“Yes, you do,” she said, and then she broke down into tears.
Nasser’s arms were around her without hesitation. He squeezed her into a solid, loving hug, one that prompted even more tears, because she could feel again just how perfect he was with her. The feel of him, the scent of him, the unequivocal knowing that emanated from him. He was hers and she was his. It was supposed to be. So when would it finally be?
“I’m sorry,” he murmured into the top of her head, starting a slow sway back and forth. “I’ve been a real asshole.”
The confession made her cry even harder. She wrapped her arms around his waist and sobbed. “Yes, you have been.”
“I want to make it up to you,” he said. “Any way I can. I started with using the calendar, which honestly, I kind of love. I’ll keep making it up to you by building you the nursery of our dreams. And I’ll finish making it up to you by being here, for the rest of our lives, in every way I can.”
She sniffed, tilting her chin to look at him. “Really?”
He nodded, brushing his thumb over her cheek to wipe away a tear. “Yes, babe. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved. You’re the only woman I ever will love. I just want to be with you. Even if it’s hard for me sometimes. Even if I make the wrong choices or try to push you away. I’m working on it, I swear. I know what’s important to me. And it’s you. And our baby.”
His words pushed her into a sobbing mess, and she could only cling to him as she cried. He stroked the top of her head, shushing her gently. In the distance, she was aware that Calla and the landlady had returned.
“She’s fine,” Calla was saying. “Just pregnant.”
“And, babe?” Nasser urged her to look at him again, then kissed away the tears that had tracked down her cheeks. “I have one more question.”
“What is it?” she mumbled through tears.
He wet his bottom lip, suddenly looking nervous. He fished something out of his pocket and then released her from his embrace. He sank to one knee. Looking up at her, his face shone with an emotion that she’d never even seen before. Something like elation and pride and certainty all wrapped up into one.
“Willow,” he began, his voice trembling. “Will you marry me? For real and forever?”
Willow slapped a hand to her mouth. She could only gape and cry. Behind her, the landlady squealed.
“Of course,” Willow said, blinking out tears as fast as they came. “Of course I will. I love you, Nasser.”
Nasser surged to his feet and wrapped her in a hug. Then he jerked backward. “Oh, shit. The ring. Put it on, babe. I want to see how it looks on you.”
Willow laughed as he fumbled with nervous hands to pluck the ring out of the box and slide it onto her finger. The round diamond glinted gorgeous and luxurious, far larger than she could have even fathomed. She hiccuped with a sob, clamping her hand over her mouth again.
“Oh my god,” she wailed.
“Do you like it?” Nasser asked.
“I love it!” she moaned, collapsing into his arms again.
“And to think this proposal happened in my own home!” the landlord cried. “I can rent this out for more now, don’t you think?”
“Ho-ly shit!” Calla bounded up to them a moment later, looking between the two of them. “Are you serious right now?”
Nasser laughed, slinging his arm around Willow. “Completely serious, Calla.”
“How come you didn’t tell me?” she asked, shoving his shoulder. “Here I was, counseling her to move the hell on.”
Nasser’s glee didn’t even dim at that comment. “You should have. A smart woman would counsel the same.”
Willow buried her head in the crook of his shoulder. “I love you, Nasser. I only wanted to be with you. I didn’t want this apartment.” Through blurry eyes, she caught the look on the landlady’s face. “It’s very lovely from what I’ve seen so far. I just mean, my real home is at the palace.”
“Or anywhere else you like,” Nasser said softly. “I found your escape folder on your laptop. If you’d rather live abroad…we can work something out, babe. I swear. Just let me know, okay?”
She looked up at him, knitting her brows together. “My escape folder is for vacations.”
“But…” Nasser narrowed his eyes. “I found the links about long-term European visas.”
She swatted that away. “Oh, Nasser, that was a m