by Sophia Sharp
I slap his arm. “You’re an animal!”
He grins. “You know you love it.”
“I do,” I sigh, putting my head against his chest. He strokes my hair as I lie there.
“You know,” I say after a few moments, “I’ve been thinking. Maybe we can stay in New York after we go to Min’s wedding.”
Rich sits up in an instant. His eyes are intense. “You’re serious?”
“I told you I’d think about it, right? Now that the semester’s over, there’s nothing keeping me in Oregon. Except you, of course, but you’re… portable.”
“Portable?” Rich laughs. “I’ve never heard that one before.”
“It’s true, though, right?” I grin up at him as my fingers make light circles over his chest. “You’d follow me wherever I go.”
“Baby, you know it’s true.” He sits up and reaches for the phone. “You should call Min and tell her the good news. She will be thrilled to find she gets to keep her bridesmaid after the wedding.”
“And her brother?”
Rich laughs. “Maybe a little less happy about that.”
I take the phone from him. “I—oh! Rich, quick, quick, look!” I grab his hand and place it on my stomach. “I just felt them move!”
Rich concentrates as I hold his hand to my swollen tummy. I feel a little kick inside. Rich’s eyes widen. He looks at me with love and adoration.
“I felt it too,” he whispers.
I squeal. “Oh my God, isn’t it amazing? Oh, oh! One more!”
Rich lowers his face to my belly and kisses me there. He turns his head to look at me. “Do you think they’re fighting?”
I smile at him. “You better straighten it out.”
Rich nods, all serious now. “Hey there, little guy,” he says. “You haven’t seen me yet, but it’s your daddy here.” He glances at me. I smile, encouraging him on.
“I haven’t seen you yet, either. Well, that’s not exactly true. I’ve seen ultrasounds. But it’s not the same thing.” He clears his throat. “Anyway, I just wanted to warn you, you’d better not be picking on your sister. If you are, you can bet your little bum she’ll be born first and will always be the oldest.” He moves his head to the other side of my stomach. “And you. If you’re the one picking on your brother… atta girl! You show him that you’re your daddy’s daughter.”
“Rich!” I admonish, smacking his head. “You’re not supposed to pick favorites!”
He grins sheepishly at me.
“Just wait ‘til she’s a teenager,” I warn him. “Then she’ll have you tearing your hair out.”
Rich frowns. “I’m quite fond of my hair.” He leans his head back to my stomach and whispers, “Mommy thinks you’re going to be a little rascal. I know you won’t. You’re going to be daddy’s angel.” He smiles at me. “And you’re going to be just as beautiful, just as smart, and just as strong as your mother.”
“Rich, stop it,” I say, turning away. “You’re making me blush.”
He kisses his way up my body. When he reaches my ear, he rustles, “You know how sexy I think you are when you blush.”
That comment makes me break out in a dozen shades of red.
“Wait here,” Rich says, pressing a finger to my lips. “I have something for you.”
He hops out of bed. My eyes zero in on his glorious backside, and I feel a flare of disappointment when he covers it with his blue sweats.
“What is it?” I ask.
“You’ll see!” he calls, running into the other room.
He returns with one hand behind his back. “No peeking,” he warns when I try to look around.
“Rich, you know I hate surprises,” I pout.
He winks. “This one will be worth it. I promise.” He steps onto the bed, then falls to his knees by my waist.
“This,” he says, running his free hand over my tummy, “and you—” he picks up and kisses my hand, “—and us, are all amazing. And I want us to last forever.”
“Rich, you know I love you. Of course we will.”
“Yes, but I want to make it official. I don’t want to make the same mistake my father did.” Slowly, he brings his other hand around.
When I see what he’s holding, my heart stops beating. My chest tightens, and I forget to breathe. Cradled in his palm is a small, black, velvet box. His eyes do not leave mine as he opens it and offers it to me.
Inside is a ring with the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen.
“Will you marry me?” he asks simply.
Words fail me. It must be the damn hormones from the pregnancy, because all I can do is nod my head in a jerky way and blubber like an idiot.
Rich picks up my hand, which is trembling. He takes the ring out of the box and slides it onto my fourth finger.
It’s a perfect fit.
He has a coy smile on his face. “You still haven’t said yes,” he reminds me in a whisper.
“Yes,” I breathe.
Then he kisses me, and thus begins the best day of my life.
The End.
