Page 132 of The Man I Hate

He glanced at each of us.

“Work had lost its importance,” he continued. “Living alone no longer had its appeal. There was someone I’d developed feelings for, but I’d disappointed her so greatly that I wondered if she’d forgive me. I took a chance and apologized, later asking if she’d consider being my lover. She—”

I alternated glances between Marge, Hap, and Pratt. “That’s not exactly how it happened.”

Hap’s jaw tensed. “Let. The. Man. Speak.”

Braxton grabbed his stomach. “I’m going to throw up.”

“Don’t you fucking dare,” Hap barked, jumping from his seat. He rushed to Braxton’s side. He draped his arm over Braxton’s shoulder. “Suck it up, Son.”

Braxton swallowed heavily. He swallowed again. After wiping his brow, he drew a long breath.

Hap released him.

Braxton stepped to my side. “My life’s better than it was, but I still see it as an incomplete mess. The only thing that will make it complete is if you’ll commit to take the rest of this journey with me.” He looked me in the eyes. “Anna, I don’t know what I’m going to do with the rest of my life, but whatever I do, I want to do it with you.”

“I love you,” I said.

“Anna, will you take this journey with me?” He reached for my hand. “As my wife?”

I was speechless. His words took me by complete surprise. I thought he was giving some wordy drunken speech. I wasn’t expecting a proposal, at all.

I swallowed heavily.

My mind was screaming yes, but I couldn’t formulate a response.

Hap cleared his throat. “Ring, Dipshit! Give her the goddamned ring.”

“Hap Rourke!” Marge barked.

Braxton reached into his pocket and presented a gorgeous diamond ring. “Will you?” he asked. “Marry me?”

“Yes,” I said pridefully. “I will.”

My journey to find the man of my dreams wasn’t simple. I didn’t want simple. Settling for simple made me cry when I was a teen. Simple prevented me from marrying early in life. Simple got me a divorce.

Peeling away Braxton’s layers took time, effort, and courage. What was beneath, however, was well worth the effort.

One by one, they gave congratulations and ogled the ring. It seemed everyone knew about the event except for me.

As we ate our melted ice cream and tiramisu, I took a moment and looked around. With Hap’s shouting, Braxton nearly barfing, and my inability to understand what was happening, the proposal was an absolute shit show.

When I searched my mind for the events that got me there, I realized the journey was a shit show, too. Nevertheless, given the opportunity, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Life was never perfect. If anyone knew that, it was the five of us.

A family of five.

By choice.

“Anna Rourke, line one,” Karen said over the intercom. “Anna Rourke, you have an international call on line one.”

On my way to lock the front doors and call it another successful day, I turned toward my office. The 60-second trek took 5 minutes.

Winded, I answered the phone. “Anna Rourke.”

“Mrs. Rourke, this is Karl Koser in Madrid. I purchased the Enzo Ferrari last week. Sorry to call so late on a Saturday, but I’d like to speak to you regarding shipping. Have you a moment?”