Page 67 of Hounded

I shoved to sitting. “What are you up to, Doll?”

Indy set the tray across my lap. Steam rose from the coffee mug set beside flatware and a folded napkin. French toast drenched in syrup, scrambled eggs, and sausage links made for my usual order from our favorite brunch place. I gave the roses an appreciative sniff while Indy climbed onto the mattress beside me.

He squeezed in as close as possible with the legs from the lap tray between us, then he nodded toward the spread.

“Well?” he asked, still grinning.

I smirked. “You did not cook this.”

“I did not.”

“You went for takeout… this morning?” I glanced at the clock on the bedside table displaying 6:47 AM. My brows arched. “I didn’t know you were aware this time of day existed.”

“Yeah well, it shouldn’t.” Indy yawned and tipped his head onto my shoulder. “Are you gonna eat or what?”

Given the option, I would have tucked him in and curled against him until we both fell back asleep. But this spontaneous gesture merited appreciation, so I wouldn’t turn my nose up at it.

Grabbing the fork, I began cutting the corner off a slice of French toast. “Where’s yours?” I asked.

Indy covered a yawn with his hand. “In the fridge,” he answered. “I’ll get to it later.”

I made it through a few bites, then sipped the espresso.

Indy was so quiet I thought he’d dozed off until he asked, “What do you think of the flowers?” He gestured toward them.

I cheeked a piece of sausage long enough to reply, “They’re nice.”

“Oh, yeah?” he asked.

Swallowing, I nodded.

He sat up. “Just nice? That’s it?”

I looked at the arrangement of yellow, white, pink, and red roses a glass vase. When I turned from them to Indy, he frowned.

“Come on, Lore, you’re supposed to be the observant one. Look right…” He stabbed a finger at the blooms, and his expression faltered. “Shit, it’s turned the wrong way.” He grabbed the vase and spun it, causing something shiny to clink against the glass.

A gold band was looped around the stem of a red rose, glinting in the light from the bedside lamp.

The warmth drained from my face, and I whipped aside so abruptly it made the dishes rattle on the tray.

Indy’s smile spread, and burgeoning tears made his eyes sparkle more than usual. He got up on his hands and knees to move the tray to the foot of the bed. Plucking the rose from the vase, he removed the ring and turned around to sit on his calves as he held it out to me.

“We can finally get married, baby,” he said. “Would you let me marry you?”

Finally. That word stood out from the rest.

For Indy, it had been nine years of waiting. For me, forever. I’d imagined it before it was possible, dreamed of a future that had become my present seemingly overnight.

Yes,I thought long before I said it.

I wasn’t sure if I ever did say it, or if my head just bobbed wordlessly while Indy slipped the band onto my finger.

He dove at me then, grabbing and squeezing as hard as he could. His chest fluttered with nervous giggles.

“I love you, Lore.” He pulled back, holding my face and fixing me with a tearful gaze. “I fucking adore you.” His lips crushed against mine, and he never stopped smiling.

I looped my arms around him while resisting the urge to stare at the ring fit snugly around my finger.

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