Page 150 of Gracefully Yours

Happy. Loved. Life wasperfect.

CHAPTER37

Daniel

JUNE

“So… Where are we going?” She tilted her head, looking at me as I pulled out of the driveway.

“It’s a surprise. We’re going on a date.”

“Oh. Okay.”

I intertwined our hands like always, kissing her knuckles before letting them rest against her lap. My eyes landed on her ring, sparkling when the light landed on it. All these months, and there was something I hadn’t fixed. A wrong I needed to make right.

If she paid attention as we drove, looking out the window, she’d be able to guess our end destination pretty quickly. But I was hoping she didn’t, because I wanted tonight to be a surprise.

I put the car in park, looking over at her.

“What…” Her eyes scanned our old campus. “What are we doing here?” Charlotte asked, looking up at her old dorm building.

“I wanted to reminisce about where we first met. Where our friendship began.” I chuckled. “Did you ever think we’d be here?” I slid my hand over her belly.

“Married?” She laughed. “Pregnant? Honestly, no.”

“I did.”

“What?”

“From the very first moment when I saw you in that hallway, I knew. That you were the girl for me.”

Her eyes connected with mine. “You couldn’t have known that. We hadn’t even had a proper conversation yet. We’d just met.”

“But somehow, I did. You’re my perfect other half. We’re opposites in so many ways, but we complement each other in all of the ways that matter. You’re mybest friend.Besides my sister, you always have been.”

“Come on,” I said, extending my hand out to her.

“What?” She looked at my hand. “It’s not like we can go inside.”

I smirked. “Why can’t we?”

“Daniel.” She frowned. “They’re closed for the summer.” Much like I had ten years ago, the seniors had graduated, and campus was now empty until summer classes started up.

But unlike ten years ago, I wasn’t going to waste this opportunity. “I have my ways.”

“You’re crazy.”

“For you, as it turns out.” That one got a laugh from her. “Come on, let’s go up.”

Charlotte placed her hand in mine, like she always did—trusting me, letting me have a little piece of her to keep safe.

I had a friend I’d graduated with who worked for Campus Safety, and he’d agreed to help me out, unlocking the doors for our little trip down memory lane.

We waited in the elevator to go up to the floor they lived on, coming to a stop in between her freshman year dorm and my sister’s.

“This is where it all happened,” I said, brushing her cheek with the side of my hand. “This is where I fell in love with you.”

“Daniel…” Her eyes filled with tears. “Damn pregnancy hormones. Why am I crying?” She wiped them away, and I kissed the side of her cheek.

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