CHAPTER TWENTY
It was New Year’s Eve. Another week had passed, and other than a “Merry Christmas” text, Ben still hadn’t reached out. Lizzie had picked up the phone to call him several times, but she chickened out each time, unsure what she’d say if he answered.
During the day, she worked with Adam to plan The Drop’s remodel. Working at the bar kept her busy at night. In her spare time, she hung out with Charlie and evaluated her life choices.
Lucy had insinuated she self-sabotaged. Was that true? Was she opposed to being happy? Embracing her independence started out as empowering, but had it morphed into something habitual and detrimental?
If she looked at it rationally, she could admit that assuming every man would eventually break her heart wasn’t fair to Ben. She’d projected her insecurities onto him and ruined something that might have been great.
She had just walked in the door after walking Charlie when her phone rang.
“I have good news, and I have great news,” Kate said.
“Sweet,” Lizzie said. “I could use some of that. Lay it on me.”
“Adam found a lawyer that will commit to renting your space downtown. They offered a long-term lease or to buy it outright.”
“That’s awesome. Since Adam hasn’t started the repairs yet, he can work with them to do exactly what they want.”
“Yes,” Kate agreed. “The timing is perfect.”
“Was that the good or the great?”
“You decide. I also found your dream house. Three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, newly remodeled kitchen, indestructible laminate floors.”
“You know what I care about.”
“I’m saving the best for last,” Kate said. “Fenced backyard on two acres! It even has a small barn. It’s only five miles outside of town in a subdivision with a dozen houses. Everyone has a couple of acres, and there’s about a mile of sidewalk around the whole neighborhood. Perfect for walks with your man-dog.”
“It sounds amazing. What about price?”
“Very competitive. I talked to Emma, and if you sell your condo, you could use the proceeds for a good-sized down payment. Even more if you sell the old bar. You can easily afford it. There’s just one thing.”
“Of course. What?”
“Someone else is very interested. You’ll have to move quick. Can you come look at it today?”
“It’s New Year’s Eve, so the bar will be packed, but I’ll make time. Can we do it soon?”
“Sooner the better. I’ll text you the address and head over now.”
Kate hung up, and Lizzie received a text a minute later.
“Hey, buddy,” she said to Charlie. “Wanna go check out your new place? If it’s as great as Kate says, I’ll do whatever’s necessary to buy it for you. For us.”
Charlie plopped onto the floor, tired from the walk. Lizzie logged into a real estate site and searched the address to take a quick peek at the photos. It did look perfect—a cute little rambler painted light blue with white trim. Tons of room, both in the house and out, but not too far from town. Her commute to the bar would only be fifteen minutes.
She loaded up Charlie and headed to her potential new home. Kate was already there, standing next to a third car in the driveway. Shoot. Was that her competition? Didn’t matter. She came ready to deal.
“The other interested party is here,” Kate said in greeting.
“If I want it, I trust you to get it for me,” Lizzie said. “Let’s go.”
Kate had a weird smirk on her face, but Lizzie figured that was just her Agent Kate persona.
When they entered, she was unprepared for what she saw. Ben, holding a bouquet of flowers, stood next to Maya in the middle of an empty room. Lizzie looked to Kate for an explanation.
“This man has made an offer but insists he’s willing to make a deal with you,” she said.
Well, that made no sense and only added to Lizzie’s confusion. “What? How’d you get here? Whose car is out front?” Lizzie asked.
“It’s Maya’s,” Ben said. “We didn’t want to tip you off.”
Lizzie huffed. “Y’all know I don’t like games. Or surprises. What’s goin’ on?”
Ben passed the flowers off to Maya and approached Lizzie. He took her hands in his. “Kate said you would love this house,” he said. “I know it’s early. I know it’s crazy. But I don’t care. I want to buy it either for you or with you.”
He wanted to what? Buy her a house? Her brain broke.
“I’m no good at nuance,” Lizzie said. “Whatever’s happening here, you’re gonna have to spell it out.”
“I love you, Lizzie,” Ben said, grabbing her shoulders. “Is that direct enough? It’s only been a few weeks, but that’s all I needed to fall head first in love with you. I love that you’re tough and opinionated, selfless and passionate. I love everything about you.”
“So you want to move in together?”
“Yes,” he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a little black box.
Before she could completely freak, he opened it to reveal a pretty opal set in white gold. “It’s not an engagement ring,” he spit out quickly. “Your sisters said if I did that, you’d run for the hills and never come back.”
“You talked to my sisters?” She looked at Kate, who shrugged and backed away slowly. Lizzie rolled her eyes. “Well, they weren’t wrong.”
“Think of it as a promise ring. Or a ring that says we’re a couple. A ring that means I have a man who cares deeply for me and wants to be with me.”
