What I Should’ve Said

Bennett

Candles litter the studio, and Norah’s painting—the one I’ve spent the last two days straight making—hangs casually on the wall. Pink and orange and peach all blend together in a swirling line and end in a chocolatey-brown center. It’s warm and inviting and perfectly encapsulates everything Norah Ellis is to me.

Thanks to Breezy’s involvement in my scheme, she should be here any second, and my heart is a Thoroughbred beneath my rib cage at the thought of seeing her.

Painstakingly long minutes pass in the flickering light as I will my ears to hear the sound of crunching gravel, so much so that when they finally do, I nearly convince myself I’m making it up.

But when moments pass and the sound of a car door slamming echoes across the walls, I steady myself for whatever this wild, loving troublemaker has to throw my way.

I deserve all of it, I’m sure, and maybe even more than that. But with Summer’s adoring affection on my heart and mind, I’m bound and determined to get to the good part, no matter what scary parts lie between me and it.

Norah’s head is down as she pushes through the door, the lack of overhead lights probably falsely assuring her that no one is in here. She slides Summer’s pink sunglasses off her face and into her purse, and the fact that she’s still wearing my daughter’s favorite lenses makes my heart feel too big to fit inside my chest.

I wait for her to notice the candles, and as she does, a gasp falls from her most perfect lips, and her brown gaze jerks up to meet mine.

I try on a smile, though I have the supreme feeling it’s haggard and shaky, and a magic light flares in her eyes.

“Bennett? What is all this?” sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I step forward slowly, willing myself not to scare her by going too fast. She deserves to be cherished and romanced, and in order to do that, I have to find a way to be measured in my excitement.

“It’s what’s long overdue, Norah.”

She looks from me to the candles and back again, and then she jerks her head to the side when she sees the painting.

“What is that?” Her voice is a whisper.

“It’s you,” I say simply. “It’s what I feel, what I see, what my heart says when you’re around.”

She licks her lips. “It’s beautiful.”

“You have no idea.”

“Bennett, I don’t understand.” She’s looking at the painting again. “Breezy said—”

“Breezy was doing me a favor to get you here. See, I wasn’t sure you’d answer a phone call directly from me, seeing as I’ve been such a dick and all.” Her eyes jump to mine, and I smile. “Isn’t that what you called me in Earl’s that day?”

“Something like that.” She snorts. “And then you made some crass remark about how big yours is.”

“Yeah, that was pretty bad.” I groan, but I quickly move the conversation toward the whole reason she’s here. “Norah, that day, at the funeral, when you told me you still love me, I should’ve said it too. I love you—and have loved you, I’m pretty sure, since the moment I met you.”

“The moment you met me, you kicked me out of your truck.”

I smirk. “Self-preservation.”

She shakes her head, and I move. Forward and fast, I grab her hand in mine and sink down onto one knee.

Her whole body locks up, and her eyes grow unbelievably wide. “Bennett, what are you doing?”

“Norah Ellis, love of my life, you came blazing in when I thought I needed you the least. You were fancy and fresh, and you had the kind of compassion I didn’t think anyone possessed. You ramble more than almost anyone I know, you are absolutely fucking terrible at coffee, and you’re a pain in the ass fifty percent of the time, but hell, so am I. I want days with you, not without you, and even in my darkest hours, you gave to me without any expectation of anything in return. You loved my daughter like I did, and now, I want to love you like she did. With my whole heart, my whole soul, and my last breath.”

Her knees shake, and so does her breathing.

“Norah, please, I’m begging you…would you do me the honor of marrying me?”

“Bennett…I…I have to tell you something.”

It’s not the answer I’m expecting, but I’ll be honest, I was expecting a no. This…I think I can handle.

“Is the thing you have to tell me ‘Yes,’ by any chance?”

“Bennett…I’m…I’m pregnant.”

A candle blows out in the corner and then another one at the side, and before I know it, the whole room is cloaked in darkness. And then, just like it never happened, the candles are lit again.

“What was that?” Norah whispers, scared. And that’s when it hits me that this is Summer’s way of saying hello.

My throat is thick as I choke around a ball of emotion. “Pregnant?”

“I just found out,” she whispers. “And I know this is probably not the best time for you to hear this news, and I know—”

“Norah, I love you,” I tell her and rise to my feet. In an instant, I pull her into my arms. “Marry me. Be with me. Raise our baby with me.”

“You’re…” She pauses and leans back to meet my eyes. Tears stream down her cheeks, and her bottom lip quivers with her words. “You’re okay with this?”

“Okay with this? Norah, I want it all, and I want it with you.” I press my lips to hers, taking her mouth in the kind of kiss I’ve been desperate to feel with her for what feels like forever. “Marry me,” I say again, my lips just barely grazing hers.

And this time, she answers.

“Yes, Bennett. Of course, yes.”

My life and all its scary parts flash before me like a blinding light. And then, peace.

Just like that…we’ve made it to the good part.