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Stirling knew he was moving fast, but he was absolutely certain. Really, he’d been certain for years that there was no one else for him but her – even if he’d known she didn’t want him like that.
Except now she actually did want him like he’d always wanted her to.
He was absolutely euphoric.
He couldn’t place when exactly her feelings had changed – because they had changed; she hadn’t always had feelings for him – but he thought it was sometime around when he came to live in New York. It was, he was pretty sure, definitely before they’d had sex for the first time.
Why else would she have risked a decade and a half of friendship?
But as it turned out, risking it was the right move. And Stirling wasn’t just saying that because he was having sex with her now (even though the sex was amazing). He was saying that because… well, he really thought she was falling for him.
So one afternoon, on his lunch, he met up with Ruthie (who only worked a few blocks away) and they picked out a ring for Kit.
“I’m so excited!” Ruthie exclaimed. “So happy for you both! This is one of the best things that has ever happened to any of us.”
Stirling was pretty sure it was one of the best things that had ever happened to him, but Ruthie had her whole thing with Charlie, and didn’t she think that was just as good?
So he just smiled and said, “Yeah.”
“When we were younger, I never would have thought… but it makes perfect sense! You balance each other out.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“I know so. Kit’s going to scream.”
“You don’t think it’s too soon?” He was, truthfully, a little concerned that it might be.
Ruthie waved a hand. “Not for you two. Besides, you’ve been living together for months. You should make an honest woman out of her.”
Stirling laughed. “I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.”
Ruthie shook her head. “We’re talking about Kit. She’s too modern to buy into an idea like that.”
She had a point. While, emotionally, Stirling couldn’t understand how Kit had still been single – how she hadn’t at least gone steady with someone since high school – logically, he knew it was because she made men feel insecure.
Most men.
Not him.
He loved her for it all. For her trousers and ambition and wit and cleverness. For her ability to drink him under the table. For her assertiveness and ability to think on her feet and solve problems. For her incredible moral compass and strong backbone.
He loved everything about her. Every last freckle and mole. He loved the way her eyes lit up at a challenge. He loved her smile, her laugh.
He loved getting her into bed and kissing every inch of her that he could reach.
He loved her so much, and he wanted to be with her forever.
And he was pretty sure she wanted forever, too.
There was just the small question of the ring.
Kit had never been what one would call traditionally feminine. While Stirling supposed some girls grew into it, Kit never had. So he knew she wouldn’t appreciate some flashy, extravagant ring.
But he had to get her a ring. One that was clearly an engagement ring. Their parents would lose their minds otherwise, even if he thought Kit probably didn’t care very much.
Besides, he cared.
Hence Ruthie.
Ruthie knew Kit better than anyone – maybe even better than he did, if he were honest – and she was a woman, so she was the perfect person to ask for help.
“So when is Charlie going to make an honest woman out of you?” Stirling teased.
“When we find a way to tell our parents without them completely losing their minds,” Ruthie said. “I think Mr. and Mrs. Kittredge will probably be fine with an official – and short – engagement, my parents are a different story.”
He frowned. “Do you think Kit’s parents –”
“They know how Kit is and they know how you are, and they know you’ve been in love with her for a decade and a half. Besides, the two of you are going to have a short engagement, too, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know,” he said truthfully. “That’s up to Kit. If she wants a long engagement… I guess I’d probably have to move out.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Ruthie said, which Stirling thought was an awfully optimistic view of their society.
“I don’t think anyone but the four of us would be okay with Kit living with the man she’s going to marry before we’ve said our vows. The only reasons it’s okay now are because Charlie’s there and because Kit and I have been friends forever.”
Charlie would still be there, of course, but that wouldn’t matter nearly as much.
“Besides,” he continued, “Kit and I are probably going to want our own space once we’re married.”
“I think that’s ridiculous, but you might have a point that most people wouldn’t.” She paused. “Are you just proposing to her so you can be with her publicly?”
“No! I want to marry her. I’ve wanted to marry her for years. I’d just never thought that she would feel the same way.” Does she feel the same way? She likes him, sure, and they’re going steady, but…
“She does,” Ruthie says. “She really loves you, Stirling. I’d never really thought Kit would get married, but with you… it makes perfect sense.”
“You think?”
“I know.” She gives him a radiant smile. “It’s like something out of a movie! Best friends who fall in love and get married?”
It didn’t seem so dramatic to Stirling. It had just… happened. One day it had been a far-off fantasy, and the next, reality.
To think this had all happened because of his own jealousy and insecurity! For so long, he’d kept it to himself, so sure it would ruin his friendship with Kit.
And maybe it would have, if it had come out earlier.
But it hadn’t.
Sometimes he still couldn’t quite believe that Kit wanted him. Oh, they shared a bed more often than not, even when they didn’t have sex (but always when they did), and they’d taken to small, subtle touches even in public, and he’d even gone down to her office to take her out for lunch on several occasions – and she’d done the same for him.
She wanted him, and he was pretty sure she wanted to marry him.
And if she didn’t want to get married, it wouldn’t kill him. He didn’t need to marry her to be happy.
It would just be a nice bonus.