Lizzie touched the ring carefully, as if it might burn her, then watched it go blurry as tears welled. Other than her father’s heart attack scare, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d cried. Happy or sad tears. These were definitely the joyful kind, which scared her. Charlie sat beside her, and she laid her hand on his head to ground herself.
“I want to move forward with you,” Ben continued. “Buying a house is a big step, and I don’t want to rush or push you. I just want you to know how serious I am and that I’m not going anywhere.”
Lizzie’s throat tightened, and a few tears escaped. The last two weeks without him had been unbearable. She’d wanted to call him so badly. The flood of emotion could only mean one thing. Lucy was right. She was in love with Ben.
“I missed you.” She had to choke out the words. Still holding the ring box, he moved in closer and put his hands on her hips.
“I missed you too. Let’s do this. Let’s commit. Whaddya say?”
Charlie let out a single bark as if he had his own answer, which made everyone laugh. Lizzie nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat.
“Is that a yes? Are you serious?”
“Yes. Yes,” she finally got out. “Why not?” She shrugged, and he smiled. If he read her as well as she read him, he would know that her heart was about to break wide open with happiness and that she was still too vulnerable to say so.
Kate and Maya inched up behind them, both wiping tears of their own.
“If you tell anyone I cried,” Lizzie said to Kate, swiping hastily at her eyes, “I’ll deny it till the day I die.”
Kate made an x over her chest. “On my honor as your real estate agent. I gotta say, you caved faster than I thought you would.”
“Let me tell you a little something about love, Kate,” Lizzie said, slinging her arm around Kate’s shoulders.
“This oughta be good,” Kate mumbled.
“She’s a fickle minx, love is. But when she gets ya, she gets ya good.”
Kate laughed. “You’re a nut.”
Maya approached tentatively. “Lizzie, I’m so sorry I made Dad go out with that woman. It was all my fault. You should know, he didn’t want to go.”
Lizzie had already decided that the other woman was a non-issue and had moved past it.
“I don’t blame you at all,” Lizzie said, which caused Maya’s shoulders to ease noticeably. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re the one who set us up and got us together.”
“Dad did say something about mentioning me at the wedding,” Maya said, grinning. Ben rolled his eyes but laughed.
“Wedding?” Lizzie started to sweat just uttering the word.
Ben caught on that she was on the verge of freaking out. “Lizzie,” he said. “Your sisters talked me out of proposing—said it’d be too much, too soon—and maybe they’re right. But just know, that’s where I’m headed. That’s how sure I am about this.”
Lizzie inhaled deeply to calm her fluttering heart. It took her a second to realize that the fluttering wasn’t panic or her fight-or-flight response kicking in. It was excitement! Maybe a few nerves about committing, but overall, it was sheer joy at the possibility of living happily ever after with this handsome man in front of her.
“Putting emotions into words isn’t really in my wheelhouse, but I can say this. Ben, I love you.”
There. She’d said it. And the world was still spinning. The smile on Ben’s face warmed her insides. Love was real. And she had fallen in deep.
“I love you too, Lizzie.” He wrapped her in his arms, and she felt like she could stay there forever.
“Sooo,” Kate interrupted. “I don’t want to pressure anyone, but what are we doing about the house?”
Lizzie and Ben shared a look. She loved him. And as sure as she was about that, she wasn’t ready to give up her independence entirely.
“How ’bout if I buy the house, and you and Maya move in with me?” she suggested.
“But I wanted to do something big for you. You know? A grand gesture of affection. Show you how much I care and how serious I am.”
“I don’t need all that,” Lizzie said. “Although, you’re welcome to help me move. That’s big and would be super helpful.”
Ben chuckled and slipped his arm around her. “Whatever you want, baby.”
“I told you she’d make this difficult,” Kate said. “Lizzie’s not like other women.”
“And that’s one reason I think she’s so great,” Ben said, talking to Kate but looking at Lizzie. “I know she’ll tell me exactly what she wants and when she wants it. And I’ll do my damnedest to give it to her.”
“I’ll take that ring too,” Lizzie said with a smile. “Do you mind if I wear it on my left hand?”
“Of course not. You sure you don’t want a diamond one?” He waggled his eyebrows.
“I just need something to keep the men away. A rock on this finger will work better than carrying a big stick.”
Once again, Ben laughed. She hugged him and whispered into his ear. “Ring or no ring, I’m yours.”
They walked around the home and the property and declared it perfect.
“I’ll make the offer today,” Kate said.
Maya followed Kate to Lizzie’s parents’ house, where she planned to ring in the New Year with Bella and the rest of the Parkers.
Ben and Lizzie went for a quick bite to celebrate, and then he hung out at the bar while she worked. The place was packed and nonstop busy, but at midnight, they found each other. And as the New Year approached, he took her into his arms.
“Here’s to a glorious next year together,” he said.
“And many more after that,” she added.
They clinked champagne glasses, counted down from ten, and kissed at midnight. The next year would bring many changes, and Lizzie pictured all of them with Ben at her side.