Page 110 of Love Notes & Lifelines
Beck’s hand slips to my feet, testing Elijah’s assertion, and he finds that Elijah’s right.
“That’s easy,” Elijah says, clasping his hands and standing. “You put a heater under your desk. You always put on fuzzysocks when you think no one’s around, and you sit with them under you when your heater and socks are not an option.”
I am currently sitting on my feet. Geez! “You’re better than the CIA,” I mutter.
“Not quite, but we’ve got this. That bitch crossed the wrong team.”
Beck’s shoulders fall away from his ears and he holds up the folder. “She did. Thank you for this. And this,” he says, turning the jewelry box in his palm.
“That’s it for me, kids. Call me when you get home. I’ve got the office handled, and I’ve started the search for buildings near Sailport Bay. I’ll forward them when I have all the options rounded up.”
Not for the first time, I wonder about Elijah’s background. He’s polished, like Beck, but there’s something a little reckless in him too.
Elijah leans down to hug Beck, then me, and he whispers in my ear. “You look good, sweetie. Trust the process. We’ve got your back.”
“Thanks, Elijah. For everything.” I don’t know if anyone has had more of an impact on my life than this quirky man, and for that, I’ll forever be indebted.
He turns to Beck. “When do you want Laura to arrive?”
“What? How? When?” When the hell did he tell Elijah about my mom?
Beck turns to me with questions in his eyes and shrugs. “When do you want it to happen?”
“Beck. The custody case, and whatever it is Silas hopes to achieve—do you really think now is a good time?” My heart races.
“No,” he answers honestly. “But we don’t have the luxury of time, either. So we should bring her home to you—to us—as soon as we can, and we’ll take the hits as they come. Nothing will beeasy for a while, but I can make this easier for you. Having her with us will bring you the smallest sliver of peace.”
My lower lip trembles. “Th—thank you. Thank you both.”
“As soon as the facility can arrange it,” Beck says without taking his gaze off me. “What about the nurse?”
I stare at Beck. “If Lucía will come, I’d like her. She’s been with my mom the longest, and she’s—she’s important to me too.”
He turns back to Elijah. “Make it happen.”
Elijah salutes us with two fingers and turns on his heel.
The penthouse falls into an unsettling silence when he leaves. Beck and I both know the gauntlet has been thrown, and it’s up to us to pick it up for the sake of the girls, and maybe for ourselves too.
He turns to me and lowers himself to the floor in front of me. “The timing isn’t ideal, but maybe that’s our thing, huh?” His cheeks are pink, and it’s so damn attractive I bite my lip to keep from kissing him. “It’s okay if this isn’t what you envisioned for yourself, but I designed it with you in mind, so I kind of hope you like it. It doesn’t have to be real—for now.” His brow furrows, but he continues. “But while we navigate what’s real, I ask that you keep an open mind because who knows what the future will bring, right? So, Stella Jane, will you wear this ring that ties you to me and me to you?”
It’s not a marriage proposal. Not really, but it is an open door to the possibility of forever, and it couldn’t be more perfect.
I know it’s not real. I heard him say it, but I can’t stop my heart from fluttering wildly in my chest or my hands from shaking. “Yes. I will,” I choke out.
Beck stands and kisses my cheek, then slips the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen onto my finger—it’ll never be green again. It’s round with two delicate rows of tiny diamonds around the center stone. It sparkles and shoots rainbows everywhere the light hits it.
My hand shakes as I hold it out, unable to stop staring. The band is two thin rings of platinum that twine around my finger in an infinity symbol and is encrusted with even more diamonds.
“What do you think?” Beck asks shyly. “Because I’ll be honest, this is not something I ever envisioned doing, but when I sat down with the jeweler, I just knew this was what I wanted for you.”
I can’t get enough air into my lungs, so my words sound stilted, but happy. “Geez, Beck. How could I not? It’s beautiful. I couldn’t have picked anything more perfect myself.”
“Good. Every detail from the most precious gem to the infinity band that binds your finger reminded me of you—of forever.”
Happiness makes my cheeks hurt, but before he can say anything else, our phones interrupt the precious moment.
He takes my hand in his. “This is only the beginning of the madness. But we’ll get through it.”
