Nora
Theo, Charlotte, and I were quiet on the elevator ride up after dinner. Dinner at the restaurant on the beach had been simple and perfect, and by the time we reached our floor, I was ready to get into my comfiest pajamas and pass out.
“Before we go to bed,” Theo said, turning to face me after tugging the door shut and locking it, “I have a little surprise.”
“A surprise?” I repeated, my eyebrows lifting as Charlotte snapped to attention so fast it was like someone had hit a switch.
“Yes.” Theo’s eyes met mine, the corners of his mouth twitching like he was fighting a smile. “A quick one.” And then he looked at Charlotte next, giving her a wink.
That must have been her cue because she immediately planted her hands on her hips and, in the most dramatic voice she could manage, said, “Hmmm. I wonder what it is,” before flicking a sly look up at her dad that told me she was absolutely in on the secret and extremely proud of it.
Which, of course, made my heart swell because seeing Charlotte and Theo being thick as thieves was pretty much the cutest thing ever.
Theo’s gaze met mine for half a second, and after giving me a meaningful look, he held out his hand for me to take. Then nodding toward the balcony, he said, “Come on.”
So taking his hand, I let him pull me out onto the balcony, Charlotte skipping beside us even though she’d been half asleep on the elevator a minute ago.
And when we stepped outside, I stopped short.
Because while the ocean was still out there, dark and endless, the waves a soft hush below us, the rest of the space had been transformed while we were at dinner.
Electric candles were scattered everywhere, their flickering light casting everything in a warm glow. And right in the center of the table sat a huge bouquet of flowers with a note tucked into it.
I looked down at Charlotte. “Do you think my secret admirer found out I was coming here?” I asked, playing into the moment.
“Yes,” she exclaimed, practically giggling.
Then Theo stepped up to the table, and from behind the large bouquet, he pulled out a mini bouquet that was basically a miniature version of mine.
I gasped at the same time as Charlotte before saying, “Oh my, I wonder who that could be for?”
And her face lit up so fast it was like she’d just spotted treasure.
“I hope it’s for me,” she said, bouncing on her toes as Theo set it beside the big bouquet.
Theo chuckled. “I guess we’ll have to find out. But first,” he said, his hand sliding to my lower back. “I think I should talk to you about something. About how I’ve been feeling.”
“Oh?” I asked, pretending like I didn’t know what he was probably going to do.
“So,” he said, voice calm, “I talked to Charlotte earlier. And I told her the little secret I’ve been keeping. About being your secret admirer.”
I blinked.
But before I could even say anything, Charlotte grabbed my hand, squeezed it, and said, “See? I told you it was my daddy!”
I laughed, my chest going warm in that melty way that made me want to scoop her up and hug her.
“You were such a good detective,” I told her, squeezing her little hand back.
“I know.” Charlotte shrugged, like she’d cracked the case easily and deserved a trophy.
But before she could brag too much, Theo stepped closer, the candlelight catching the edges of his face as he said, “So… now that the secret’s out…” His eyes met mine, the warmth in them making my heart thump hard. “I was wondering if you’d want to make things official.”
And even though I’d known this might happen on this trip, it didn’t make me swoon any less.
Because this was really happening!
After wishing for so long that this amazing man might actually see me as someone worth investing his time and attention in, I was standing here on a balcony in Maui while he looked at me like I was the best part of his life.
He took my free hand, threading his fingers through mine, and for a second, his thumb brushed over my knuckles like he was steadying himself, too.
“Nora Margaret Miller,” he said, voice low, the corner of his mouth tipping. “Will you make me the happiest man and be my girlfriend?”
“Of course,” I said instantly, like there was no universe where my answer would’ve been anything else. “Nothing would make me happier.”
Theo let out a slow breath before pulling me into him, giving me the kind of hug that made my body go soft.
But since we did have a tiny audience, he eased back and looked down at Charlotte. “Can you close your eyes real quick, sweetie?”
“Otay,” Charlotte said, slapping her hands over her eyes with full dramatic flair. “I’m not loooooking.”
