Well, too bad for him. I don’t care if he’s the best lover I’ve ever had. Life is more than good sex. Okay, extraordinary sex. Love and commitment come first.
Rebecca has told me each time he has come to my place to see Taylor that he hasn’t stayed less than two hours. He’s given Taylor her bath three times and taken her for a walk in the park twice.
When Rebecca gives me these updates, she looks at me like I’m crazy. If we knew each other better, I’m sure she would ask me what I am doing not being with Thomas.
Thomas is a wonderful dad but a lousy partner.
I banish him from my thoughts and go to my office. I log on to our social media and go through reactions from yesterday’s posts. I comment on some and like others.
Thomas keeps intruding into my thoughts, and I keep pushing him away. I’m sure that he’s left now, I think, an hour later. I put my computer on rest mode and head downstairs.
I stop and stare in disbelief. The idiot is still on the treadmill. I wouldn’t be worried if he had been doing it, but I doubt that Thomas has been in a gym for months.
I march up to him. “What are you doing?”
If sweat was dripping down his face, now it’s flowing. He looks exhausted, and I’m surprised one of the trainers hasn’t talked to him. They probably did, but knowing Thomas, he probably convinced them he was okay.
“I promised myself I won’t get off this treadmill until you hear me out.” He can barely talk.
It’s tempting to walk away and leave him to it, but I can’t. I’m worried sick as it is. Plus, I’m more than a bit curious about what he wants to talk about. Surely no one can go to this much trouble just to get laid.
“Get talking.”
He staggers off of the treadmill and leans on the wall for support.
“You’re an idiot and a doctor who should know better about pushing yourself beyond your endurance.”
He takes a few seconds to catch his breath. Then he wipes the sweat from his face with his shirt.
“Cora Scott, I’ve wasted so much time, and I don’t want to waste anymore. I want to be more than Taylor’s dad. I want to be her mom’s everything. I want to be the man who gets to hold you every night. I love you, Cora.”
All air leaves my lungs as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a tiny box. He opens it to reveal a gorgeous ring. “Will you marry me, Cora? Will you give me one final chance to show you that I can be the man that you deserve?”
Tears fill my eyes. I should resist him and protect my heart, but I don’t want to. I’ve hoped to hear those words from Thomas for four years.
“You’re a fool, Thomas, and so am I for loving you. Yes. I say yes.”
Shock and joy crash my heart. As his big strong arms wrap around me, I feel as if I’m going to burst with happiness. He strokes my hair and back as if he can’t get enough of me.
“I love you, Cora,” he says over and over again.
The End.