Page 195 of Never Let You Go

That’s so cool.

We start eating in silence. I’m really not hungry, but I don’t want to hurt Skye’s feelings. It’s not a hardship to eat the flaky pastry, I must admit. It’s perfectly done. I recognize Christopher’s masterful handiwork, but I love that he is now involving Skye in his passion.

“Oopsie. I got a fortune message!” Skye says, looking at me with excitement.

“Did you?” Christopher asks, a glimmer in his eye. He looks at my pie and I swear I see him blush slightly. “How about you?”

“Do I have one?”

“You better,” he groans.

I’ve only taken one bite off my pie, so I tear it in half until I find a piece of paper. It’s rolled on itself so that the writing is on the inside. I unroll it carefully, the almond filling slightly sticking to my fingers.

It’s upside down, so I turn it around, but already I recognize Christopher’s handwriting.

“Will…”

Oh.

My.

God.

Will.

You.

Marry.

Me.

Dropping the pie on the stadium blanket, I launch myself at Christopher, nearly toppling him over. He wraps his strong arms tightly around my waist, and I straddle him.

He leans his forehead against mine. “Alexandra, you brought me back to life. You showed me the meaning of happiness. You made us a family. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

“Oh my god yes. Yes! A thousand times yes!”

He grabs my ass with his hands and moves me closer to him. “Close your eyes,” he says to Skye, and she giggles while he kisses me tenderly.

“Can I read my fortune cookie now?” Skye asks.

“Sure, little bug.”

“Alez-zandra,” she says, and I turn to her. I glance at the paper and recognize her handwriting, not Christopher’s. “I don’t want a stepmother.” She pauses, and my heart sinks. Her eyes lock with mine, and by the glint in her eye, I know something is up.

I just don’t anticipate the bomb she drops on me.

“So will you please a-dopt me? I want you to be my real mother.”

My jaw falls open. I figured Christopher might propose eventually, but I never thought Skye would point blank ask me to become her mother.

“Pretty please?” she adds.

I’m so overwhelmed with emotion.

Responsibility.

Honor.

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