he sighed her name. “I want to be here.”
She nodded.
“Come on, I’ll give you the new tour.”
He carried the conversation as he showed her the rooms that had furniture and explained what else he wanted in there. She added very little input.
When they made it back to the kitchen, he pulled dinner out of the oven and turned to her. “What’s wrong, Grace?”
“Nothing.” That fake smile was going to piss him off one day.
“Don’t lie, please?” He stopped getting plates and just waited for her to answer.
“I don’t know why I’m here.” She started towards the door.
“What does that even mean?” He was quicker than she was and made it to the door before she could pull it open.
“This isn’t real, so why am I here? Why ask me about your house and what you should do? There’s no one here to see this.” She rushed it all out. When she finished, he watched her deflate, curling in on herself.
“Grace, baby, look at me.” He waited for her to do it before speaking again. “I never said this was fake.”
“But—”
“No. Let me finish. You assumed that’s what I meant, but you didn’t ask me. I’ll give it to you; I didn’t correct you. I thought at some point you would see that this was real for me.”
“Caleb.” She brought her arms up and dropped them down again. “You were just doing that to save me from Grandma putting me on another date.”
“Please, for the love of everything, listen to me.” He knelt down on one knee and pulled the ring box from his pocket. “I have been trying to show you, but I can see I need to use the words instead. I love you, Grace. I’m not going anywhere.” He opened the box. “Will you marry me?”
She gasped, tears streaming down her face, but didn’t speak.
“Grace?” he prompted.
“I’m sorry. I just have been so scared to believe this was real.”
“It’s real, baby. I promise it’s real.” He stood up because he needed to touch her.
She moved to him before he could reach out, her arms wrapping around him. “I love you, too.”
He hugged her back. “I love you so much. Marry me?”
“Oh,” she pulled back. “Yes! Yes, of course.”
Caleb pulled the ring out of the box, sliding it onto her finger. “Move in with me. Bring Milo, and let’s live here. Let’s decorate it together.”
She was still crying, but nodding at the same time with a giant smile on her face.
“Come on. Let’s go celebrate.”
Grace wiped her cheeks and smiled at him. “I know just how to do that.”
He let her lead him up the stairs, dinner completely forgotten.
They celebrated until neither of them could move. Eventually, Caleb warmed up dinner, and they ate in bed. Her smile making his life complete.
This was where he was staying. They’d build this house into a home, maybe add a few kids, and they’d be together, for now and forever.