(And he wouldn’t have to explain to his mother that he was living in sin – or at least that he didn’t intend on continuing to do so).
Fortunately, they made it to the jewelry shop in time for their appointment. He approached one of the shopgirls with a smile. “Hi, I’m Stirling Howard. I have an appointment.”
She smiled at him. “Mr. Howard! Of course! Welcome. And may I ask who your companion is?”
Ruthie offered her hand for a firm shake. “Ruthie Smithens. I’m his best friend – and his fiancée’s best friend, too. I’m here to help.”
Stirling felt himself blush. Was this unusual?
Did it matter?
He wouldn’t say he needed Ruthie there, but her presence was soothing, and she’d be an invaluable help picking out the ring.
The shopgirl nodded. “That’s great. It always helps to have a woman’s touch on these things. A lot of men bring their sisters. But let me get you started on a set here…”
By the time Stirling returned to his office, he had a ring tucked securely in his pocket.
He just had to think of how to actually propose to her.
He didn’t want to just do it.
He arrived home before Kit that night, which gave him time to hide the ring in his room. Once he was sure it was secure, he went downstairs to start cooking dinner.
Merlin and Lancelot both begged for scraps. With a sigh, he gave them just a little bit of chicken.
“Kit can never find out,” he told them sternly.
“I can never find out what?”
She came up to kiss his cheek. God, he loved her so much. He turned to face her.
“You know I can’t resist the dogs,” he said in response.
She smiled at him; he felt a rush of warm affection for her. “Well, I guess I can’t argue too much,” she said. “Ruthie would have given them a whole cut.”
“She does spoil them, doesn’t she?”
“She does,” Kit agreed. “Once we move out, they’re going to get so fat. Charlie can’t say no to her.”
He stopped. “Once we move out?”
“We can’t live with my brother forever,” Kit said. “Though I’ll probably have to stay until Ruthie and Charlie are married. Or get an apartment with Ruthie in the meantime.”
“I didn’t figure you for someone so concerned about optics.”
“I wouldn’t be, if we’d kept some of the freedoms we’d had during the war. But now… I don’t want either Ruthie or me to get fired because we’re not behaving like proper young ladies.”
“So… what are you saying?”
“We’re going to get married, aren’t we?”
Stirling felt as if his breath had been knocked out of him. “W-well, I want to, of course, but you…?”
She stepped closer and kissed him. “Of course I want to,” she said.
“Are you sure?” he couldn’t help but ask. “We haven’t been together that long, and we’ve been best friends for forever, and…”
“And I love you,” she said.
It was the first time she’d actually said as much.
“I love you, too,” he said in a rush.
“So why wouldn’t we get married? I already know everything about you – we’ve known each other since we were nine. We’re in love… our sex life is fantastic… I know you wouldn’t try to control me, or make me quit my job, or anything like that… and you want to, too.”
“I just didn’t know if you felt the same way,” he said finally.
“Well, I do.”
He kissed her. “I’m going to finish dinner, and tonight, I’m going to show you how much I love you.”
She grinned. “I can’t wait.”
He didn’t want to wait.
So he invited Kit out for dinner that Saturday. He made a reservation at a nice restaurant, and they both dressed up. For Kit, this meant a dress, and while he thought she looked beautiful, some part of him wished that she could have gotten away with trousers.
He didn’t have a car, so they walked to the subway and took it to the right station.
He felt for the ring box in his pocket at least a dozen times. He was pretty sure Kit knew what was going on, but she didn’t say anything.
He was grateful for it.
When they arrived at the restaurant, he made sure to pull her chair out for her (even though he knew Kit didn’t care), and sat down across from her, feeling a bit nervous.
He ordered a bottle of merlot; Kit raised an eyebrow. “We’re going all out tonight, aren’t we?”
“We are,” he agreed.
“And we’re not celebrating any new promotions.”
“No,” he agreed.
He could see her eyes sparkle in the candlelight. “I see.”
He reached for her hand across the table and squeezed it. “I really love you, Kit. I have for years.”
“I love you, too,” she said.
He couldn’t wait. He’d thought he could wait until dessert, but he couldn’t.
He took a deep breath. “I thought I could wait, but…”
He got down on one knee and pulled the ring box out of his jacket pocket. Kit didn’t look surprised, per se, but she looked thrilled.
“Kit… I’ve loved you since we were kids. I can’t believe that I’m lucky enough to be with you now. You’re amazing; the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. It would make me so happy to get to call you my wife.”
Kit grinned. “Of course I’ll marry you,” she said.
He slid the ring onto her finger and she pulled him in for a kiss.
“We can discuss logistics later,” she said. “But I’m going to tell everyone.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“And we’re going to have a short engagement,” she added.
“If that’s what you want.”
“I don’t want to live apart from you for more than a few months.”
Neither did he. “I’ll start looking for apartments on Monday.” He couldn’t wipe the stupid grin from his face. “I love you so much, Kit.”
“I love you, too. I’ll show you just how much tonight,” she said, echoing his words the day before.
He was so incredibly lucky. He couldn't wait to tell everyone just how lucky he was.