Page 84 of Out of the Dark

"Claire, will you marry me?"

For a moment I can’t speak. All I can do is nod frantically before finding my voice. "Yes," I manage, laughing through the tears. "Yes."

Mark rises, slipping the ring onto my finger with surprisingly steady hands. He pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly and kissing the top of my head.

"I love you," I whisper against his shoulder.

"I love you too."

We stand there for what feels like forever, wrapped in each other and the magic of the moment. Eventually, I pull back, a playful smile coming to my lips.

"Aren’t you not supposed to propose on someone else’s wedding day?" I tease. "I don’t want Shane and Dani to think we’re trying to steal their moment."

Mark chuckles, and some of the tension leaves his shoulders. "I’ll be honest, Dani is the one who helped me plan this. They’re both in on it."

"Of course they are," I laugh.

We slowly walk back toward the hotel, avoiding the reception area so as not to draw attention away from Dani and Shane’s night. The reception is still in full swing, music and laughter drifting on the night air. Mark slips his jacket off, rolling up the sleeves of his white button-down shirt. He looks devastatingly handsome, and my stomach swoops at the surge of lust that shoots through me.

As if reading my thoughts, Mark pulls me in close and says in a low voice, "You know we’re not getting much sleep tonight, right?"

I grin up at him, suddenly very excited to get back to our room. "Oh, I’m counting on it."

The idea of forever, in any capacity, used to be terrifying and overwhelming. Now, knowing I have a lifetime withMark and with a small group of people who truly love me, every day feels like a new adventure. Forever doesn’t scare me anymore; It feels like a promise of endless opportunities, laughter, and love.

The End

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