“Anyway, I’d better go.” James gave them both a curt nod and turned toward the door.
“James...” Hannah took a step after him. “Are you okay? Really?”
“With you guys?” He hesitated. “It’s going to take some time. Honestly, it’s all still a bit of a mindfuck.”
That last bit had been added under James’s breath, but Eric still heard it. Hannah’s wince meant she had too.
“I think I might go on vacation or something. Have a break from everything before I retake the bar in February.” James glanced at the floor and shook his head. “Anyway, you take it easy. I’m glad you’re safe.”
And then he turned and left.
Eric sighed. “He’ll be okay, right?”
“He’ll be fine.” Hannah’s expression softened. “He just needs a bit of time to get used to the idea. I hope he really does take that vacation. He needs it.”
“Hmm. You know what I need?”
“What’s that?”
“You. Come lie down with me.”
“In the hospital bed?” She glanced around, eyes wide. “The nurse could come in any second.”
“Don’t care. I’m done keeping you a secret.” He tugged her hand until she climbed on the bed and snuggled close. God, it felt so good to have her in his arms. “I want to shout our relationship to the world. Hire a plane to drag one of those banners around declaring it.”
“I won’t see it.” She paused, then a little theatrically added, “I’ll be too busy staring into your eyes.”
He laughed. “Nice. Are we going to be that couple?”
“We are totally going to be that couple.” She adjusted herself to brush a kiss against his jaw. “Unless you’d rather not.”
“I got no complaints.” He caught her chin with a finger, lifting it just enough so he could claim her mouth with his.
No complaints at all.
*
One and a half months later
“How long haveyou been planning all that?”
Hannah closed the door to their apartment and leaned against it. The giddy, glowing feeling had yet to abate.
“Since Thanksgiving, when I asked your dad for permission to propose.”
How absolutely amazing of him.
She glanced down at the princess-cut engagement ring on her finger, and the sparkle of diamonds blurred as tears filled her eyes.
He’d actually gone all traditional and asked her father first? The proposal at tonight’s family Christmas party had both surprised and thrilled her.
Some might say it was too soon, but they weren’t strangers. They’d been friends for a long time and then had become lovers.
What started as a slow snowball of love rolling downhill had turned into a quick-moving avalanche. Their bond was deep and it just kept growing.
“My parents adore you so much.”
“Your uncle and cousins seemed pretty thrilled tonight too.”