Close to You (Fusion 2)

Who would have thought three months ago when this project started that this is where I’d be?

Definitely not me.

“Oh my God.”

I spin around at the sound of Cami’s voice. She’s in a sexy black skirt with a blue blouse tucked into it and she’s in her sexy heels. Her hair is up and her face is beautifully surprised.

“Hi.”

Her eyes find mine.

“Hi. Mia said you needed to see me over here.”

“She was right,” I reply, and cross to her. “How do you feel?”

“Curious.” She pokes her head around me so she can see the table again. “Are we having lunch over here?”

“That wasn’t really my plan,” I reply, and lead her to a chair at the table. She sits, and stares at me when I sit next to her, keeping her hand clutched in mine. “It’s funny how you can know someone for so long, and then one day you realize that you never really knew them at all. Our friendship has always been important to me, Cami, but it’s only been in the past few months that I’ve truly grown to know you. Inside and out. What makes you tick. What makes you laugh and what scares you and that you’re bad at buying things for your kitchen.”

She laughs and tilts her head, listening intently.

“Loving you has always come as easy as breathing for me, and falling in love with you is no different. I admire you. Your strength of character. Your humor. Your intelligence. You are impressive and not a little scary, Cami.

“I didn’t think I believed in soul mates,” I continue, the words flowing effortlessly out of me now. “It’s always sounded like a romantic notion for movies and books, but I’ve realized that a soul mate isn’t someone who just slips into your life and one day you realize, Oh, there you are. It’s the person that you measure time against.”

I swallow and she leans closer to me.

“All I know is, there was my life before knowing that you’re my world, and this is my life after, and everything before just seems so . . . small. You have shaken up my life. You make it brighter, and we’re about to be in for the adventure of our lives, and I can’t wait for it. I want to start this chapter with you as my wife.”

I slide down to one knee and pull the box out of my pocket, open it, and look up into the most beautiful green eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Please marry me, Camille.”

She’s staring down at the ring, then closes her eyes and impatiently wipes tears off her cheeks.

“You don’t have to do this just because I’m pregnant, Landon. We can—”

“That’s not what this is,” I say immediately, and set the ring on the table so I can cup her face in my hands and look her in the eye. “The baby may have sped it up a bit, but, Cami, I’ve been thinking about proposing for a while. I just thought I’d have more time to make it more romantic than this.”

“This is pretty romantic,” she murmurs, more tears spilling from her eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Sweetheart, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I want you. I need you.” God, I’ve never felt more vulnerable in my life. She’s holding my heart in her hands.

She bites her lip and then she nods and smiles brightly.

“Is that a yes?”

“It’s a yes.”

I sigh in relief, then kiss her, softly at first, but I can’t hold back. I deepen the kiss, exploring her mouth, nibbling her lips. My hands are brushing up and down her sides, and then I just pull her into my arms and hold her against me.

Finally, I pull away and show her the ring.

“This was my mother’s mother’s ring,” I begin. “If you don’t like it, we can find you something new.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Cami, you’ve been a part of my family for so long, it just seems right that you wear her ring. And I know that she’d be proud for you to wear it.”

“Landon, it’s beautiful. I loved your nonna,” she says, and stares down at the ring. “I remember admiring this ring when I was a kid and I would come over to your house for Sunday dinners. She was always so kind to me.”

I slip it out of the box and onto her finger.

“It’s so pretty,” she says quietly, staring down at the ring. “Can we tell the girls right away?”

“I already told Mia I was going to ask you. She helped me set this up.”

She nods and grins widely. “She’s going to be my sister.”

“She’s been your sister for a long time, sweetheart.”

She starts to cry again. “My hormones are all over the place. It makes my eyes leak.” She looks up at me. “Are you crying too?”

“No,” I lie, and wipe my eyes. “I must have gotten something in my eye.”

“Starting this whole thing with lies,” she says, and stands. “I see how it’s going to be.”

She’s joking, but I yank her against me and press my lips to hers. “You take my breath away. And I’m so happy you said yes.”

“I’m happy you asked.”

Chapter 17

~Cami~

Did that seriously just happen?

I glance down at my left hand, and yep, it sure did. Landon proposed. I’m wearing the ring I’d admired on his nonna for years. The ring is classic, vintage, and because of the sentimental value it holds, it’s absolutely perfect.

But the words that came along with it?

Holy. Crap.

“Let’s go tell the others,” he says, and takes my hand in his, then leads me into the restaurant and back to the bar, where Mia, Kat, Addie, and Riley are all sitting. They break into applause as we walk in. Kat is already pouring drinks.