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“Let me finish.” His voice is rough with emotion. “I was angry because I thought you betrayed my trust. But the truth is, you saw something I couldn’t. You saw how sharing they’re story—the real story—could help those kids. And it did. It helped them in ways I never imagined possible.”
My vision blurs with tears. I blink them back furiously.
“But that’s not why I’m here,” he continues, reaching for my hand. When I don’t pull away, his fingers lace through mine. “I’m here because every song feels wrong without you watching from the wings. Because I can’t sleep in my bed knowing you’re not there with me. Because this stupid fake engagement turned into the most real thing in my life, and I let my pride ruin it.”
A single tear escapes, sliding down my cheek. Nate’s free hand comes up to brush it away, his touch so tender it makes my chest ache.
“I miss you, Lace,” he says, his voice gruff. “I miss your smile during our morning runs and the way you steal my shirts. I miss how you dance around the kitchen making coffee and how you curl into me when you’re sleeping. I miss your heart, Lacey. Your beautiful, generous heart that sees the best in everyone—even a stubborn asshole like me.”
“You are stubborn,” I manage to whisper, drawing a rough laugh from him.
“I am. And I was wrong. So fucking wrong.” His lips brush my forehead, and I close my eyes, overwhelmed by his closeness. “But mostly, I was scared.”
That makes my eyes snap open. “Scared? Of what?”
“Of how much I need you. Of how real this relationship became.” His thumb strokes my cheek. “We started this as a PR move, but somewhere along the way, you became everything. And when I thought you’d used that against me...”
“I wouldn’t—“
“I know. God, I know that now.” He pulls back just enough to meet my gaze. “But I was too caught up in my own anger to see it. Instead of talking to you, instead of trusting in what we’d built, I pushed you away—“
His voice breaks, and something inside me breaks with it.
“I thought about calling you every day,” I admit softly.
“I wanted you to. I wanted to call you too. But the longer I waited...” He shakes his head. “I’m done waiting, Lacey. Done letting pride, anger, and fear keep me from the only thing that matters.”
My heart pounds at the look in his eyes. “Nate?”
“This isn’t for the cameras,” he says softly. “No press, no publicity, no pretending. This is just us. Just me, asking the woman I love to marry me. For real this time.”
“Nate...” My voice trembles.
He drops to one knee right there in the hallway in front of my apartment, still holding my hand like he’s afraid I’ll disappear. “I love you, Lacey Monroe. I love your smile, your strength, and the way you challenge me. I love how you fight for what you believe in, even when I’m too stubborn to see it. I love that you made me want something real instead of just pretending. I love how you brought color and feelings into my solitary life.”
Tears stream freely down my face now, but I can’t look away from his eyes, bright with emotion and fierce with certainty.
“Our story started as fake, but there’s nothing fake about how I feel about you. I need you in my life.” His voice grows hoarse. “Marry me. Please. Not for the cameras or your career or anything else. Marry me because I want to wake up with you every morning for the rest of my life. Because I want to build something special with you. Because I love you, and I’m sorry I hurt you.”
My heart feels too big for my chest, expanding with every word. But there’s still one thing I need to know.
“Are you sure?” I whisper. “The media, the attention—“
“I don’t care about any of that.” He squeezes my hand. “The only thing I care about is you. Whatever comes with that, we’ll face it together. No more running. No more hiding. Just us, making it work—together.”
I see the truth of it in his eyes, in the slight tremor of his hands, in the way he’s looking at me like I’m everything he’s ever wanted.
“Yes,” I breathe.
“Yes?”
I nod, tears and laughter mixing together. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
A smile breaks across his face, brilliant and beautiful. Then he’s standing, pulling me into his arms, and his mouth finds mine in a kiss that feels like coming home.
When we finally break apart, both breathing hard, he rests his forehead against mine. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I curl my fingers into his shirt. “But if you ever push me away again...”