Chapter 20
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I wake up with the sun shining through the drapes. I stretch, and then all of a sudden, last night comes to mind, and I shoot up in bed. The room is empty, and I barely hold back the scream for Logan.
My heart is racing.
I break out in a sweat and have to talk myself down. I’m okay. I’m in Logan’s house, and he’s here somewhere.
I get up and grab the T-shirt I wore to bed last night. I pull it over my head and down my body and then walk into the bathroom. The room is filled with steam, and it brings me some comfort to smell Logan’s signature scent.
I look at myself in the mirror, wincing when I see my swollen eye and lip. I smile and make different movements. At least it doesn’t feel as bad as it looks, I guess.
I freshen up quickly and then walk through the house, finding Logan standing in the kitchen at the stove with his back to me. I just stand here, staring at his bare back, watching his muscles pull as he cooks.
“Morning,” he says before turning around.
He frowns when he sees my bruises. He walks over to me and gently cups my face in his hands. “I love you.”
I put my hands to his bare chest. “I love you too, Logan. But we should talk.”
He frowns at that. “Fine, but you have to eat first.”
He plates the food and carries it over to the table. I follow behind him, not wanting to tell him that I’m not hungry.
I sit down in front of the plate of eggs, bacon, and toast. It looks good, and I put some eggs on my fork and take a bite since Logan’s staring at me expectantly. He nods approvingly, then walks back over to the stove to prepare his plate.
I take a few more bites, and he brings over cups of orange juice and finally sits down with me.
We eat in silence for a few minutes, and when I don’t think I can eat another bite, I set my fork down. “Logan…”
He follows my lead and sets his fork down. “Yeah?”
I clench my hands together on the table. “I think we should talk about… everything.”
He tilts his head to the side. “Everything? What does that mean?”
I take a deep breath. “I mean I feel like everything is happening so fast, and we need to slow down.”
He tenses and sits up a little taller. He clears his throat, and his voice is almost strangled. “What does that mean… slow down?”
I throw my hands up. “I mean before yesterday we were fuck buddies and you hated me, and last night you’re saying that we’re going to be together.”
He sucks in a breath and stares at me intensely. “Do you love me?”
I shake my head. “That’s not the point.”
He reaches for my hands and holds both them in his. “Do. You. Love. Me?”
I roll my eyes. “You know I do.”
“Then if you want to slow down because you need time, that’s fine. I’ll wait for as long as you want me to. But all the waiting will be with me by your side.”
I pull my hands from his and put my palms flat on the table. I need to explain this, and I can’t do it with him touching me. “Lo, I want you to be with me because you love me, not because you feel guilty or—”
“Feel guilty!” he exclaims. He shoots to his feet. “Stay right here.”
I watch him walk out of the room, and I push my plate farther away. I fidget in my seat, wondering what he’s doing and secretly praying that he doesn’t let me push him away.
I want to do what’s right, but I don’t know if he’s going to let me.
He comes back into the kitchen and stops, staring down at me. “Bree—”
I look down at my hands. “Logan, this is hard enough as it is. I want to be with you, but I want you to choose me—”
He gets down on one knee in front of me. “I do choose you. I will always choose you.”
I search his eyes, and all I see is the sincerity shining from him.
He grabs my hand, and it’s then I see the box he’s carrying.
He opens it, takes a ring out, and sets the box down on the table.
“I’ve had this ring since our third date.
I knew then that I wanted to marry you.” He shrugs.
“And yeah, we weren’t together for the last two years, but I can honestly say that I thought about you and missed you every day.
Bree, you make my life so much better. Hell, you make me happy—fuck, happier than I’ve ever been. ”
He shudders a breath. “So yeah, if you want to take it slow because you’re not sure, then we’ll take it slow. But just know that as soon as you’re ready, I have this ring, and I’m waiting for you.”
I bite my lip to hold back my emotions. I want to tell him that I don’t have any doubts and I don’t need any time, but before I can get it out, he continues, leaning toward me.
“But just know that I’m hoping you decide you want to be with me soon, because I want to start a family with you, and I’m ready now. ”
My heart flips in my chest. “You want…” I can’t even get the words out.
He nods his head. “Yes, I know I’m not the most romantic-talking guy, so I’m just going to say it how I feel. I want my ring on your finger. I want my baby in your belly. I want to go to sleep with you in my bed next to me. I want to wake up with you beside me every morning.”
I gasp as if I’m just now realizing the truth. “You really do love me, don’t you?”
He chuckles. “More than anything, baby. I love you more than anything.”
I lift my chin to him. “Ask me.”
His eyes widen, but he doesn’t waste any time. He holds the beautiful diamond ring up to me. “Bree Banks, will you please do me the honor of being my wife? Please…make me the happiest man on Earth.”
I let out a sob. “Yes, yes, I’ll marry you.”
He slides the ring on my finger, and I glance at the sparkling diamond and then back into his big brown eyes. “I love you, Logan Brody.”
He stands up, pulling me with him. “I love you too, Bree, soon to be Brody.”
Gently, he kisses me, avoiding the cut on my lip.
I’m sobbing as he pulls away. He’s wiping at my tears, and a look of worry fills his face. “What is this? Don’t cry. I can’t stand it when you cry, baby.”
I sniffle, trying to rein it in. “I’m just so happy. More than anything, I wanted to be with you, and I just can’t believe”—I suck in a shuddered breath—“you’re making all my dreams come true, Lo.”
He nods and looks at me solemnly. “And from this point forward, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to give you everything you want.”
I lean into him. “You… that’s all I want.” I can’t stop the smile from forming on my face. “And a baby. I want one of those too.”
He groans. “Fuck, just thinking about it makes me crazy.”
I blink wide-eyed at him. “So… we’re getting married… and we’re having a baby.”
He holds me to him, burying his face into my neck, kissing me. “Yes and I’m thinking sooner rather than later.”
I loop my arms around his neck. “Okay. Whenever.”
He jerks back. “Whenever?” He grips my upper arms. “Don’t say that unless you mean it.”
I shrug. “I do mean it. I want to marry you, Lo. I don’t want to wait.”
His voice is husky and filled with emotion. “You don’t want to wait? I’m sure you’ve had dreams about your wedding.”
I shake my head. “Nope. As long as you’re who I’m marrying, that’s all I need.”
He tenses up and asks softly, “So if we had a wedding in say, two weeks, you’d do it? You’d marry me?”
I nod and tell him truthfully, “I would marry you today.”
He stares into my eyes. “Two weeks from today. We’re getting married.”
He’s looking at me like I’m going to change my mind or something. “Okay.”
He pulls me to him. “Bree, I’m not joking. We’re getting married in two weeks.”
I smile and cup his face with my hands. “Logan Brody, I can’t wait.”
He scoops me up in his arms and swings me around. I’m laughing when he stops spinning and starts carrying me down the hall.
“We should probably celebrate.”
I nod as he puts me on my feet next to the bed. I pull the T-shirt I’m wearing off my body. “Yeah, we should definitely celebrate.”
He pulls his shorts down and kicks them off his legs. I don’t even wait for him to ask; I jump into his arms, and my legs go around his waist.
He holds me like he never wants to let me go.
Together, we fall onto the bed. We’re both where we’re meant to be, and we’re ready for a future that is ours.