Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
At least, not after my mother’s initial shock. She’s still apologizing, but she doesn’t need to. I understand her concerns. I could imagine if and when I have kids, I’d feel the same way if my son brought home a much younger woman, but in the grand scheme of things, ten years isn’t all that much. Not really. We’re both legal adults, and we know what we want. Well, we know what we’re supposed to tell people that we want.
We’ve even had a handful of sleepovers before she moved in because that’s what would have been expected, and I didn’t hate having her in my bed. I still don’t. In fact, on the nights when we decided she should stay at my place, I found myself wanting to head home and go to bed just because I knew she was going to be next to me. It’s wrong, and I know I’ll need to get a handle on it, but first, I need to ask my girlfriend to marry me.
We’ve talked a lot over the last month, and we decided a month or so is long enough to date in the open. We want to get engaged and be married so we can start this next year of our lives. The reservations I had are slipping away. The more time I spend with her, the more I’m convinced that we can do this. We can be friends who are married in name only and come out of this on the other side unscathed. That doesn’t mean that I don’t want her. My girl—pretend or not—is sexy as fuck, and the more time we spend together, the more I realize that. The man who gets to call her his for real is one lucky bastard.
Usually, we arrive together, but tonight, I had a stop to make on the way to Forrest’s place. A very important stop, I think as I pull into her parents’ driveway. I promised Monroe that I’d do this the right way, and I’m nothing if not a man of my word. That’s why I called her dad earlier and asked if I could stop by.
Grabbing my keys, I decide to leave my phone in the truck. I don’t need any distractions for this. Climbing out, I tap my right front pocket and can’t help but smile when I confirm the ring box is there.
With each step that carries me to the front door, my nerves start to kick up. What are we going to do if her father doesn’t give me his permission? Will she still go through with it? Will I?
No. I don’t even have to consider my answer.
If her family is not on board with this, then I’m calling it off. I don’t need the money, and it’s bad enough we’re deceiving them. If they can’t tell that she’ll be my world during the time we’re married and accept that, then this is a no go.
My hand is raised to knock when the door swings open. “Legend. Good to see you,” her father greets me. “Come on in.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He smiles. “Eric.” He steps back and allows me to enter the house. He leads me into the living room, and there’s no sign of Monroe’s mom, but that’s okay. I only need one of them here to do this. “What brings you by?”
“I care a great deal about your daughter, sir.” I swallow hard. “I love her.” There is no point in making small talk. I’m here for one reason, and from the look on his face, he understands.
I hold his stare, willing him to believe me. I might not actually love her, as in she owns my heart, but I do care about her. She’s been in my life for a long time, and we’ve grown really close over the last month of dating.
“Does she love you?”
“Yes, sir.” I’m going to hell for this, but I’m committed. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the ring box and hold it up for him. “I came here today to ask for your blessing. I’d like to ask Monroe to marry me.”
He reaches out and takes the box. He whistles. “That’s a big rock, Legend.”
“It’s two carats. The center square diamond is one carat, and the smaller diamonds around it are a carat.” I don’t know if that’s important information, but I’m spilling details, hoping to get his blessing, I guess.
He stares at the ring inside the box for what seems like hours, when I know that’s not the case. Finally, when he looks up, a slow grin tilts his lips. “This looks like her,” he says, closing the box and handing it back to me.
“Yes, sir. I’ve searched for a while. I didn’t know what I wanted, but I knew that when I saw it, I would know.”