“I left her in the office with that one”—he bobs his head Josh’s way—“and went to find coffee.” He lifts the paper cup in his hand. “But it looks like the asshole walked out on her again.”
Josh and I exchange another glance. This time, I’m the one with the WTF stare. Why the hell did he leave her?
“I told her about Taylor,” my pal admits, wincing.
Which means he accused her of keeping us her dirty little secret when she didn’t, and of assuming she’s a bitch like Taylor when she isn’t. “Shit.”
James glares us both down. “If there’s another woman or you’re simply using my daughter, don’t ever touch her again.”
“Nothing like that. There’s no one else, and there’s definitely no one as perfect as Kate,” I say, facing him straight on. “Sir, what if I said we’re in love with her? What if we said we’re hoping to share a future with her?”
He scowls. “I haven’t seen any evidence of that.”
“Because we screwed up, me mostly.”
“But I can prove we’re very serious. We had this made for her yesterday.” Josh whips out his phone and quickly scrolls to a picture of him holding the engagement ring Maleko created.
James looks stupefied. Mariah gasps.
Josh presses our point. “Would you disapprove if we both wanted to love her and take care of her for the rest of our lives? Would you give us your blessing? I realize we’re talking about a very unconventional relationship—”
“That’s not what troubles me,” James says. “You’re consenting adults. If the three of you are happy together, we applaud that.”
Mariah nods. “We don’t care who Katie loves as long as she’s loved equally in return. If you can’t do that…”
They mean what they’re saying. My relief is swift, sweeping, and deep.
“We can. Sheisloved equally. More, actually,” my best friend assures them. “Right, Marcus?”
“Absolutely. One hundred percent. You have no idea.”
Neither does Kate. We have to prove that to her.
“Hold up.” James crosses his arms over his chest. “It’s you two I’m concerned about. I don’t know a damn thing about either of you.”
“We’ll fix that,” I promise, my heart chugging like a motherfucker, feeling lighter than it has in twenty-four hours.
“We’ll send résumés, financial statements, character witnesses—”
“Whatever will convince you Kate will be in the best possible hands,” I finish.
James hesitates. “You’re both clearly older.”
“We are. There are fourteen years between us and Kate. We acknowledge that.”
“But that means we’re totally ready to settle down,” Josh adds. “Tomorrow. Hell, today. All she has to do is say yes.”
James’s eyes narrow. “And if she wants kids?”
“Great!”
I smile. “We’re hoping to have children sooner rather than later. So we’d like your blessing…or at least your understanding.”
“Please.” Josh cups James’s shoulder. “She’ll be our world.”
The man considers us with a long, probing stare before turning to his older daughter. “Mariah?”
Her face loses its starch as she studies us. “I was convinced when they said she’s perfect.”