Page 28 of Hate You Forever

I hold out my hand, moving it slightly from side to side to watch it sparkle under the lights.

She gasps. “It’s beautiful, Memphis.”

“It was my grandmother’s,” he replies, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me closer to his side.

“I have another surprise for you,” he whispers low in my ear.

“Another one? This is more than enough, Memphis.”

He smiles. “We’re not done yet, baby.”

I smile up at him, and he shoots me a wink before turning his attention back to the game.

For the final two quarters, I can’t keep my head in the game. All I can do is look at this ring and think about everything we’ve overcome to get here. I keep thinking about our future and how we’ll live our lives. I think about future children, growing old together, and living out the rest of our lives, happy and in love.

I’m surprised when the horn goes off, indicating the end of the game. The crowd stands and cheers as the players make their way off the field. Memphis reaches down and takes my hand.

“Ready for surprise number two?”

I smile and nod, wondering how much more my heart can take. It’s already beating at double its normal speed. He leads me down the bleachers and out of the field with everyone wishing us a congratulations as we pass. He doesn’t stop to talk though. His mind is set, and nothing is going to stop him from giving me the next surprise.

He opens the passenger side door of his car, and Islide into the seat. He closes it behind me, then rushes around to the join me behind the wheel.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“If I told you that, it wouldn’t be a surprise,” he says, flashing me a smile.

It’s not before we’re pulling into the driveway of the house that he wants to buy and fix up, but this time, there is a stand of twinkling lights strung up along the front porch and weaved through the branches of the two trees out front.

I gasp as I take in the beauty of the lights.

He puts the car in park. “I thought we could spend the first night in our house.”

“You bought it?” I ask, surprised.

He nods and smiles. “I bought it.”

I squeal as I get out and rush around the car to meet him on his side. He takes my hand in his and leads me toward the front door.

“I’ve already started doing some work on it, but it’s nowhere near ready. We’ve got power and water just because I needed it to work on the house.” He opens the front door, and we walk into the living room, which is lit up with the same twinkling lights he used outside. They’re strung up along the top trim where the ceiling meets the walls. In the center of the floor is a big blanket that’s spread out. There’s a picnic basketon the blanket and dozens of flickering candles and flowers surrounding it.

“You packed up a picnic?”

“I thought it would be a good idea to also have our first dinner in our first home on our first night.”

“Lots of firsts tonight.”

He takes my hand and leads to the center of the blanket, and we sit down. “This is also where we’re going to be sleeping tonight, but I brought us a blow-up mattress.”

“My hero,” I breathe out jokingly.

He laughs as he pulls the picnic basket closer, opening it to pull out a bottle of wine and two glasses.

“I know this all seems over the top,” he says, opening the wine and pouring some into the glasses. He hands one over. “But I want you to know that I’m all in. I’m not going to back out or take off again. This time, I’m seeing this through. I want to marry you, start our lives, have children, and grow old together. I meant it when I said I learned my lesson, Jade. I’ve spent almost ten years running from my feelings for you, and I’m done running.”

I offer him a small smile. “Good,” I say, placing my glass of wine on the floor as I make my way onto his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck, keeping his eyes on mine. “Because there’s no way I’m letting you go again. We’re in this together from here on out. And ifyou ever think about running, talk to me. I’ll make sure you find your way home.” I press my mouth to his and kiss him deeply but slowly, wanting to make sure he feels every ounce of love I have for him and have always had for him.

He slowly lays me back against the blanket, covering my mouth with his. His hips push my knees apart as he settles between them. His hands come up to cup my cheeks. “You’re so beautiful, you know that?” he whispers.

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