CHAPTER THIRTY #2
Adam, the motherfucker, hid money from me. Lied. I’m not surprised, but it still hurts that he treated me so badly right from the start.
I didn’t shed a tear when Zander told me the divorce was final. I only felt relief.
Zander looks pale. “It’s fine, it’s a private event.”
“Still...”
“You’re divorced, I fired you, and we no longer have a client-attorney relationship.”
It’s true. On Wednesday, after wrapping up the divorce paperwork, Zander messaged me telling me he was terminating our professional relationship and recommending another firm to me.
I replied with two words. How rude.
Now, he walks over and crouches before me.
“Obviously we’ll be careful over the next few months, sweetheart, but I’d really like you to join me tonight. Unless you’re feeling truly horrible.”
I’m not nauseous like I’ve been in the mornings, but I am tired. The richness deep in those blue eye’s tugs at my heart, telling me this is important, so I find myself agreeing.
“Just an hour. Then I can come home, and if you want, you can stay.”
I almost flop back against the cushions of the sofa when the mega-watt smile lights up his face.
Is he excited to introduce me to his friends? I’ve met a lot of them. Not wanting to burst this amazing bubble we are living in right now, I lean forward and kiss him. “Fine, let me get changed.”
“Wear your red dress.” Zander lifts me to my feet. “The sexy one with the low back.”
“Okay,” I laugh, figuring I won’t be able to fit it soon, so may as well.
Terrance opens the door when we go downstairs, and Zander tucks me into the back seat with a blanket over my lap.
“It’s not that cold.” I laugh at him, folding the blanket and putting it beside me. “Think I’ll get you one of those pregnancy books so you can read up.”
“Already have three audiobooks loaded and started listening on Monday.”
Of course he has. Mr. Overachiever.
I’m confused about where we are going when we pull up outside the Rockefeller Center.
“Is the party here?” I ask, wondering if he’s taking me to the Rainbow Room—the rooftop cocktail lounge.
I had mistakenly thought we were going to one of his friends’ homes. Didn’t he tell me that?
“Come on,” Zander extends a hand, and in minutes we’re heading up in the elevator where he dodges more of my questions.
So, I frown at the buttons and wait.
The doors ping open, and it’s then I realize there are no people around. It’s seven at night on a Saturday and all I can see are a few lights...
Oh, my goodness!
Zander pushes the door open that leads to the observation deck, and a handful of people stand around with glasses of champagne. A small string orchestra is set up, which I barely notice, and plays modern songs. Fairy lights are strung everywhere, and there are petals on the floor.
Beyond all of that, the lights of Manhattan sparkle against the majestic concrete jungle of the city. I feel like I’m in a fairytale.
I turn. “What is this?”
Where—
My eyes drop.
Zander is on one knee with a turquoise box in his hand and the most stunning diamond I’ve ever seen.
I gasp, cupping my belly almost without thought and glance at the surrounding people. I sort of recognize them.
“It’s my buddy's.” Zander smiles, taking my hand, which is shaking. “They set this up.”
“Oh,” I smile and spot Emily, who is holding a baby and grinning wildly with Sebastian behind her, and Dereck. Three familiar faces.
Then I see Kylie and turn back to Zander.
What is going on?
Zander squeezes my hand. “If you’d asked me a month ago if I’d be down on my knee asking a woman to marry me—spoiler alert—then I would have laughed. Yet here I am, terrified for the first time in my life that a woman would say no to me.”
“Dude,” someone croons.
“Are you sure?” I whisper.
“I wanted you before I wanted our baby.” He stares intently into my eyes. “Honestly, I thought the test would be negative, but I was there that night to tell you how I felt about you.”
Oh.
“Now my life is clear as day. You as my wife, our kids waking us at some ungodly hour, and me stepping on painful toys as I go to make coffee.”
“You’re not selling this as well as you think.”
He grins.
“Our dog curled up on the end of our bed—”
“We have a dog?” I ask, feeling my heart swell.
“If you want a cat, I can live with that. I guess.” Zander frowns, then smiles again. “Dog and a cat.”
“Longest proposal in the history of humanity. Come on.” Dereck groans, and I giggle.
“Ask me,” I say softly.
“Be my wife. Marry me. Spend forever with me as we raise our family, get old and make sweet love.”
“Aww,” Emily and some of the other girl’s hum.
“Please,” he adds.
“I’ve only been single for two days.” I shrug.
“Put us out of our misery, Courtney, for the love of God,” Dereck cries.
“She’s making me work for it.” Zander stands, and as he towers over me, my heart thuds. He’s always done this to me. His large, muscular frame attracted me from day one, making my panties wet and my body ready.
“Yes,” I smile, feeling the love flowing from my heart. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
The glittering diamond slides onto my finger, firm and sure, then he lifts me up into his arms and spins us around. The group erupts into cheers, and the music gets louder.
Then we’re surrounded in congratulations as I’m inducted into his world and the friends that mean everything to him.
As do I.
Me and our little baby growing inside me.