Free Chasing Soma by Amy Robyn Page A

vase in the center of the table. Dinner is already prepared and sitting in varying bowls and platters. I am truly shocked. When did he have time to do all of this? Leah is practically vibrating with excitement. Chase helps her into her seat before turning and holding my chair out for me. I grin at him as he slides me under the table.
    “How about some champagne for my ladies?” He pulls the bottle out and I arch my brow at him. He smirks at me.
    “It’s sparkling apple juice.” He says with a chuckle as he pours some in our daughter’s cup and then in our flutes. It looks like he has thought of everything.
    “Is there a reason other than the new house we are celebrating?” I ask him as he scoops up some Chinese food onto Leah’s plate. I giggle as I recognize the noodles as belonging to a restaurant in town. He must have had it delivered while I was still sleeping. It is nice not having to cook this evening. He looks over at me with a nervous smile. I am about to ask him what has gotten into him when he stands up and comes over to me before dropping to his knee beside me.
    “I bought this for you four years ago. I couldn’t get rid of it. I carried it in my wallet when I wasn’t away overseas and when I was overseas I wore it on the chain with my dog collar. It was a constant reminder of you. It made me feel closer to you, even when I thought you hated me.” He pulls something out of his pocket and shows me the ring resting in his palm. My breath hitches. He bought this for me before I broke up with him. Tears slide down my cheek as I think about all the wasted time.
    “Shhh, it’s alright my love. I think that we were both so young and full of so many dreams that it took us being apart to know what is truly important.” He pauses and kisses me lightly before continuing.
    “I love you with everything in me. I can’t be without you again. I need you as my best friend, my partner and my wife. Please, do me the honor of being my wife?” He says the last part against my lips as  tears continue to run down my cheeks. I can’t believe he just asked me to marry him. I have dreamed of him doing this since we started dating six years ago.
    “Yes, I will marry you.” I tell him happily. He slides the ring onto my finger. He takes my mouth and we kiss with abandon until a little voice calls us back. Chase jumps up and goes over to our daughter. He kneels beside her.
    “I promise to be the best daddy I can be.” He kisses her cheek as he pulls something out of his pocket and places it on her wrist. She smiles when he pulls away and shakes her wrist so that the light hits the gems and sparkles.
    “Look, mommy.” She says as she holds her wrist up. That is when I notice the engravings. Leah Sterling. It’s his last name that draws attention. He wants her to have his last name. I’m not surprised, I just hadn’t thought about it since he has had me so distracted.
    “It’s beautiful sweetie.” I tell her and she smiles up at her father with adoring eyes. I wish not for the first time that I could give them back the lost time they had. I know I can’t and I will always feel guilty for that but we have a future now that we can do with it as we choose. I choose never to be apart from him from this day forward.
    “I’m meeting my team in Vegas and I think it is a perfect place to get married. What do you think?” He asks and I smile. My parents wanted nothing to do with their pregnant teenaged daughter so when they left town three years ago I stayed. I wouldn’t invite them to any wedding of mine. I only had one person I would want there.
    “Can Charlie come? She is my maid of honor.” I tell him and he nods his head before chuckling.
    “Since Peter is my best man, I think it works out perfectly.” I start laughing too. Who knows, perhaps there will be a double wedding. I watch the two people I care about most as we finish our dinner. I have never been happier and so very much in love. I loved him before