Page 100 of Teasing

Camden

k.

Fifteen minutes later, Rosie and I walk into Sugar Hill Assisted Living. She’s got a bouquet of flowers, and I’ve got the ring box hidden in my pocket. The front-desk girl smiles at me. Camden filled her in on the plan. And the two of us make our way to her dad’s room.

The door is open when we get there.

The three of them are laughing at something when Rosie skips in, but I lag behind.

Emmie’s smile morphs into surprise. “What are you doing here, little rose?” She looks from her to me. “Is everything okay?”

“That depends on you, baby.”

Rosie squeals, and Emmie’s surprise looks more like confusion as I move in front of her and drop to one knee. “You see, Emily Rose Monroe, we’ve got something very important to ask you, but it only seemed fair that we ask you in front of your family, since we’re asking you to beourfamily.”

“Maverick...?” she gasps as I pull the box from my pocket.

“But you’re not allowed to say no,” Rosie adds, and I chuckle.

“Will you marry me, Em? Be my wife. My life. Be my everything. Love Rosie and me the way we love you.”

“And be my mommy,” Rosie adds, and Emmie’s lips tremble as she holds back her tears.

My girl is a crier.

“Maverick...” she gasps, and it’s the sweetest sound. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

She pulls me up, and I crash my lips to hers, lifting her from her feet and spinning her in a circle. “I love you so much,la mia luce solare.”

“What about me?” Rosie asks, and I set Emmie down on her feet and wrap my arms around both girls. My girls. My life.

“We could never forget about you, sweet girl. You’re the reason we met.” Emmie takes Rosie’s face in her hands and kisses her head. “Do you want to know a secret?”

Rosie shakes her head.

Em brushes Rosie’s hair away from her face and smiles at her. “I fell in love with you first.”

Rosie beams, and I grab my phone and take a picture. She’s going to want this for her scrapbook.

Camden has been quietly recording the whole thing on his phone, so she can have that for later and edit it into whatever pictures she wants.

Her dad clears his throat. “I didn’t know you were the reason they met.”

Rosie jumps up in the chair with him. “Yup. I introduced them, grandpa.”

“Grandpa,” he murmurs back with a big smile on his face.

I’m not sure how many more good days he’s got left, but I hope it’s years’ worth.

“Oh yeah, Dad. How did we not tell you this? Mav was a real asshole,” Camden tells him with a shit-eating grin.

“Language, Uncle Cam.” That shuts the shithead up.

I tune them all out and focus on this incredible woman. “I love you, Em.”

“Per sempre, Maverick.”

“Per sempre, Em.”

The End