Blue(85)

Now

Carys

BEING IN THE TOWNHOUSE with Evan after all this time is strange. In some ways it feels like yesterday, and in others, it feels like it's been a lifetime. Even having had renters, the place looks brand new. None of the little furniture we had is here; I sold it all when I sublet the place.

He walks purposefully toward the hallway, not stopping to look around or check anything. I quickly follow, wondering where he's headed.

"Evan?"

At the end of the hall, before the master bedroom, he stops and stares at the wall, or more specifically, at the vent high up on the wall. Reaching into his pocket, he removes a very small tool, quickly unscrewing at each corner and then pulling the grate from the wall. Sticking his hand into the hole in the wall, he searches for something as I look on, baffled.

"What on earth are you doing?"

He pulls out a small, bubble-wrapped package no bigger than the size of his palm and smiles at me, his heart-stopping smile that gets me every time. Like wildfire, my lips turn up and spread, although I don't know what we're smiling about.

"What is that?"

Not answering me, he extracts a knife from his pocket and cuts at the tape and bubble wrap. As he peels away the layers, a small blue ring box with a white bow is revealed.

Sucking in air, my fingers fly to my mouth and butterflies take flight low in my belly. My hand trembles against my lips and a shaky smile forms at what I think it is. 

"Sweetness." His voice is low and husky. "I don't think there was ever a time that I didn't love you, and my love for you is as much a part of me as my heart or my soul. Will you marry me?"

On bended knee, he holds the ring out to me. Water fills my eyes, and my entire body trembles with joy. This is a dream come true. It's not about having a ring or being married; rather it's about knowing Evan is here to stay and he's mine, forever.

I eagerly thrust my trembling hand at him. My heart swells, my body buzzing with exhilaration as he holds my hand in his big, warm palm. His touch nearly undoes me.

"Yes," I whisper.

I want to say more, but I'm at a loss for words. It's hard to believe this is happening. I gave up on this dream nearly three years ago. I loved and lost, but staring down at his ruggedly handsome face, I win. We win.

Slipping the stunning ring on my finger is overwhelming and perfect. The shimmering lotus-cut central diamond with a crown of beadlike smaller ones surrounding the band catches both our gazes. He knows me so well; it's elegant and at home on my hand.

Now standing, he crushes my body to his and his hands are everywhere as his mouth roves over my lips, jaw, and neck. My head is swimming with ecstatic emotions and heat spreads throughout me.

We pull back for a moment and our gazes mesh together. "I love you, Sweetness, always and forever."

There's a faint misting in his eyes and his megawatt smile blinds me. His lips press to mine and his kiss is hungry as my heart rockets and my belly twirls into a perpetual whoosh. With our lips, we vow to love and cherish each other forever. As we consume each other, salty wetness mingles with our lips and Evan pulls back with concern in his eyes.

"Why are you crying?"

"I'm happy. I didn't think this day would ever come, and when I think about all the time we lost … "

"I know," he says solemnly, briefly casting his eyes downward. "That's on me."

"Yeah, it is." I laugh through my tears, my smile stretching across my lips.

"That's why I don't want to waste any more of it. I want to marry you and start our life together yesterday."

"Oh, Evan." I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck as he hoists me up, my bottom resting on his forearms. "What if I'd sold this place?" I ask, though the thought never crossed my mind.

"Then I would have had to buy it back." He chuckles. "But I knew you wouldn't."

"You're pretty confident in that, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I know you-you wouldn't do it."

As he says the words, I realize he's right. Even though I already know it, he's just confirmed how well he knows me. We may not always see eye to eye and everything won't always be perfect, but it'll be us and it'll be right.

§

Evan

FUCK, I CAN BARELY contain my joy at finally knowing this woman will be mine in every way possible. From the moment I stepped into the bar, I wanted to drag her here and propose, put my ring on her finger, and now it's finally here.

The time apart, Greg, and all the other shit was my fault. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to her. She's forgiven me and I am beyond grateful and thank fuck that she did. I never wanted to screw up like that again, and I'll make sure that I don't.

All of that doesn't matter now-she said yes. We're starting our future. She doesn't know it yet, but we're moving in here tomorrow and we're getting married in weeks-shit, days, if I have my way. I'm not wasting any more time.