Page 80 of The Quirky Vet

"Hey."

"How's it going?"

"Yeah, good."

"Enjoying the party?"

"I am. It was…very thoughtful of Muir."

"It was."

Polly lets out a loud holler as—Jesus, fuck—she climbs up onto Muir's shoulders and starts lassoing her arms around like she's riding a bull. Muir momentarily struggles to adjust to the unexpected weight, staggering around for a few steps, but eventually he recovers, secures a good grip on the crazy woman on his shoulders, and straightens to full height.

"Quick question," Linus says. "Are you guys even pretending to dissolve the marriage you're in, or has that fallen by the wayside?"

"It kind of has. We've been a little…busy with other stuff."

Linus grins. "I see. So, things are progressing on the physical front?"

"They are."

"And on the emotional front?"

"Yep. There, too."

My gaze gets pulled to the dance floor as Muir carefully lowers Polly to the ground then makes a big show of pretending his back is hurt. At least, I think he's pretending.

I've loved Muir for years as my best mate. But what I'm feeling for him now runs deeper than that.

He's my biggest supporter.

He's always got my back.

And he makes me feel more alive than anyone ever has, every moment with him humming with energy I didn't know was missing from my life.

When we're together, the world feels brighter, sharper, like the colours have been turned up a notch and everything is more vibrant. I may be the more outgoing one of the two of us, but he's my engine, the source that keeps me going.

It's not just the way we can chill and have a good time doing anything and nothing, or how his touch sends sparks through me—it's the way he sees me.Reallysees me. I can be more of who I am when I'm with him.

I'm glad I ducked out after lunch on Sunday in Brissie and raced down to the jewellery shop to buy that ring.

Because I'm sure of this. I'm sure ofus.

I want to be with Muir.

Forever.

He's been with me for two-thirds of my life as my best friend, I now want to spend the rest of my days with him as something much more than that.

I want to be his husband.

Yes, yes, technically we are already married, I know, but I want to do things the right way this time. No alcohol. No memory blackouts. No piecing shit together the next day.

But properly. The way he deserves.

The only thing left to do now is find the right time to pop the question.

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