Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Exactly!” I chirp, trying to do my girlfriend duties.
Leaning in, he presses his lips to mine. His hand slips behind my head, turning a simple goodbye kiss into something passionate. Closing my eyes, I relax into him, his need slipping from his mouth to mine.
“Love you,” he whispers, our lips brushing. My chest feels like it’s been struck with lightening, the two words that everyone woman lives to hear has just been said.
“I love you too.” I’ve felt that I was falling for him but wasn’t sure if it was too soon to say something.
Pulling away, he winks, grabs his bag, and heads out. Lifting my hand, I touch my mouth where we kissed, my lips still wet and tingling. I swear, I’ll never get used to his deep kisses.
21
Two weeks later
In my studio, I look over a piece I made a week ago, unsure of the eccentric decor on its side. My style isn’t normally so outlandish, but I felt like I needed to expand my horizons and do something off-kilter. There are spikes along the top, and deep waves covering the sides. Thinking about the blue green colored I could paint it excite me more than it should.
“Hey, I’ve got something for you,” Heston says. I turn around, finding Heston standing halfway in the doorway in a white button-down and my favorite pair of torn jeans.
“What is it?”
He smiles, and my curiosity piques. Eagerly taking my hand, he leads me down the stairs. All the lights are off, allowing only the glow from dusk to brush into the room.
“Close your eyes,” he says, cupping his hands over my face, blocking my view.
“Wait—what are you doing?” I nervously laugh.
Taking a shaky step forward, my hand fumbles, my body longing for the house to whisper where I’m walking. Heston chuckles at my clumsiness, and then the recognizable squeak from the front door opening fills the space right before the heat of the night washes against my skin. His hand remains on my lower back as he guides me where he wants me to go. We walk a few more steps, and my feet feel the familiar cracks of the walkway before we move down the driveway and toward the street, I think.
“Ready?” he asks, his voice smooth as silk. His hands lift from my eyes. With my sight a little blurry, I blink a few times. The neighborhood comes in to view, everyone standing in the street with candles in their hands. Paige stands a few feet in front of them in a white dress, her feet bare, cradling a candle. The ember glow from the flame caresses her face, reflecting in her chocolate eyes. She looks down, and I follow to see what she’s looking at.
Will you marry me?
Is written in colorful chalk on the street.
Gasping, my hand snaps up to cover my mouth in surprise. Oh my God!
“Will you marry me, Rain?” he whispers into my ear, the question leaving a trail of goosebumps down my neck. Lifting his hand in front of us, a black box with a shiny princess cut diamond greets me. It’s sharp and dazzling, like a siren luring you into matrimony chaos.
“Oh, Heston…” I breathe heavily, my heart beating in my chest so fast, I feel faint. “It’s so beautiful.” Tears well in my eyes. It’s too soon, but it’s so beautiful and sweet. I don’t know what to say.
“I know how much this neighborhood means to you, so I thought the best way to propose was with the people you care about most, in the place you love most.”
Looking at the chalk dusted into the ground, I think about how far Heston and I have come. The way he’s blanketed me with his love and protection. The role he’s played in Paige’s life these short months. I know this is what people do—they fall in love and take the next step—I just hope this doesn’t change things between us. That’s what happened with Cam and me.
No. Like Owen and Flynn said, if I keep living in the past, that’s what my life will always be. I have to move forward. Plus, everyone is out here watching, how could I even ask for time to think about it? Heston makes me happy. He is who I want tucking me in at night and going on adventures with me, for as long as he’ll have me.
“Yes,” I answer, my impulsiveness making me giddy.
“Really?”
Turning toward him, I nod. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!” He pulls me into his arms, kissing me all over my neck and face. I giggle, and he turns us, so we can look at everyone together.
“She said yes!”
They all cheer, clapping hands and whistling as Heston takes my hand in his and places the ring on my finger. It’s a little big, but we can worry about that later because I’m not taking it off. Tenly pushes through everyone, her blonde hair in perfect waves, her purple summer dress looking flawless. Beaming, she grabs my hand to look at the ring.