Page 78 of Love Potion

After brunch and cleanup, we all split off in different directions. Bane holds my hand as we climb the stairs to his room. He opens the door first, stepping to the side to let me enter. When I cross the threshold, my jaw drops.

The sitting room is decorated with scattered candles, all lit. The couch is piled high with comfy blankets and pillows, and on the coffee table is a medium-sized white box.

“What is this, Bane?”

“I know how much you love cozy Sundays,” he says, squeezing my shoulders from behind. “I ordered a cake from Rachel’s Bakery in the city.”

“Rachel’s? When did you do all this? It wasn’t like this when we went downstairs.”

“You were whisking eggs when I slipped out.” He grins. “I made sure Wren would keep you busy for a few minutes.”

“This is so sweet.” I twist around to look at him. “You spoil me.”

“I waited a long time to be able to. Hope you’re not too full. I got your favorite flavor.”

“Peanut Butter Splendor?”

“Of course.”

“Oh my god.” I hurry over and sit on the floor, pulling the lid off the box to get a whiff of the incredible peanut butter cream cheese frosting. Before I can dig in, something catches my eye, and my heart races.

“Bane?”

“Yeah, sweet thing?” He kneels next to me, a bright smile on his face.

“What is that?”

“It’s exactly what you think it is.” He reaches into the box and picks up the delicate jewelry sitting atop the cake on a small piece of paper. “I have zero chill when it comes to you. The minute we talked about getting married, the seed was planted. I’ve been looking for the right ring and then the right moment for a week now, and today felt perfect.”

My eyes well with tears as realization sinks in, but I’m too choked up to speak.

“I fell in love with you the second I saw your sweet face,” Bane says. “It hasn’t faded, and it never will. We have what it takes to go the distance, and I promise with all my heart to giveyou my best every single day until I take my last breath.” He holds my left hand in his. “Jerryn, will you marry me?”

The tears slide down my cheeks as the words settle over me. I never thought I’d get married, and definitely didn’t think it would be to my best friend in the whole world.

“Is this real?” I manage to ask.

“Yeah, babe, it’s real. What do you think?”

“What do I think?” I laugh as the tears flow. “Yes. A thousand percent yes.”

“You’ll marry me?”

I nod, knowing I must look a mess, but I don’t care. He really wants to marry me!

Bane holds my hand steady as he slides the black metal band onto my left ring finger. I look down at it and I see engraving on the band. I peer closer to read it. It’s our initials, J and B, with a heart between them.

“Your initial had to come first,” Bane says. “Otherwise the rings would read BJ.”

I sputter a laugh, and with shaky fingers, I pick up his ring and put it on him.

“This is perfect,” I whisper, sniffing.

“I’m glad you think so. Good thing I canceled the flash mob.”

“What?”

Bane laughs, lifting my hand to kiss it. “Kidding. I think I know you pretty well after all these years, and I know you wouldn’t like a public show. I considered asking in front of the guys, but my gut told me you’d prefer a private, simple declaration of my love for you.”

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