He throws a brief glance around, as if nervous to look for more than two seconds at my apartment, and then he saunters with his long legs to the window seat. Once seated, he looks at me and says, “You were s-saying?”
“I… I didn’t want to be alone tonight.” My face and body inflame as I admit it to him. But there’s something in Zane’s face that makes you believe he can feel your feelings.
He nods and smiles once more before opening the small box.
“What’s that?” My insides are the lightest they’ve felt all day at the sight of four cupcakes with dog faces on them.
“My s-sister-in-law makes des-signer cupcakes.”
My gaze slowly moves between him and the beautiful cupcakes.
I can’t believe he remembered I have a dog.
I slide beside him and pick one cupcake out of the box before taking a bite. “It’s as delicious as it looks.”
“I th-thought you would be upset.”
My heart leaps in my throat at this thoughtfulness. Living alone since Mom’s death, I’ve forgotten what it’s like when someone cares for you.
I blurt, “If you keep being so sweet, I’ll really marry you.”
But instead of smiling like I expected, he grimaces. “I’m s-sorry that I act-ted like a jerk. I tr-ried to take advant-tage of your vulnerability.” He gulps hard, as he always does when he speaks more than a few words.
I grab the water bottle from the table and pass it to him. His eyes widen for a brief second, and I notice the tips of his ears turning red.
Is he embarrassed?
He takes a few sips and says, “I came here to t-tell you that you don’t need to worry ab-bout the medical expenses. I’ll t-take care of that, and you can pay me back whenever you get the money.”
But contrary to what’s expected, everything in my body, my chest, my limbs, tightens. Instead of feeling relief, I feel lonelier than before.
“D-did I s-say something wrong?” Zane grabs his neck.
I shake my head as tears brim in my eyes. I’m about to get up in the ruse of grabbing a plate when he snags my arm. As soon as my steps halt, his hand drops. But that ghost of a touch has left me with swarming butterflies in my stomach.
“T-tell me,” he urges.
“It’s nothing.”
“You’re ups-set, so it’s not noth-thing. W-what did I say?”
I bite my lip, hesitating, but when I look at him, waiting for my answer, I give in.
“I don’t want to be alone, Zane. I watched my mom, how she withered in pain and cried. My parents eloped and didn’t have contact with their parents, so I have no extended family. After Dad’s death, we were really alone. I don’t want to die alone like my mom.” I flop down and hide my face in my hands, embarrassed for breaking down in front of him.
“Hey.” He turns toward me and hesitantly touches my hair. I’ve missed an affectionate touch for so long that I turn in his arms. For a second, I don’t care what he thinks.
I need someone to hug me. To tell me that it will all be okay.
I barely register Zane going still as I take him by surprise, but a beat later, his arms tighten around me. For a fleeting second, I let myself believe that he’s as devastated with this news as I am. He fears equally for my safety.
“Tell me wh-what you need,” he whispers.
“Marry me.”
He stills, possibly unprepared for the news.
“Are you s-sure?”