Page 120 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

Elliott sucked in a breath. “What?”

He nodded. “He’s a doctor, apparently. Blythe said they looked stupid happy in the picture.”

As his words sank in, Elliott’s lips parted and she let out an involuntary laugh. She clamped a hand over her mouth and blinked rapidly. “I’m just ... I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy for another person.”

“I know.” His voice held a sense of wonder. “It’s like part of me is relieved for selfish reasons, like I finally feel sort of absolved of the hurt I caused her. But more than that, I’m just happy she’s happy. That she found someone who’s so much better for her than I could have ever been.”

Elliott lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of his. “That’s such great news. I’m glad Blythe told you.”

“Me too.”

He exited the highway and she looked around. “Are we going to the trees?”

“Yup.”

“That’s not a surprise.”

He gave her the side-eye. “Can you just trust me?”

“Fine.”

Once they reached the field, he pulled into the grass and parked in his usual spot, then helped her over the fence. They walked hand in hand to the bench underneath the arching canopy of the oaks, like they’d done dozens of times before.

“Sit,” he said, then added, “Please.”

She did as instructed.

Jamie remained standing, and as he shuffled on his feet in the grass, she admired the long, lean muscles of his forearms and the way his chest and shoulders filled out the fitted shirt. His hair had dried and was a little messy and windblown from the drive over, and it looked positively delicious. As he lifted a hand to adjust his glasses, she nearly reached out to pull him down with her.

“Do you know what today is?”

She searched her brain for the significance of this day but couldn’t think of anything.

He smiled softly and stopped moving. “We met four years ago today.”

Mentally calculating backward from her transplant date, which was one she’d never forget, she realized he was right. How could she have missed that?

He dropped to one knee before her.

At the simple gesture, goose bumps swept across Elliott’s skin, and the breath whooshed out of her. Within seconds, tears were streaming down her cheeks, and she scooted forward, framing his face with her hands.

Gently, he took her hands and brought them down. His fingers trembled slightly, but his eyes were determined and steadfast. “My lifewas never the same after that night. From the second I saw you at that bar, I knew you were special. I’d been hoping for an excuse to talk to you, and when you brought up the ridiculous notion that cheesecake is a pie, I had my in. I almost jumped off that stool and whooped with joy.”

She choked back a laugh. “And yet you interrupted and mansplained instead.”

Uninhibited devotion shone in his eyes. She couldn’t tell how much was his and how much was a reflection of her own. “Got me a few more hours with you, didn’t it?”

Pressing her forehead against his, she whispered, “It got you a little more than that, I’d say.”

“Hours, days, years.” He swallowed, his voice thick. “Marry me, Elliott. Every second with you has been worth it, and I won’t be happy with anything except forever.”

She kissed him softly, her knees bumping the one he had extended. She smiled against his lips. “I will if you admit I was right. Cheesecake is a pie.”

His breath brushed across her face as he laughed. “Just don’t tell Blythe, okay?”

“I swear.”

“Elliott Holland, love of my life. You were right. Cheesecake is a pie, and will you please marry me?”

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