Chapter 25 Demands
DEMANDS
Eli
I’ve never been to Montana. But flying over it this afternoon, I understand the draw.
There are mountains for miles—rivers, lakes, and bare land in every direction.
I’m not exactly sure what real estate Jackson’s been talking about, but there must be something somewhere.
After he visited Cici last year, I planned to make a trip over, but since she ended up in San Diego again, I never needed to.
I’ve been chasing that woman since the night we locked eyes in the club almost three years ago.
It was always her. Deep down, I felt it from our first kiss, but it took a while for my brain to catch up and the wild streak I was sporting to come to terms with it.
By the time I realized she was the one, she made the move to Bozeman.
I always knew how against relationships she was, and early on, that was A-okay with me, but when the idea of being more started to take shape, she certainly wasn’t on board.
I eventually found out she never would be.
Until now.
Nothing stands in our way at this point.
Well, other than the thousand miles between us, but that’s simple logistics.
I’d love for her to move back to San Diego, but my home is wherever she is.
I’m slightly concerned about not being honest with her about my trust, but shouldn’t I get a hall pass since she didn’t tell me about our baby?
Our baby. I’m about to be a father. Holy shit.
It still blows my mind every time I think about it, which is often, and never fails to make me smile.
I’m constantly looking back and thinking how different things might have been if I’d shared the condition of marriage from the beginning or if she had told me about being pregnant right when she found out, but I reach the same conclusion every time—that I wouldn’t change a thing.
Because it all brought me to this moment, right here, knocking on a door, waiting for the woman I love to open up and save me from a life that I can’t fathom to live… without her in it.
The second it opens, I’m overwhelmed by the sight before me. It’s my angel in the flesh. She’s an absolute vision of beauty from top to bottom, and her pregnant belly only accentuates every detail.
When I planned this out, I knew I’d have to prove to her, without a doubt, that my memory came back. So I hold the orchid out. “You left something behind.”
Tears spring to her eyes as she takes it and steps back for me to enter. Shutting the door, she goes to the living room and sets it on the coffee table, turning to me in silence.
Adding the proof she needs, I recite the words only I would know from my first proposal.
“When you turned me down on New Year’s Eve, you told me I deserved someone who could give me everything in return, but what you don’t realize is that there’s nothing anyone can give me that I want… more than I want you.”
“Eli,” she gasps before leaping into my arms.
Suddenly, all is right in the world. Her lips are on mine, and as I match her ferocity, it’s as if we’ve been starving for each other our whole lives. Maybe we have, but the famine is over, and I’ll never let her go again.
The only way to accomplish that is to do what I came here to do, so I reluctantly extract her from my arms. Her whimper of protest makes my heart swell and assures me I’m on the right track.
Without further ado, I take a knee, pull the box from my pocket, and open it as her hands fly to her mouth in shock.
“Cici, you mean everything to me. I was enamored from the first moment I laid eyes on you and knew I had to have you. You, Cici, are truly it for me. I’ve been in love with you for two years and in absolute misery without you for the past eight months.
” I shake my head and scoff. “You’ve kept me waiting so damn long.
Please don’t make me wait any longer. I’m asking for forever, because forever is how long it will take to prove there’s only one true love in life, and for me, that’s always been you.
” She nods as tears stream down her beautiful face, and as much as I want to wrap her in my arms, there’s a confession to make.
“But before you say yes, there’s something you need to hear. ”
Her brows furrow in confusion. This is it—the last piece of the puzzle, and the only one left that could ruin everything.
Taking a deep breath, I continue, “My engagement to Rebecca was a sham. It was only to satisfy a condition of our trust requiring me and my brother to marry by the age of thirty to keep our inheritance and company. I found out on my twenty-ninth birthday.”
Her eyebrows scrunch as she puts the pieces together and takes a step back in retreat. Please don’t let this be the thing that breaks us.
“Wait. That was right before you proposed last time. Is that why you asked me?”
“Yes and no. Marrying you was something I’d already wanted, but I always knew you weren’t there yet—that you may never be.
I was willing to wait, but because of the condition, I couldn’t and was forced to ask you too soon, praying I could persuade you before you were ready.
I should have known better than to try and convince my stubborn girl of anything, but nonetheless, I tried and failed. ”
“Why didn’t you just tell me? I probably would have said yes.”
“I have no doubt, but that’s not the yes I wanted. The yes I wanted had to come from here.” I put my hand over her heart. “I didn’t want you to marry me because of an obligation and certainly not out of charity. I wanted you to marry me because you love me as much as I love you.”
She’s crying harder now, but there’s one more box to check. “There’s one more thing you’ll have to agree to if you say yes,” I say with a smirk.
“Now what?” She laughs through her tears.
“Well, cutie, we’ll be getting married next month, because if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. And Jackson and Mia already agreed.” I wink. “Oh, and your mom and dad give their blessing.”
“WHAT?” Her gasp cuts her tears off while she swipes them away.
Grabbing her left hand, I hold the ring around the tip of her finger. “That’s the deal. Yes or no?” I slowly begin to push it up, hearing no objection.
Her free hand goes to her jutted hip as I slide it on the rest of the way. “Are you really in a position to be making demands?” she asks in that sassy way I love so much. But what do I not love about this woman?
Keeping hold of her hand and placing my other over hers on her hip, I rise to stand. “You haven’t seen anything yet, baby. I’ve got eight months of demands ready to unleash.”
“Is that so? What kind of demands?”
“How about we start with this one? Tell me you love me.”
She giggles but then goes serious before saying the words I feel like I’ve waited my whole life to hear. “I love you, Eli Dubree. More than I ever thought possible to love another human being.”
“Now this one.” I cup her cheek and stare into her eyes, showing every ounce of emotion, before I slowly make the most important demand of all. “Say. Yes.”
“Yes.”