26. Lowen
Four months later
“It’s all set, Low,” Wren says, handing me the basket. “Ridley sent him directions and told him the client would meet him there at six.”
I nod, nervously smoothing my hands over my shirt. “Perfect. Thank you.”
“You’ve totally got this,” Indy says, squeezing my shoulder. “It’s Oakley. You’re good.”
“I know. I’m just so nervous.”
Salem, sitting on a bar stool swinging his legs, grins. “Eh, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Bane and Jerryn come out of the office next. “We just confirmed the deliveries,” Bane says. “It’s all underway.”
Jerryn hands me a small box. “This is so exciting.”
“It is.”
Stewart, who’s been peering out the front window with Kit, turns and smiles. “Your ride is here.”
I grab my overnight bag. “Wish me luck, guys.”
“Pshh. You don’t need luck, man. Have fun,” Indy says.
“Thanks.”
I hustle out the door of Moby’s and get in the car, confirming the address with the driver before settling back in my seat. I hope I can pull this off. It was hard pretending to be too busy to talk to Oakley this morning, but I knew I’d blow it if I didn’t avoid him.
The last four months have been beyond my expectations. Once I let myself enjoy Oakley’s attention and love, it was like discovering a part of myself I didn’t know was inside me. It’s obvious to me now that I never knew what love was. What I convinced myself was love with Alain was nothing but a clever game on his part.
I scroll through my phone, reading all about the latest drama in his life. It doesn’t bother me to see his face or his name anymore, knowing I came out on top and he got what he had coming. Gerard dumped him and did quite a few revealing interviews that I should have done. He’s a rising star on his own now that he’s stepping out from Alain’s shadow. As for Alain, he can’t get a break from the media hounding him, and last I heard, he’s hiding out at his cousin’s house somewhere in Spain.
I chuckle, moving to the social page for the city of New Onyx. Right on the front page is the press release announcing the latest plans Yves Orpheus and his team have for other run-down parts of the city. At this rate, he’ll be keeping me and Oakley busy for the next decade. Works for me.
Oakley.
What a man.
I was so nervous when he officially moved in last month, but it’s been seamless. He gives me the space he knows I need, and I give him the cuddles and attention he needs. He loves to watch sports with Kit and Indy and play video games with Bane and Jerryn. He cooks with Wren and Ridley, and talks books with Stewart. He’s even gone shopping with Salem. He’s one of us now.
Then at night, when it’s just the two of us again, he finds all new ways to unravel me before expertly knitting me back together, stronger and better each time.
This is what love is supposed to be like.
An hour later, I arrive at the cabin I booked for the weekend. We’ve earned a break from constantly juggling the projects we have and managing the bar with the guys, and I plan to spoil my man hard.
There are two cars already there, and I hurry out to greet them, unlocking the door so they can bring in the items I ordered.
“Special occasion?” the florist says, placing the oodles of roses I ordered on the counter.
“Very.”
After I spend time fixing everything up just the way I want it, I freshen my face and wait for Oakley. I chose to keep it simple, wearing a pair of comfy yoga pants and a loose linen shirt, with bare feet and no makeup. He likes me dressed up, but he definitely appreciates me dressed down too.
When the sound of gravel under tires reaches me, my stomach does a little flip. He’s here.
I sit on the couch, exhaling slowly to calm down. The door opens and he peeks inside.
“Hello?”
“In here.”
His heavy steps echo through the short hallway and then he stops. “Kitten. What’s going on?”
“I had your schedule cleared for the weekend.” Standing, I walk over to him. His smile grows as I wrap my arms around his neck. “It’s just you and me until Monday morning.”
“Damn. It’s not even my birthday.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
He studies my face, his brow creasing. “Are you okay? You seem a little off.”
“I’m amazing. I have appetizers planned and then a nice dinner. I thought we could go on a nature walk tomorrow and enjoy the weather. Then maybe later a steamy bath. How does that sound?”
“Incredible.”
“Good.” I blow out a breath, replaying the order of events, but realizing with annoyance that there’s no way I’ll be able to enjoy myself.
Oakley kicks off his work boots, and I turn around, watching him before blurting out what this whole weekend is really about.
“Oakley?”
“Yeah, kitten?”
“You know how we talked a couple of months ago about getting married? The formality and legality of it?”
“Yeah.” He looks worried now. “We agreed that’s not something either of us need to feel committed.”
“Right. We did.”
“But? Are you feeling like moving in wasn’t the right step yet?”
“No. I mean, no, I don’t feel that. I love that we live together.”
“Okay. So what’s going on? I can handle it, whatever it is.”
“Remember when I asked you to be my fake fiancé and we made up a story about what our engagement was like?”
“Yep.”
“I was trying to recreate that. I found this cabin, and I have roses and champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. Wren made us a beautiful dinner.”
His jaw drops, his lips moving like he’s talking, but no words come out.
“But I have zero chill, and I can’t go through the night pretending to be normal. I can’t pretend anymore that I don’t want to marry you for real. I do. So, if you do too, if you were maybe just saying that for me?—”
“Yes.” He nods, walking towards me. “Yes, Lowen. If you’re asking me to marry you, my answer is yes.”
“Yes?” My eyes immediately fill with tears. “You’re such a good man. You said you didn’t need it for my benefit and then waited for me to accept that I do want it. With you. Because of you. I’m not scared anymore.”
“Are you proposing?”
I nod. “Yes.”
He claps his hands once, yelling, “Yes!”
Oakley grabs me around the waist and spins me, kissing my neck. I laugh even as tears fall down my cheeks. I hold on to him tightly.
He sets me down after a minute. “I’ve had a ring for you since right after the awards. I returned the other one and my uncle made me something special. It’s not ten carats, but it’s beautiful.”
“I don’t want ten carats, I just want you.”
“You got me, kitten. You’ve always had me, and you always will.”
I reach into the front pocket of my pants and pull out the black rubber band and another tungsten ring I picked out weeks ago and kept in a box. “One for work to be safe, and one for all the other times.”
Oakley smiles, extending his left hand for me to put on both rings.
“Hold on.” He hurries off, returning a minute later with a small black box. “I keep it in my truck.” He drops down on one knee. “I know you said this was too predictable, but I don’t care. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.” Oakley opens the box to reveal a sparkling oval sapphire solitaire flanked by two twinkling diamonds. It’s perfect.
I extend my left hand, watching with teary eyes as he slides it on my ring finger.
“Do you like it?”
“I adore it.” I twist my fingers through his beard. “Oh my god. We’re really engaged.”
“We sure are, kitten.”
“We can test the mattress and you can feed me strawberries. How does that sound?”
“Sounds like paradise.”
Thanks for reading Lowen and Oakley’s story.