Her lips curved in a smile as she pulled her gaze away from Patrick to look up at me with the most open, affectionate expression. “Yeah,” she whispered, “but I wouldn’t have us any other way.”

“Me neither,” I whispered back.

“I told you it would be fine.”

“I know.”

“See how happy he looks?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s because he loves you.”

“Eilish.”

She bit her lip as she bent her neck to stare long and deep into my eyes. She didn’t speak, but I wondered if she could read my mind by the intense expression she wore.

“Marry me,” I blurted.

A gasp escaped her. Patrick was still playing over by the window, completely oblivious.

I lowered my mouth to kiss her softly. “Marry me,” I said again, a whisper this time.

“Bryan, I—”

I kissed her deeper. “Don’t make me say it again.”

“But—”

“Eilish.”

She let out a small, whimpering sound, a steeliness in her eyes when she finally responded, “With all my heart, yes.”

~The End~