Theo’s gaze flicked to mine, amused, and then he bent down and kissed me.
Not rushed. Not shy. Just sweet and sure—like he’d been wanting to do it all day.
I kissed him back, smiling into it because I was just so dang happy that we didn’t have to hide how we felt about each other from anyone now.
And when we finally pulled away and looked down, Charlotte’s fingers had a gap the size of the Grand Canyon.
Yep, she was absolutely watching.
And she wore the biggest, beaming grin I’d ever seen.
The little stinker.
We all laughed, because apparently, Charlotte Archibald was the kind of kid who could witness a whole romantic moment and still find a way to steal the show.
Theo reached for the larger bouquet on the table and handed it to me carefully. “Read the note.”
So, I slid the little card out with shaking fingers.
And there it was. Another heartfelt note in his handwriting.
Nora,
I’ve tried a hundred times to write something big enough for what you’ve done for me, but I’m going to keep this simple.
You came into my life and somehow made everything lighter. You made our house feel warm again. You made me remember what it feels like to look forward to tomorrow.
You make my mornings better.
My nights calmer.
My heart fuller.
I love you, Nora.
And I want you. Not just for a weekend. Not just for now.
I want you in this life with me.
And if you’ll let me… I’d really like to call you mine.
—Theo
For a second, I couldn’t move.
Couldn’t blink.
Because my heart had just grown three sizes, and my eyes were burning, and I wasn’t even going to pretend I was cool about it.
I looked up at him, tears clinging to my lashes.
“I love you, too,” I said, voice thick. “I love you so much.”
Theo’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, like he was feeling just as emotional in this moment as I was.
And when he pulled me into his arms again, I held on tight, pressing my face into his shoulder, breathing him in like I needed proof this was real.
When we finally pulled away, we were both smiling like idiots.
Happy. Giddy. A little stunned.
Charlotte chose that exact second to wrap her arms around my waist and squeeze.
“I love you, too,” she announced, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
And my heart just melted because I loved that little girl so much.
So I said, “I love you, too, Charlotte,” squeezing her right back.
After a moment, she pulled back. Then she gestured for me to come down to her level so she could whisper something in my ear. “And my daddy says you might get to be my mommy someday.”
I sucked in a breath. Warmth flooding my chest so fast it almost knocked the breath out of me. I whispered back into her ear, “I would love that.”
Charlotte’s grin turned huge. And when I straightened again, my gaze instantly went to Theo’s. And from the look in his eyes… Yeah. He knew exactly what we’d said.
But instead of looking upset or worried, he simply looked happy.
Like the idea didn’t scare him one bit.
Theo cleared his throat then, like he needed to pull himself together before he got even more emotional.
“Now,” he said, nodding toward the smaller bouquet. “About this one.”
He turned to Charlotte, then dropped onto one knee in front of her, as if this was the most serious and important moment of the night.
Then, holding out the bouquet to her with a solemn expression that lasted maybe two seconds before his mouth twitched, he said, “Charlotte ‘Bug’ Archibald. Will you please be my little princess?”
Charlotte went bashful instantly, her shoulders creeping up toward her ears.
“Of course,” she said, clutching the bouquet and nodding so hard it looked like her whole body agreed. Then lifting the flowers to her nose and sniffing dramatically, she said, “These smell like pwincess flowers.”
Theo laughed and scooped her into his arms, hugging her tight.
And just like that, she squirmed out of his hold. As she dashed inside the suite, she said, “I know just where to put these!”
And suddenly, it was quiet out on the balcony.
Just me and Theo and the ocean below us.
He stepped closer, hands settling at my waist before he kissed me again. “I love you,” he murmured against my mouth.
“I love you,” I whispered back, like I could say it a thousand times and still not get over the fact that it was true.
As I rested my head against his chest and we watched the waves rolling in the dark, I couldn’t stop smiling.
Because I was Theo’s girlfriend.
And if I played my cards right…
I might get to be Charlotte’s mommy someday, too.