Page 146 of His to Save

“Yeah.” He grins as he plucks the ring from the box. “I know. Doesn't mean I don't wanna see this on your finger, though.”

I hold my left hand out to him. “Then make itofficial.”

“Are you saying yes?”

I roll my eyes.

“C'mon, Nora. Put me out of my misery. You know I need your words, pretty girl.”

“Yes, Atlas. Yes. A million times over, in this life and the next. Yes. I'd be honored to be your wife and to spend forever with you by my side.”

He slides the ring onto my finger, and we both take a minute to admire it. “You've made me the happiest man on this planet. You know that, right?”

“If you're the happiest man, I'm the happiest woman. You've given me a life I never thought I'd have. I'm...God.” I use the sleeves of his hoodie to wipe away my tears. “I'm so thankful for you, for your persistence. Your patience. The way you love me is what dreams are made of.”

He darts forward and presses his lips to mine, sealing his proposal with a kiss.

“I love you,” he murmurs again before pulling away. “And now that you’re wearing my ring, there’s something else I want to talk to you about.”

“Okay…” I hedge, suddenly unsure.What could he possibly want to talk about? We should be celebrating.

He suddenly looks nervous—like he's not sure how whatever he's about to say is going to go over. “I've just... I've been thinking about my last name.”

I blink at him and then slowly nod. “What about it?”

Atlas reaches forward and takes both of my hands in his, his thumb absentmindedly rubbing over the band of my ring. “I don't want you to take my last name.”

“What?” Surely I heard him wrong. Not that I think a woman has to take her partner's last name; I think people should do whatever works for them. But he's definitely thrown me for a loop. “I... I don't understand.”

He sighs. “I guess this might fall into the me acting like an overbearing ass category, so please know if you're not into it, I won't mind.”

“I can't tell you how I feel, because you still haven't actually told me anything.”

His lips curve up into the smallest of smiles. “I think I should take your last name instead. The Wallace name isn't something I want to pass down to our son. My dad's legacy should end with him.”

“I...” A fresh round of tears blurs my vision as I try to find the right words. “Do you mean that?”

“With all of my heart. My father put you through hell, and he doesn't deserve the honor of having any part of our family or our future, even in name. I know it's unorthodox, but...”

I launch myself at him. “I love you, AtlasMorgan.”

He catches me easily, positioning us so we both lie on our sides, forehead to forehead. “Sounds good, am I right?”

“It sounds perfect. Like it was meant to be.”

“Fitting.” He darts forward and kisses the tip of my nose. “Seeing as we're meant to be. You really are my whole heart, Nora. Without you, there is no me.”

“Well, that's a little dramatic.” I giggle, but Atlas is as serious as I've ever seen him.

“It's not dramatic, Pip. Before you, I wasn't living—I was merely existing. But you, you've given me a purpose. Now I know why I'm on this earth. Loving you is my entire reason for being. Do you believe me?”

I can feel my heart knocking against my ribs, a steady thump-thump-thump, as I take in the man before me. His face is open and honest—he truly means every word he's saying. And that's absolutely enough for me.

“I do.”

He groans. “Can't wait to hear you say those two words for real. Maybe wearing a white dress, in front of our friends.”

“Name the date and place, and I'll be there,” I say with a wink.

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