“Yes.” I swallow and close the box. “She’s the only one for me.”
I MANAGE TO sneak into the new construction side of the restaurant without Cami knowing and sigh in relief. Mia is putting the finishing touches on some sunflowers on a small table, adorned with a red tablecloth and flickering candles.
“So what’s the big secret?” she asks when she sees me. “You’re acting weird. Cami’s acting weird. Based on the flowers and candles, I’m led to believe you fucked up big-time and are about to beg for forgiveness.”
I smirk. “No, we aren’t fighting. I guess Cami didn’t say anything to you yet, but you’re my sister, and I have to tell someone, but I need you to keep this on the down low.”
Her brows climb into her hairline. “Okay.”
“I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
“Holy shit!”
“And we’re going to have a baby.”
Her mouth drops, and then, to my utter shock, she starts to laugh. “You always surprise me,” she says when she can breathe again. “Life is never dull with you around, Landon.”
“True.” I smile and tap the box in my pocket, suddenly nervous. “I hope Cami’s okay with the thought of that for the rest of her life.”
“You already know the answer to that,” she says with a smile, and gives me a hug before heading back to the kitchen. “Break a leg!”
I’m hoping I don’t get a broken heart.
I take a minute to look around the new space. The booths are already in and ready to go. All that’s left is some trim work and decorations and it’ll be ready.
Who would have thought three months ago when this project started that this is where I’d be?
Definitely not me.
“Oh my God.”
I spin around at the sound of Cami’s voice. She’s in a sexy black skirt with a blue blouse tucked into it and she’s in her sexy heels. Her hair is up and her face is beautifully surprised.
“Hi.”
Her eyes find mine.
“Hi. Mia said you needed to see me over here.”
“She was right,” I reply, and cross to her. “How do you feel?”
“Curious.” She pokes her head around me so she can see the table again. “Are we having lunch over here?”
“That wasn’t really my plan,” I reply, and lead her to a chair at the table. She sits, and stares at me when I sit next to her, keeping her hand clutched in mine. “It’s funny how you can know someone for so long, and then one day you realize that you never really knew them at all. Our friendship has always been important to me, Cami, but it’s only been in the past few months that I’ve truly grown to know you. Inside and out. What makes you tick. What makes you laugh and what scares you and that you’re bad at buying things for your kitchen.”
She laughs and tilts her head, listening intently.
“Loving you has always come as easy as breathing for me, and falling in love with you is no different. I admire you. Your strength of character. Your humor. Your intelligence. You are impressive and not a little scary, Cami.
“I didn’t think I believed in soul mates,” I continue, the words flowing effortlessly out of me now. “It’s always sounded like a romantic notion for movies and books, but I’ve realized that a soul mate isn’t someone who just slips into your life and one day you realize, Oh, there you are. It’s the person that you measure time against.”
I swallow and she leans closer to me.
“All I know is, there was my life before knowing that you’re my world, and this is my life after, and everything before just seems so . . . small. You have shaken up my life. You make it brighter, and we’re about to be in for the adventure of our lives, and I can’t wait for it. I want to start this chapter with you as my wife.”
I slide down to one knee and pull the box out of my pocket, open it, and look up into the most beautiful green eyes I’ve ever seen.
“Please marry me, Camille.”
She’s staring down at the ring, then closes her eyes and impatiently wipes tears off her cheeks.
“You don’t have to do this just because I’m pregnant, Landon. We can—”
“That’s not what this is,” I say immediately, and set the ring on the table so I can cup her face in my hands and look her in the eye. “The baby may have sped it up a bit, but, Cami, I’ve been thinking about proposing for a while. I just thought I’d have more time to make it more romantic than this.”
“This is pretty romantic,” she murmurs, more tears spilling from her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Sweetheart, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I want you. I need you.” God, I’ve never felt more vulnerable in my life. She’s holding my heart in her hands.
She bites her lip and then she nods and smiles brightly.
“Is that a yes?”
“It’s a yes.”
I sigh in relief, then kiss her, softly at first, but I can’t hold back. I deepen the kiss, exploring her mouth, nibbling her lips. My hands are brushing up and down her sides, and then I just pull her into my arms and hold her against me.
Finally, I pull away and show her the ring.
“This was my mother’s mother’s ring,” I begin. “If you don’t like it, we can find you something new.”
“It’s beautiful.”