Page 148 of One More Chapter

Thoughtonce upon a time would’ve plagued me for decades, but I know now that there’s more to the story.

“I’m glad we had our time to sort things out though. I’m actually glad that wedidn’thave our start after that night.”

“You are?” I ask.

“Mhm.” She nods, sliding her sleeved-covered hands up my chest. “We had so much to work out in ourselves. We wouldn’t have made it. We both needed the time in between to find ourselves before we could have our beginning together.”

I wind a hand up the single braid of her long red hair, cupping the back of her head, kissing the top of it.

“You know, the last time we were here, I lied to you.”

She huffs against my chest, then nuzzles her nose there.

“Of course you did. But we’re past that now?—”

“I know,” I whisper. “Let me finish the speech though, okay?”

She nods. Wraps both arms around my waist. Lets her knees fall to my hips to squeeze me there.Because I’m her anchor. The rest of my words come out as gritty as the sand that covers my feet.

“You asked me that night what I had waiting for me at home, and I said ‘work.’ I think, in the end though, I was exactly right. I had rubble to work through, my own issues to work out. We had a road of work ahead of us. And in the end, all of that work brought us to where we are right now.”

I sit up, bringing her with me. She sits on my lap, her knees straddled on either side of me, tears already welling in her big blue eyes. I tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear and kiss the bridge of her nose, knowing it will be the last time I do as something temporary.

“You said that the last time we were here, you thought you had found your forever. And I’msoglad, that we didn’t, Penelope Jayne. I’m so glad that we’ve been able to spend the last year learning from each other, building each other up, and getting to make ourselves whole while leaning on one another. I am so proud of what we’ve built together, through the hills and valleys of it all, and what we’ll build together for years to come.”

I cup her cheeks to swipe at the tears that she’s smiling through.

“Idohave to get up for this next part, boss.”

“What if you stayed here, though?” she whispers.

“I wanted to get down on my knee for you.”

“But we’re on the same plain, Anthony. Ask me from here. Hold me while you do it.”

I nod, smile, and swipe my thumb over her smooth skin while I dig the ring out of my pocket.

“Oh, God, this is really happening, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

I can’t contain the banshee grin, in disbelief myself. Pen folds her hands in front of her lips. Popping open the box, I hear her gasp, then focus on the wells of her eyes to keep the bees away. Still, I can’t help the words from shaking.

“Penelope Jayne. This is the start of our forever chapter. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

She nods, quick little bops of her head, before a watery,Yes!heals every misfortune my heart has ever known.

She throws her arms around me, squishing the ring between us, like the symbol of our love isn’t rooted in silver bands, but in the way our arms fit around each other.

“You’re mine forever, boss?”

“Yes. Forever, baby.”

We rock back and forth until I can’t take it any longer.

“Let me kiss my fiancé,” I demand, and before I can even finish that sentence, her lips are on mine.

It’s funny, how we start so hungry and demanding, but fade into the soft slowness, knowing now that our time isn’t limited.

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