CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Lo
Four months later
Iwake to the sound of rattling China and bolt upright in bed. Gabe is standing in the doorway with a tea tray in his hands. I rub the sleep from my eyes and frown. “What time is it?”
“Midday.”
“Oh my god! I’m so late. Arturo is going to fire me.”
“Hey. Relax, Freckles. I already called in for you.”
“What? Gabe, no! I need to work!”
I attempt to throw the covers off, but he plants a gentle hand against my chest and sets the tray over my thighs, effectively pinning me in place. “Lo, it’s already handled. I actually talked to him about it last week.”
“What? You went and saw my boss?”
“I did.”
I frown, wondering what’s going on, and gesture to the tea tray. “What is all this?”
“Breakfast.”
“An apology breakfast for staying out all night with the boys?”
“Er ... no. It’s a I love you and I suck, but I hope you’ll marry me anyway.”
“What?”
Gabe slides off the bed and onto one knee. I cover my face with my hands, almost upending the delicate teapot on its tray.
“The second I met you, I knew you were it for me. And, yeah, I was an idiot that didn’t always make the right choice—I still don’t always make the right choice—but, I’ll try every day to be a man who’s worthy of you. I’ll strive to be worthy of this kid,every second of every day. You’re my best friend, Freckles, and you’re the goddamn love of my life. Will you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me?”
Tears spill over my lashes, and I wipe them away with the heel of my hands. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
“Oh, thank Christ, because there’s a house full of people organizing a wedding in our backyard.”
“What?”
“Surprise!”
“Gabe.” I shake my head and cover my mouth. “I’m eight months pregnant. I have nothing to wear.”
“I already took care of it.”
“What does that mean?”
Clem pokes her head in our bedroom door and glances between us. “Soooo, are we having a wedding today, or what?”
I grin at my friend and bite my lip. “I guess so.”
“Good, because these dresses are damn heavy.” Clem carries several dresses in garment bags above her head and throws open my closet to hang them.
“Oh, thank god. When Gabe said he had my dress covered, I got a teensy bit worried.”
“Girl, please. As if I would leave him in charge of something this important.”