Page 178 of Crave

I can’t wait to do the rest of my life with you as my wife.

I am proud of you and I love you more than I can ever explain.

But I love you for everything that you are today, everything you ever have been or will be.

Whatever version of you,

For eternity, Lara.

I bet you look so fucking pretty right now.

Now be a good girl and come and marry your man.

I’ve waited long enough for this.

Let’s do this crazy life thing together, just like I promised you twenty years ago.

Love your sladkiy.

Dammit Alexei. I hiccup and wipe away my tears. They say everyone is put on this planet to search the other half of them. The one love of their life. I’m lucky to have had mine in my life for as long as I can remember.

Every milestone, I’ve had him by my side.

Through the good, the bad and the horrifying, he’s held my hand.

He’s cried with me, he’s held me and made me laugh until I forget the pain.

He’s made it his life purpose to see me smile.

Even when I hated myself, that man dragged me out of my head.

On days I didn’t want anyone to speak to me, he made sure I still knew he loved me.

That I was worthy of it.

He spoke louder than the voices telling me I was useless and ugly.

I may never truly be able to see my own beauty, but I’ll always be able to see it in his eyes when he’s looking at me.

We truly have always done life together.

There’s another knock at the door as I place the letter on my pillow.

“Come in!”

Nikolai fills the space. God he looks so uncomfortable in his suit.

“You look smart, bro.” I tease.

“And you look stunning, little sis.”

He scratches his stubble, looking over at the flowers and strawberries.

“Have you… eaten?”

I nod.

“I had breakfast with Sofia and Mila. Oatmeal to be exact.”