“You two are together?” his dad asks.
“Yes,” I say. “We are.”
He nods. “You make a good couple. I can feel it.”
“Thank you.” I pause, and then continue. “Malik told me that you were a writer.”
“Oh,” he waves a hand, “that was a long time ago. I don’t remember half the things I wrote.”
“I’m sure the half you remember is still great.”
Malik’s father smiles. “I had some good ones.”
“Will you tell me some?”
He points. “Tell you what. If you come back and visit me again, I will.”
“I’ll definitely be back.”
Next to me, Malik laughed softly. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
I don’t know why the way he says that makes me blush, but it does.
Malik turns to me, and his eyes are so serious that I’m shocked for a second. He’s still smiling though. “I wasn’t planning on doing this yet, but I can’t think of a better time or place.” He slips out of his chair and kneels in front of me. “I don’t have a ring, but I’ll take care of that later. Erin, will you marry me?”
My eyes go wide. “Malik—”
“Seeing you here with my dad…I just know. Not everyone would be this kind or this understanding. My parents were married for thirty years, and if she were still alive, I know they’d still be together. They got married a month after meeting each other.”
I glance at his dad, and his eyes are totally clear. Not the wandering gaze that he’s had for most of this visit. He smiles and nods when I meet his gaze. He knows. He knows who we both are, and he approves.
The way he looks at the two of us, with wistful love and memories in his eyes, it’s enough for me. A life unfolds in front of me. The two of us together, building a family and growing our careers. And it’s…everything.
“Yes,” I say, tears in my eyes. “I’ll marry you.”
Malik’s face lights up, and I see echoing tears in his father’s eyes moments before he kisses me.
I never saw any of this coming. I couldn't have written anything as sweet as what we have. A man like Malik, someone with an old soul like mine, was what I'd been searching for.
I kiss him while crying, speaking as our lips tangle, unable to form proper words but we both know what I'm saying with my full heart.
Yes, marry me. Yes, I want this. Yes. Let's be together forever.
My mother told me I was too young to be stressed.
Saying yes to marrying Malik?
It was the first time I didn't feel stressed at all.