CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Claire
I’m hoping to surprise him with breakfast in bed. It’s a totally cheesy thing to do, but I couldn’t think of anything else to do for our one-year anniversary of being together.
I like walking around my apartment in nothing but his shirt. It’s massive on me, sleeves reaching well past mind hands and the bottom of the shirt covering just above my knees. I’m in the kitchen frying some eggs. I don’t know if Laurence is a fan of croque madame, but I promise myself that he will by the time I’m done. The smell of melting butter and fresh herbs lifts from the kitchen stove and wafts into my living room. It’s six in the morning and Laurence is still asleep, so I’m trying to work as quietly as possible.
I could have made him something a little simpler. Pancakes, for example. Or maybe a grilled cheese. But I’ve decided that Laurence only deserves the very best. We were up late last night at the Royale. Business has picked up significantly in just under a year. We’ve been booked up solid for several weeks, but the exhaustion is starting to weigh down on him. Nothing a croque madame can’t cure, of that I’m certain.
The sun has splashed warm hues of orange and pink across the horizon, filling my apartment with a soft and gentle glow. I don’t have any of the lights on, preferring to work with the mood lighting. I’m debating whether I want to make a fresh pot of coffee, when I hear a floorboard creak noisily behind me.
“What are you doing?” comes Laurence’s voice from behind. I jump, startled.
“Jesus,” I hiss. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
He chuckles, wrapping his warm arms around me from behind and resting his chin on my shoulder. He watches me quietly as a cook, pressing soft kisses into my exposed skin. He’s only got on a pair of dark briefs. I hum to myself, utterly content.
“Be careful of the splatter,” he warns. “This is the only clean shirt I have left here.”
“Well, who’s fault is that?” I tease.
“I’m the epitome of perfection, so it’s clearly yours.”
“You know,” I purr, “this wouldn’t be a problem if you just moved in with me. You pretty much already do.”
“Your apartment is nice and close to work,” he considers aloud.
“And you wouldn’t have to waste money on your car anymore.”
“That’s true.”
“And, you know, you’d be with your loving girlfriend all the time.”
Laurence sticks out his tongue and makes a face. “Ew, gross. I think that’s a deal breaker.”
I gently jab my elbow into his rib cage behind me, holding back a fit of giggles. “Asshole.”
He laughs, tightening his hold around me. “Just kidding.”
We stand there together in silence for a moment, enjoying the sweet song of birds just outside our window and listening to the low rumble of early morning traffic out in the streets. I could get used to waking up like this every morning. It feels perfect. I honestly can’t remember what life was like before we started dating. My drab apartment has slowly transformed with Laurence’s presence. There are pops of color where there used to be nothing, pairs of items that used to be solitary littering the house. Two pairs of shoes at the front door, two sets of keys in the key bowl in the hallway, two sets of toothbrushes in the bathroom, two fluffy pillows in the bedroom.
“Why don’t you go back to bed baby. Can’t have you walking around naked in my apartment.”
“Why not?” he questions. “I thought you liked it.”
“Not when the curtains are wide open, you exhibitionist. Go put a shirt on.”
“I would, but you’re wearing my only shirt.”
I turn the dial on the stove and turn it off, allowing the food in the pan to fry into a beautiful golden brown. I turn, draping my hands over his shoulder and gently stroking the nape of his neck. I raise an eyebrow at him. “What I’m hearing is that you want me to give this back to you.”
“Mhmm.”
“Then I’d be naked.”
“Mhmm,” he practically growls.
I giggle as I lean into kiss him. Hearing his voice go that low already has me melting into a shaking mess of a puddle. His hair is a tousled mess and his eyes are a little heavy with sleep. His skin is incredibly warm against mine, even through the fabric between us. He reaches with one hand up to my breast, hovering there momentarily.
“Really?” I ask. “Again? How are you still horny after everything we did last night?”
“Well,” he begins, clearing his throat, “you’re really sexy, so that’s one thing.” He slips his fingers into the shirt’s pocket and pulls out something small and metallic. His shirt had been so heavy and massive that I hadn’t noticed the extra weight against my breast. My eyes widen as I get a good glance at the object in his hand. It’s an engagement ring, shining and sparkling and bright. I’ve forgotten to how to breath. Is it two in and one out? What even is oxygen? Who needs it? I watch in amazement as Laurence gets down on one knee before me.
“Sorry I have to do this in my underwear,” he says a little nervously. He looks up at me with those big, dark brown eyes like chocolate, giving me a gentle smile. “Claire,” he starts, “you have made me happier than I’ve ever been. You’re smart, you’re beautiful, and you’re talented. And I would love to be able to call you mine.”
“Oh, Laurence,” I whisper. My eyes are welling up and my heart is beating so fast in my chest I feel like it’s about to explode. I swear I’m not usually this sappy, but it’s first thing in the morning, I’m still a little sleepy, and I have this devilishly handsome man proposing in front of me in his briefs.
I don’t panic, though. The thought of marriage had occurred to me briefly every now and then, but I didn’t think Laurence would pop the question this soon. I’m not worried about rushing things, I’m not worried about the logistics of it all. When I look at him, ring in his hands, I feel nothing but sure. This is it, this is the man for me. I have no doubts, no lingering questions. Laurence is exactly what I want for the rest of my life, and he’s decided that same about me.
“Claire, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” I exclaim. The words escape me with such force I think for a second that I might pass out. His smile looks to be a combination of excitement and relief. Laurence softly takes my left hand in his own and slips the ring around my finger. It has a significant amount of weight to it, which only leaves me more confused as to why I hadn’t noticed in my pocket before. But none of it matters now. My mind is spinning and my skin is tingling.
Laurence gets up from his position on the floor and scoops me up in his arms like I weigh nothing at all. He kisses me deeply, fervently, like he never wants to let me go. He turns and starts towards the bedroom. “I’ll call Kate,” he explains. “Tell her we can’t come in. You know, spend the day celebrating.”
“We can’t do that to her. It’s a Friday, it’ll be too busy.”
He rolls his eyes. “Do you ever stop thinking about work?”
I let out a quick gasp, realizing something. “What about breakfast?” I ask him, breaking away for a moment.
Laurence smirks at me. “How about you help me work up an appetite?”
I shake my head in mock disappointment. “That was an incredibly cheesy line and you know it.”
“Did it work?”
I can’t help but smile from ear to ear. I’m so crazy, stupid happy right now. “Yeah,” I say, nodding. “Yeah, I think it did.”
Laurence kisses me again, taking his sweet time. When he breaks away, there’s nothing but love and adoration in his gaze. “I love you, Claire,” he says softly.
“I love you, too, Laurence.”