Page 5 of All The Happily Ever Afters

Rocking onto my tip toes I steal a quick kiss from him, feeling the blush rise into my cheeks, “Sorry, I swear I’m paying attention.” He laughs as I rock back down onto my heels and look up at him with a warmth flooding every bit of me.

“You’re my holiday wish.” He stares into my eyes. “I just want you and this can be whatever you want it to be, if you want me too.” His words come out faster as he goes on until he takes a moment to breathe, opening up the small velvet box for me to see. “A promise ring or more, I’m not sure,” he lets out a long breath as I peek at the sparkling ring.

Tears cloud my vision of the rose gold diamond ring with floral details surrounding it.Or more?I never expected this.

“I’m not sure what you want, proposal or a promise, or to get married tonight. I just want you and this is for you.”

“Tonight!” the word shrieks with glee from behind me and I look over my shoulder to see Lauren barely being held back by James. She covers her mouth with both hands and I haveto laugh at her antics. She’s always said we were meant to be together, that even a thousand miles wouldn’t keep us apart.

“Not tonight,” I say mostly to get that thought out of Lauren’s head before looking back at Michael. “Not tonight,” I repeat and hold his hand tighter. “And if it means I get another, this is just a promise ring,” I bite down on my lower lip to keep my grin at bay, but it doesn’t work.

Michael’s shoulders shake as the tension around us eases and our friends laugh from my answer.

“Told you!” this time it’s James who pipes up.

“I’ll get you another then.” Michael’s voice is soothing, and the look in his eyes is everything right now. Devotion, love, the way he looked at me when we shared our first kiss, our first time, all of our firsts. And the way he looked at me when I left him, thinking I couldn’t be the only one who felt this between us, but too scared to ask. “When you’re ready.”

“Let’s just be us, for now.”

“That’s all I want.” He lowers his nose to mine, and gives me another kiss as the chatter and cheers pick up behind us. It turns to white noise when he whispers though, “I love you Carla. I always have and I always will.”

My lips press against his for a short kiss and then I whisper in the warm air between us, “I love you too.”

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