Page 128 of Roommate's Guide to Love

After our day of reckoning with Bonnie, things sped up in terms of Grace’s legal guardianship and adoption. Missy signed all necessary paperwork when she came home, and now that we had a better way to contact her, she was quickly able to sign any other further documents that Porter’s lawyer needed to make sure that he had full custody of Grace.

Her official “gotcha” day was last month. If you think her first birthday was over-the-top, you should’ve seen that. Simon really went all out.

And no, she’s still not smiling at him.

As for Porter and I, all of my things were officially moved into his house a few weeks after the dust settled with Bonnie. I had wondered if it was going to feel different because before I had outs. Exit doors. I could’ve moved back to Arizona. I could’ve gone back to the apartment above the diner. That worry lasted all of two seconds. It’s kind of scary how well we’ve been able to settle into life together as an actual couple.

He’s hired extra help at the bar so he’s working mostly days. Our nights at home are so…domestic. We take turns cooking and all Grace related things. We’re always finding a new show to binge because otherwise all we’d watch is Miss Rachel and Mickey Mouse Club. We’ve even started talking about renovating the house. Nothing big. New floors and cupboards, things like that. Shockingly, it was Porter’s idea. I loved it, but I told him that we didn’t have to. It was his dad’s house. The place he grew up. I didn’t want to take away any of that nostalgia. He answered me by kissing my forehead and telling me his dad would’ve wanted us to make it our own.

Which in Quinn translation means I’m getting a library.

Each night while we’re laying in bed together, I still ask myself if this is a dream. Because in no fairy tale do the main characters sleep with each other for eight years, move in together platonically, then realize that they’re in love, before living happily ever after.

Apparently we’re the exception.

“Delivery for Quinn Banks?”

The announcement, accompanied by a knock on the library door, gets my attention. The kids have headphones on, so I’m the only one who turns to see a teenager standing with a wrapped gift.

“I’m Quinn Banks. What is this?”

“Not sure, I just deliver.”

The students are oblivious to my delivery as I set the box on the table. Who would send this? Porter? I mean, my birthdayistomorrow, but we already lined up a sitter and have the night planned. And why would he send the gift a day early?

I almost set it aside, but it’s then that I see an envelope on top of the box that says “open now.” I check the room again to make sure the students are still on task, and when they are, I quickly rip it open.

Happy Birthday Hurricane. It felt fitting to give you this during book club.

More curious than ever, I quickly open the box and throw the tissue paper out of the way.

And then I start sobbing.

A first edition ofThe Westing Game.I carefully lift it up, needing to see the beautiful, original, cover and hold it for myself. When I open it to see the pages, I shriek when I see that it’s signed by the author.

I start to hear some commotion from the kids, but nothing’s on fire that I can tell, so I leave them be because there’s another envelope inside the book.

A one of a kind, for a one of a kind.

Oh, one more thing, look up and turn to your left.

Confused, I do as Porter’s instructions say. When I do, I see my students gathered together, each holding a sign with arrows pointing to the Zoom screen. I slowly look over to the projector wall, which is when I see my former students all holding signs, each saying words I never thought I’d ever see in my life.

Miss Banks: Will you marry Porter?

The kids start giggling as I frantically look around the room, which is when I see Porter walking in, pushing Grace in her stroller with one hand, and the other hand holding a ring box.

“What is going on?”

His smile lights up the room as he stops the stroller next to me, taking my hands in his. He leans down to gently kiss me, which I think I return. I’m not sure. Pretty sure I’m about to black out.

“I’ve been thinking for months how I wanted to do this. And every idea I came up with, nothing seemed more perfect than asking you here. Because these students, and this library, are the reasons you came into my life for good.”

He lets go of one hand as he gets down on one knee, which allows my free hand to wipe away the tears.

“I told you once that our story was one of a kind, which is fitting, because there is no one in this world like you. You’re beautiful and witty. Funny and kind. You love hard and you stand up for those who need it. You’ll sacrifice yourself for everyone and never ask for anything in return. You moved in with me when I felt like I was drowning. You’ve given me comfort on days where I couldn’t be convinced that there would ever be daylight again. You’ve made me laugh every day. And you’ve shown me more love than I ever thought I deserved.”

Porter pauses to open the ring box, and that’s when I gasp again. It’s perfect. A ruby gemstone—my favorite color and definitely unique—surrounded by smaller diamonds in a halo cut. At least I think it’s halo. Stella is chomping at the bit for Emmett to propose so she’s been showing all of us different rings for when he asks one of us to help, we know what she’ll like.

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