Page 99 of Hating the Boss

“I just…I know this isn’t what we planned.” I said softly.

“Sarah…” he interrupted. “I’ve done a lot of thinking. And I planned on telling you last night before everything happened at the gala. Before I even knew about the baby.”

I tilted my head as I listened, waiting for him to continue.

“I love you. I’m in love with you. I want it all with you. I want a family with you.”

His words soaked into me like rain on a summer day.

“Y-you do?” I asked.

He nodded. “I think I’ve known it for a while, but it was all so fast and I didn’t know how to process it all. I haven’t been able to trust anyone for a long time. But then you came along and you opened me up. You challenged me. You saw me.” He reached for my face and I cradled into his palm. “I mean, you jumped out of a freaking airplane for me.”

I laughed out loud, even though it hurt, it also felt good to feel this joy.

“There’s no one like you, Sarah. I love you…”

He released my face as he stood from the bed. I watched his every movement curiously, wondering where he was going. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him lower himself to one knee beside the hospital bed.

“Will you marry me?” he asked, his eyes hopeful as they looked up at me.

“Yes,” I said without hesitation.

Chapter 38 Brad

I quietly slipped out of the hospital room. Sarah had dozed off with her head peacefully resting on her pillow and her breath slow and steady. She deserved to rest. After everything she had been through, she finally could, all while knowing our baby was safe. It had come as a huge relief when the doctor delivered the news. We were able to celebrate the big news, even if it were within four white walls of a hospital room.

We would celebrate once we got home, wherever that may be. Manhattan. Brooklyn. We still had a lot to figure out, but it didn’t matter as long as we were together. And we would be forever, now that she had accepted my proposal. It had been a spontaneous question, but not without love or thought behind it. I knew I wanted Sarah to be my wife, but I had been unprepared with no ring to slip onto her finger. My feelings moved quicker than my brain.

As I was making a mental note to call my jeweler, I pushed through the swinging doors and stepped out into the waiting room where I saw Brittany and Jessica reading a magazine they shared between the two of them. Across from them sat Anton, and to my surprise, my father. I wondered how much he knew. And what about his big meeting? It was supposed to be happening right at this very moment. Surely, he hadn’t missed it.

When Brittany looked up from her magazine and spotted me, she rushed over with Jessica not far behind her.

“How is she?” asked Brittany worriedly searching my face.

“Is the baby okay?” asked Jessica, equally as panicked.

“She’s okay. Baby is okay,” I said with an assuring smile.

They both breathed a sigh of relief.

“Can we go in and see her now?” asked Jessica, looking past me toward the doors.

“She’s asleep, but I’m sure she’d be happy to see you when she wakes up.” I nodded, stepping aside. They both gave me grateful smiles as they passed. I was thankful Sarah had two people who cared so much about her, and who had both given me a chance when I surely didn’t deserve it. I knew I still had a lot to prove to both of them, especially Jessica as her protective little sister.

Right now, I had another fish to fry though…

My father.

Both he and Anton approached. Based on my father’s expression, he seemed lost as to why he was here.

“How is she?” asked Anton, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“She’s going to be okay,” I said. “Thanks for coming.”

“What is going on?” asked my father, looking between me and Anton. “Anton said there was some sort of trouble. I had to cancel my meeting with Howard Knight, so this better be good.”

“It’s probably time to tell him, eh?” Anton patted my back, leading us to a cluster of chairs.