I would’ve tried to make it work, the three of us living in this small space. Even though Drew and I wouldn’t have much privacy, it would’ve been okay. Before she insisted on going home, we’d spent an equal amount of time in his room at the clubhouse to have sex.
I exhaled a heavy breath, feeling melancholia set in. I guessed I sort of understood. Nana had lived in her house for over thirty years. She was comfortable there and had all her stuff the way she liked it. Why wouldn’t she want to go home?
But why ignore my calls? Maybe she felt finally free of me.
The alarm was disabled, and the door opened. Drew entered, flowers in hand.
I hopped off the sofa and ran to him. “Hi.” I lifted onto my tiptoes to kiss him. One kiss soothed all that ailed me.
Drew pulled back. “Let’s go into the bedroom.” He took my hand. “I have something to discuss with you.”
“Oh gosh.” Doom crashed down on me. “Is that why you asked me to meet you here instead of your bedroom in the clubhouse?”
“It’s not bad, baby. At least, I don’t think it is.” He positioned me on the edge of the bed, handed me the flowers, and closed the door.
I smelled the bouquet. “A talk and flowers mean bad news. Are you going on another run?” I couldn’t take him leaving again so soon. Every time he left, I feared him losing his memory. When Patch checked on Drew the other day, he’d told him he couldn’t fight in the cage anymore. The risk of permanent brain damage was too high.
Naturally, Drew had been displeased. He loved MMA fighting, but thank goodness he loved me more. He’d put my mind at ease about it. He promised he wouldn’t enter any more fights, but he’d still train members at the gym. I felt it was a reasonable compromise.
What if he’d changed his mind?
He lowered to one knee. “Maybe, but that’s not what I want to talk about.”
“Maybe? Drew, how many runs do you have to do?” This MC life was insanity. Shoot-outs, lockdowns, territory wars, kidnappings, and bombs were like in the movies. On television, it was fiction. Living it in real life felt like a crazy dream… like I was actually in a movie.
Drew had kept me isolated and in the dark about the club before he moved me onto the compound. The realities of his life could no longer be hidden. I wasn’t sure I liked the constant danger for him or me.
“Ava, do you love me?” He ignored my question and made my heart stop with his own.
I searched his eyes, trying to read where he was going with this. “Yes. You know I do.” I placed my hand on his chest. As I suspected, his heart was racing. It increased my anxiety. “Are you okay?”
“And you know I love you.” He caressed my cheek with his thumb.
I bobbed my head. “Mhmm. Where are you going with this?”
“I want you with me every day and night, seven days a week.”
“I am with you. Being with you is everything I never knew was possible.”Oh God, he’s leaving again.
He exhaled in relief and dropped a kiss on my lips.
“Drew, what’s going on? If you’re leaving again, tell me. If it’s something else, just tell me,” I pleaded.
He removed something from the pocket inside his cut. “Ava Marie Hagen, will you marry me?” He took my left hand and placed an engagement ring at the tip of my ring finger. “I’d be honored if you’d be my wife.” A panty-melting smile appeared on his handsome face. “Make me the happiest man and say yes.”
I couldn’t believe it. He proposed to me?
“Oh, Drew. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He slid the ring all the way on and took me in his arms. “I’ll protect you with my life. You and our children—Nana too. You’re my everything, Ava. Only you, baby.”
I couldn’t stop tears from escaping my eyes. “I love you, Drew Rivers. You’re all I need to be exceedingly happy.” I scooted away from him on the bed and gestured for him to follow. “Well, I need one more thing.”
He climbed on top of me. “You read my mind.”
“Is that why you had me meet you here?”
He smirked. “I wanted you all to myself.”