Page 26 of Maybe This Time

His eyes met mine again, and I spotted a flicker of nervousness there. I was about to ask him what was wrong, but he spoke first.

“I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to figure out the perfect time. But with everything that’s happened with us, I’ve learned that waiting feels like a waste of time when you’ve known all along who you were meant to spend the rest of your life with. And I want the rest of my life to start as soon as possible.”

My eyes widened. People always said they had an inkling when they’d be proposed to and sure, I’d expected for it to happen one day. But not right now.

Ezra stepped back and dropped to one knee. He loosened his hand, but my eyes were too focused on his precious nervous face to notice whatever was in his hand.

“Shut up,” I whispered, stunned.

“Talya Morrone, will you?—”

“Shut. Up,” I blurted, louder this time.

“Taly, for the love of God, will you let me finish?” Ezra said through bouts of nervous laughter.

I pressed my lips together, trying to hold myself together long enough to let him ask.

“Marry—”

“Yes!” I shouted, jumping off the counter before he could finish. He caught me before I injured myself, his arms wrapping tightly around me as he landed on his back with me on top of him.

I straddled him and smashed my lips to his. “Yes, yes, yes.” I punctuated each word with a kiss, something wet streaking my cheeks.

His body shook with soft laughter. “You’re insane.”

I sat up, palms pressed to his chest, thighs bracketing his hip. When I met Ezra’s gaze, there was an expression there I’d never seen before. I’d known him for over twenty years and had spent so many years studying him. From the tilt of his smile to the crease of his forehead when he was deep in thought. I’d memorized every look he thought no one noticed.

This one wasn’t just the happiness I’d seen radiate off him ever since I’d agreed to be his six months ago.

It was the look of someone who’d finally been given everything they’d hoped for.

The look of someone finally coming home.

“I’m so happy I get to love you forever,” he whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

“And I can’t wait to choose you, chooseus, in every lifetime.”