Page 92 of Perfect Boy

My throat grows dry, and the tears spill from my eyes before I can stop them.

Wrapping her arms around me, she pulls me against her. “You, my daughter, are my hero. You did this. All on your own. You made this happen.” Kissing my forehead, she pulls back. “I know that I messed up on a lot of things, and for that, I’m so sorry. But the fact that I am your mom?” Tears well in her eyes, and her lip trembles. “I’m the luckiest human alive. I love you, my strong, beautiful, talented girl. I know I wasn’t there for you like I should have been. But I am a lifetime’s worth of proud.”

Kissing me on the forehead once more, she gives me a smile and steps back. “I know a certain tall, handsome man just dying to see you. I’ll let you get to him.”

When she starts to turn, I catch her hand in mine and stop her.

She looks down, and there’s no hiding that she is stunned when she sees me holding her hand.

“Thank you, Mom,” I whisper. “I love you. I really do.”

Sobbing, she nods, her eyes squeezing shut. “Thank you.”

I release her hand slowly, and she makes her way back to my sister, who I know is likely champing at the bit to hug me. But before she can, Watson struts toward me, and his entire face lights up when he sees me looking at him.

The one thing I’ve loved about that man since day one…I’ve never had to wonder how he feels about me. He makes it very, very clear.

“Quite the show you put on, Mrs. Gentry,” he drawls, throwing one arm around my lower back and pulling me against him. His nose touches mine as he grins down. “I’m quite impressed.”

“Why, thank you,” I murmur against his lips before pushing my mouth to his. “Glad you enjoyed it.”

“I did. I would have loved it more if you’d dusted off your ol’ ballet slippers and joined the others, but…it’s all good.” He throws his other arm around me, holding me tightly. “I’m very proud of you, baby. This was your dream. And you didn’t stop until it came true.”

“Thank you.” I sniffle, brushing my tears against his shirt.

“Did you just use me as your own personal hanky?” He frowns.

“It was tears, not snot, wiseass.” I poke my finger into his chest. “Can you come with me for a second?”

Wiggling his eyebrows up and down, he smirks. “Ooh, a little quickie action to celebrate?” He thrusts his hips playfully against mine. “Yeah, I’m game for that, baby.”

Swatting him, I can’t help but giggle. “No, jerk. Get your mind out of the gutter. I didn’t say anything about that.” I shake my head before stepping out of his hold and grabbing his hand. “Come on, ya big perv.”

He follows me, and I lead him onto the stage. And when everyone sees us up there, it grows seemingly quiet.

Turning my body so that it’s partially facing him while still turned toward our friends and family, I smile.

“Over four years ago, a boy did the most selfless thing in the world and offered to marry a girl just to save her.”

When the words leave my lips, Watson’s body freezes as he hangs on my every word.

“The girl was stubborn and, truthfully…a bit bitchy. But the boy was an angel. And he overlooked all of that and saw something else. Something the girl had never seen inside of herself. Something she didn’t think could possibly be there.” I blink the tears from my vision, inhaling. “Little by little, the boy taught the girl not only that she was capable of loving…but that she also was worthy of love herself.” I look down for a split second. “And with his love, she finally felt like she had a place on this earth.”

I’m a blubbering mess now, but it’s fine because so is Watson.

Taking both of his hands, I rub my thumbs against his.

“Watson, on the day we got married, you said that you knew you weren’t the man of my dreams. That day, you selflessly vowed to love me forever even though I gave you nothing in return.”

I move my body closer to his, staring up at him. “You are the man of my dreams, Watson. You’re my whole world. My safe place. My person. My best friend. Every single part of me begins and ends with you.” I sniffle.

“That day, you chose me. And you’ve continued choosing me every day since.” My face is drenched with my own tears now, but I’m not done saying what I need to say. “I choose you, Watson. I will choose you for every single day of my life. I know our love story is unlikely and insane, but I don’t care. Because our story saved my life. Our story…is the best thing that has ever happened to me.” I take one hand and cup his cheek. “You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. So, marry me again. This time in front of our friends and family.”

“Really?” He sniffles. “You’d marry me again?”

“A million times over.” I nod. “I love you.”

Turning quickly back toward the crowd, he takes his hands and cups them around his mouth. “Guess what y’all? Ryann asked me to marry her. And this time, we’re having the whole damn fam there!” He grins, making that dimple come out. “And since our friends are our family, that means y’all have to come watch us get hitched. Again.”

Everyone erupts into cheers, and when I look at his mom, she’s crying because she’s so happy. I know it killed her that she didn’t get to watch Watson say I do. Now, she can. Only this time, it’ll be so much more meaningful. Because this go-around, we’ll both be all in.

He spins me back toward him, and suddenly, his lips are on mine, kissing me and making me taste the tears dripping down our faces. Quickly, he lifts me up and twirls me around. “I fucking love you, Ryann. So much.”

Burying my face into him, I do what I always do. I inhale, bringing my greatest comfort into my nose.

I’m far from Cinderella. But it turns out, even the non-Cinderellas sometimes find their own Prince Charmings.

Watson chose me before I knew how to choose myself. And for that, I’m really, really thankful.

The End

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