Page 67 of Beyond the Fame

“Get your horny asses out of bed!”

Lana and Mylan booked a tour of Manawaiopuna Falls, which sits on private land. Only one tour company is permitted to land a helicopter at the fall’s base, so Mylan booked through them. But when the family who owns the property found out we were coming, they offered to escort us to a part of the falls near the base no one else gets access to. Apparently, the granddaughter is a huge fan of Mylan’s.

Jensen’s face lit up the moment Lana and Mylan told us where we were going. He said the waterfall was shown in Jurassic Park.

I vaguely remember that minor detail from when I saw the movie as a kid. What I do remember is watching it with Tyler and how he’d always try to scare me during the suspenseful parts. (Maybe that’s where my fear of scary movies comes from.) When the movie was over, he pretended to be a velociraptor by curling his wrists and tucking his arms to his sides and hunting me around the living room.

After he died, I hated the movies and refused to watch them because of that memory.

“You okay?” Jensen asks.

I give him a soft smile. “I’m okay. Just had a Tyler memory is all.”

He throws his arm over my shoulders and tugs me to his side, kissing the top of my head. He really needs to stop with the small acts of affection, otherwise I'm going to fall for him.

Maybe I fell a while ago.

I playfully shove at him. “It’s too hot for cuddling.”

He laughs and lets me go.

We’re walking through wet and muddy vegetation to the base of the waterfall, and I'm sweating. We had to put blue coverings over our shoes to preserve the land and prevent bringing contaminants in and out of the area. So walking downhill on a slippery path to this secluded spot near the waterfall’s base with no traction because of the booties has been challenging. Jensen hands me a bottled water (that we had to sign a waiver for just to bring it on our small hike promising we won’t litter otherwise we’ll be fined $50,000).

About fifteen minutes later, we reach our destination. The waterfall is four hundred feet tall, untouched by humans. The water cascades over stone, which has green moss growing at the sides.

We stand at the water basin as the family tells us about the history of the waterfall.

Eloise’s camera clicks away as we all relish the beauty surrounding us. I notice Mylan fidgeting on his feet beside me. Once the family’s story is over, Mylan leads us all as close to the water as possible. The spray dampens my hair and rainbows pop up as the mist and sunshine collide. I take my phone out of my pocket and start snapping photos of the wonderful sight, then turn it off because my battery is at one percent.

“What the hell are you doing?” I hear Lana say, not angry but… surprised.

I turn to them, and Mylan is on bended knee. He holds an open black box. Lana covers her mouth. Eloise circles around them, taking picture after picture.

“Donut, I know I've asked you a million times before and you kept saying no because I was still healing. I had a long way to go in my recovery, but I think the next step in my healing is being with you for the rest of our lives. You are the best thing to ever happen to me. My saving grace, my will to live, my everything. So, now I'm asking you for the millionth and one time. Please, do me the honor and marry me.”

Lana is crying. She wipes away the tears and nods her head like an overly excited child. Mylan stands and wraps his arms around her, picking her up off her feet and swinging her around.

I glance at Jensen and see his phone out recording. I slap him on the chest. “You knew?”

He winks. “Of course, he’s my best friend.”

I roll my eyes but can’t stop smiling. The lovebirds part and Lana reaches up to cup his cheek.

“I can’t wait to spend the rest of our forever together.”

They kiss, then Mylan slides the ring on her finger. Lana runs over to me and shows it off. It's massive. I couldn’t even guess the carats, but I’m betting double digits. Eloise joins us, taking pictures of the blue pear-shaped diamond with a gold band. It's gorgeous, just like Lana.

Excitement surrounds us as we head back to the helicopter. The pit of my stomach hollows as thoughts swirl in my head. I want this. I want love and marriage and kids. Could Jensen offer this to me? It’s clear he’s no longer the fearful man in that bathroom over four years ago. Or at least, he’s trying not to be. He’s changing. I’ve changed. Still, are we going too fast? This is insane. We went from fighting to fucking to this intense obsession for each other. It oddly already feels like a relationship.

Is that what he wants? A relationship?

By the look in his eyes as he eyed my stomach, surely imagining my pregnant belly…

I rarely give someone my heart and risk them crushing it like so many others have done to me in the past.

But would I risk it for Jensen?

Chapter 17 - Jensen

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