Page 130 of Not Safe For Work

“Let me guess. You’re spiraling again?” Gabby’s voice rings in my ear.

“Maybe.” I gulp. I may have been faking some of the confidence lately, my sister having to talk me down on a regular basis. Sometimes it just feels too good to be true. It’s hard to believe that everything’s going so well when for so long, my life was the opposite. “You really think she’ll say yes?”

“Why does this girl make you such an idiot?”

“Because I love her?”

“Fine, okay. Valid excuse. And yes! There is not a doubt in my mind she will say yes.”

“But what if she hates the ring?”

“Jesus, Gav. We’ve been over this. Even Andie said she’ll love that ring. It’s unique and special and perfect for her. And even if she doesn’t love it, she’s not going to say no. You’ve got to stop worrying about dumb shit. You both love each other. That’s it. Just focus on that.”

I take a deep breath and listen to my sister. “Yeah, I can do that.”

“Good. Please do not call me again until it’s to announce your engagement.” She hangs up.

A small laugh bubbles out of me at the conviction in Gabby’s voice. She’s right. Liv and I love each other. That has never been in question.

I let out a deep breath and feel for the pearl in my pocket. For the thousandth time, I wonder if she’ll be mad or confused that I didn’t go with a standard diamond. This just felt more…her.

I should put it back in the box, but I also can’t seem to let it out of my sight. I’ve had it on my body since the purchase was made five weeks ago, too worried about ruining the surprise if she finds it.

“Hey, beautiful,” I announce when Liv gets back. I yank my hand out of my pocket and she gives me a funny look. Shit. “What’d you get?”

“Sushi.” She holds up a bento box between us. “Wanna share?”

We nibble on nigiri and seaweed salad while she fills me in on all the details of her LA trip. As much as I miss her when she travels, nothing beats the way she loves her job right now. She’s so much happier than she was in sales. Even her general anxiety has improved.

We’re so lost in laughter we almost miss the boarding announcement, but make it just in time. I wouldn’t want to miss my first experience flying first class.

Once we’re settled in our private pod and up in the air, Liv grabs onto my hands. She tugs until we’re facing each other, but she’s just sort of staring at me. I wait for words and they don’t come, nothing but a goofy smile on her face.

I’m about to ask if she’s okay when she leans in and kisses me. It’s not a quick peck, not even a loving press like she gave me earlier. It’s the kind of kiss you only have in private, the kind that’s full of promise and fire.

The amount of money we spent on these tickets was insane, but I have zero regrets right now with the privacy these seats offer. I’m about to pull her into my lap when she finally releases her hold on me.

“What was that for?” I ask, a little breathless. She licks her lips and I find myself leaning into her for more, but she pushes her hands gently against my chest.

“I just…I love you. And those words feel so insignificant sometimes. Like Ireallylove you. I might have even cried to Lucy about how lucky I am to have you. I just need you to know that I think about it all the time. It’s that one thought in my head that never goes away. Like a little fly buzzing around saying ‘I love him!’ ‘I love him!’ constantly.” She scrunches her face. “And I’m just honored, really. That I get to go on this trip with you. That I even get to be with someone as kind and wonderful as you, and?—”

“Marry me.”

“What?”

Shit. Fuck. Did I seriously do it again? Is it impossible for me to hold anything in when it comes to Olivia? It’s that damn “I kind of love you” all over again.

I’m frozen in place, not sure what to do next. Can I pretend she misheard me? Completely ignore it for another six days until we get to Mendoza?

“Scottie, what did you say?” Guess we’re not pretending it away then.

Fuck it.

“Marry me. I mean, will you? Marry me?” Jesus, that was god awful. I pull the ring out of my pocket and she gasps, her hands flying up to cover her mouth.Please be a good gasp.

“Scottie…” She takes the ring and examines it slowly, her eyes wide as a doe’s.

“I’m sorry. I had this whole wine thing planned and a speech and fireworks and—” I let out a breath. “I love you that much too. I think about it all the time. And I can’t really imagine not spending the rest of my life with you. You’re everything to me, Olivia.”

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