Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Aviva rolls her eyes as she hands me back the ring, but I don’t take it, my eyes locked with Nico’s. “I love her,” I say softly. “Some days more than I do myself. I wake up excited to see what our day will include. For so long, I was desperately unhappy and felt unloved, that now, I don’t take a minute, a second, or even a moment with her for granted. I love her fully, just as she loves me.”
Aviva reaches out, cupping my wrist. “Evan, we know, honey. You two are gorgeous together. You have my blessing, a hundred times over.”
Nico says nothing, so I only nod as I say, “Thank you.” I take a deep breath in, letting it out in a whoosh before I continue. “I’m not asking her until after Owen and Angie’s wedding this winter, and the only reason I’m asking you guys now is because I want to give you time, Nico, to adjust and to welcome the idea of Callie and me getting married. Because we’re going to get married.”
Damn, I sound confident as fuck.
“I am going to marry that girl. I am going to give her anything and everything she could ever want. If she wants to live in South Carolina, we’ll move. I don’t care as long as we are together. We are going to buy a house, cars, and probably a few dogs. I think she wants four.” I pause to chuckle, my heart swelling in my chest at all those possibilities. “And then when we are ready, she will become the mother of our kids. She will continue to make me the happiest person on earth, just as I will do for her. Because we love each other. Because she is everything to me.”
When Aviva starts to cry, I reach over, squeezing her hand. “I’m not going anywhere, Nico. I’m wherever Callie is, and I want you to know that. But I also want you to know that I respect you enough to give you the time to adjust to my plans.”
While Aviva sobs, Nico just holds my gaze. He doesn’t say anything, nor does he move. I watch as he chews the inside of his lip, and when he looks away, I sigh.
I am not going to get his blessing.
That’s okay, because in the end, it’s Callie and me. Everyone and anything else is a bonus. I clap my hands together and clear my throat once more. “Okay, that’s all I’ve got, and please don’t tell Callie we met or I asked any of this.”
Aviva is pissed, I can see it all over her face, but she smiles happily at me. “Lips are sealed. I can’t wait for you to ask.”
“I can’t either. I’m thinking Christmas since Owen and Angie will be married on the twenty-second.”
“I think that’s perfect, especially since we’ll be in Nashville for the wedding. Maybe we can do a huge Christmas together so I can selfishly watch.”
I laugh. “That would be cool. I’ll get with them about it.” When the waitress brings me the check, I hand her my card and ignore the aching feeling of failure. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d get his blessing, but that was a really nice speech. It’s obvious I’m gonna love Callie forever. I get the urge to tell her that, so I text it real fast before Aviva starts telling me about Vance throwing Elliot’s diaper at the wall.
We all laugh as Callie’s text comes back.
Callie: Well, duh, I’m awesome.
Me: Just a bit.
Callie: A rather small bit. LOL
Callie: UGH, I MISS YOU!
I grin widely as I text her back, and then I tuck my phone back into my pocket with her ring. After I put my card back in my wallet, Aviva says, “It was so sweet of you to take us to dinner.”
“I hope you enjoyed it. This is my grandma’s favorite place,” I say, standing up and hugging her tightly. “Thank you again—”
“Thanks, Adler,” Nico says, stopping me midsentence. He holds out his hand, and I take it with no hesitation. “You didn’t have to take us to dinner, or even give me time to adjust, but I’m thankful you did. I know I said a lot of things, and while I may have believed them at the time, I was wrong. I was just mad and overwhelmed by the fact that Callie doesn’t need us. But she needs you.”
My heart is in my throat. “No. She wants me. Callie doesn’t need anyone.”
He snorts, his lips curving. “True,” he agrees, and then he nods as our eyes meet. “So yeah, marry her.”
“Really?”
Aviva hiccups a sob, but I can’t even look at her. My eyes are on Nico.
He nods slowly. “Yeah.”
“And you’ll actually give her away? To me?”
Aviva laughs around her sob, and Nico even smiles. “I will.”