“She said it was Jay, but yes. She also said your father knew.”
“He couldn’t have known.” Nate scoffs at the revelation. “If he had, he would have taken Jay out without hesitation.”
“I can only tell you what she told me. She said Carlo knew Micha started it. She also said it was all because Micha was looking into me.”
“I came to that conclusion myself. We hadn’t had any significant disputes with the Ramsays for a while, and it was the only thing that made sense. Still, I can’t believe she had the audacity to show up here. I don’t like it.”
“I don’t think she would have…hurt me or anything.”
“I wouldn’t put it past her. Actually, sister or not, if she knew how much it would hurt me, she’d probably do it.”
We gather our clothes and dress in silence, Nate still looking pensive.
“It’s not safe for you here alone,” he eventually says. “Will you come back to Cascade Falls with me? If you don’t, I’m going to have to find some other way to keep you safe.”
“You really think it’s dangerous?”
“I think it’s possible.” He sighs, and I see the fallen look on his face. “You wouldn’t have to stay with me indefinitely.”
“I’ll move back,” I say. “There isn’t anything here for me now. I know that.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.”
“Do you think Reid would give me my old apartment, or is it already rented again?”
“I…I don’t know.” He presses his lips together. “Is that where you would want to live?”
“I guess so.”
“Ugh.” Nate shakes his head. “I need to remember to just say what I’m thinking.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m sorry to be so blunt,” Nate says, “but I need to hear the words. I don’t want to make any assumptions just because…well, because of this.” He gestures toward the disheveled sheets on the bed. “Are we…back together? I want to be with you, Cherry. That hasn’t changed at all, but I don’t know what’s going through your head, and I’m learning to ask instead of assuming.”
“I think it’s safe to say I want to be with you.”
“Do you really?” he says quietly.
“I do.”
“Oh, those words.” Nate closes his eyes tightly for a moment. “And my past transgressions, which I understand you won’t forget—I won’t either—but you do forgive me for them?”
“Yes, Nate.”
“I’m probably a moron,” he mumbles, “but I can’t help myself.”
Nate leaves the room and comes back a minute later, holding something behind his back. Whatever it is must have been in his jacket pocket since he didn’t have time to go out to the car and get his bag.
“I’ve thought about this a lot,” he says quietly, his gaze not meeting my eyes.
“Thought about what?”
He takes a deep breath and then drops to one knee and brings his hand out from behind his back. In his palm is the black velvet box I remember from the night I left.
“Cherice, I didn’t know it at the time, but the first moment I saw you was the beginning of my future. It’s a future I want to share with you. I want you to be a part of my life and a part of my family for now and forever.”
My heart skips a beat.
“Cherry, will you please marry me?”
Chapter 21—Clues
My mouth hangs open, but I can’t seem to draw a breath. I wasn’t expecting this, and I have no idea how to react. I clasp my hand over my open mouth and stare at the giant diamond Nate is proffering. He looks at me with intent, eager eyes.
“Hopefully I didn’t screw this up again?” His voice rises in question.
I try to answer, but I still can’t breathe.
“Cherry? Are you all right? Shit! I did fuck it up again, didn’t I?”
“No, you didn’t,” I finally manage to whisper. “That was much better.” I bite my lip as tears form in the corners of my eyes.
“You didn’t answer.”
I reach up and wipe away a tear. I know this is exactly what I want. I’d be a part of the family I’d already started to love, and my baby would have a proper mother and father together.
“Yes. Yes, Nate, I will marry you.”
“Thank you, Lord,” he whispers.
He takes the ring from the box, and I hold out my left hand. He slides the ring onto my finger before pulling me back into his arms.
“I love you, Cherry. Thank you. Thank you so much for saying yes.”
“I love you, too, Nate. I can’t imagine a life without you now, either.”
He kisses me again, his lips lingering. My head is spinning again, but this time it’s with excitement and anticipation. When we finally break away from each other, I look down to get a closer look at the ring.
“It’s beautiful,” I say.
“You’re beautiful.” He grins and kisses me once more. “Now that this is all official, we should talk about our next steps.”
“Next steps?”
“Do you still want to learn the truth about your heritage?”
“There are a lot of unanswered questions. I don’t know why I was sent here to live with my aunt and not raised with the rest of the Ramsay family. I know what Janna told me, but I don’t think we know the truth about what happened to your brother, either.”
“I want to help you if you’ll let me. I agree that we still don’t know the whole story and there might be answers here.”
“What kind of answers?”
“How would you feel about a video call with the family? I know Nora is dying to talk to you, and Threes has been going through that file my brother had on you.”
“I guess that would be okay.”
We get set up on the couch
