Page 100 of Pretty Please Me
“I’ll be whatever you want me to be. I’ll have my vasectomy reversed if that’s what you want. I’ll give you a family and live a normal life. I’ll move. Tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you.”
Tears well in my eyes as I watch his Adam’s Apple bobble, his nervous hands trembling as he holds mine. “I don’t want you to change anything, Sam. I just want to be with you… all of you. I want the real Sam, the one without the walls around his heart.”
He pulls me into a hug, wrapping me up in warmth as he kisses me gently on top of my head and lets out a sigh of relief. “I fucking love you so much, Magnolia Anderson. You have changed me to my core and made me feel safe to be myself. From the moment we met, I knew you were special, too good for the rest of us. I choose you. I see you. I love you so much it scares the shit out of me, and I was a coward for running away. I thought I was protecting you from me, but I realize now I was really just afraid of getting hurt, so I pushed you away, hurting both of us.”
I shake my head and laugh as he wraps his hand at the base of my neck and stares into my eyes.
“You make me a better person, and you inspire me to see the good in everything around me. I need you like I need air in my lungs.”
He drops to his knees, and I gasp as he holds up a tiny red velvet box shaped like a heart.
“I know this is sudden, but I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Take this as my commitment to you that I’m in this forever. I’m not going anywhere. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much you deserve, showering you with love and affection, and giving you whatever your heart desires.”
He opens the box to reveal a classic round diamond ring with a dainty gold band. It’s simple and timeless and absolutely perfect in every way.
“Magnolia Anderson, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Of course, I will.” I half laugh, half sob as I pull him up and kiss him right there on the side of the highway somewhere in the middle of Wyoming as snowflakes start to fall around us.
I remove the ring from the box and slide it on my finger.
“It was my mother’s. My dad said she always intended for me to have it. I hope you don’t mind…”
I suck in a breath and hold my hand to my heart. “No, it’s perfect. I love it.”
Our kiss is needy and raw, and suddenly, I don’t feel cold anymore as passion ignites like a flame between us. Sam’s hands move to the back of my head as he presses me against him and deepens our kiss.
We kiss until I’m dizzy and weak in the knees, my blood rushing like wildfire in every direction as peace and relief flood my body.
When we pull away, Sam’s wearing a grin I’ve never seen before. “We’ll have to draw up a new contract. One without an ending date this time.”
“I think I can handle that. Besides, I’ve got some ideas I’d like to add…” I blush and kiss his soft lips.
Sam’s eyes darken as he searches my face, “Why don’t we start right now?”
I take two steps back and smile just as the bus driver yells, “Hey, lady, are you comin’ or stayin’?”
“Just one second. I’ll be right there.” I spin back to see Sam wearing a confused look. I shrug and point over my shoulder. “I know it may seem tacky to leave right after an engagement… but I really need to do this.”
Sam’s shoulders sag, and I can see the disappointment flash across his face, but then he sighs and smiles. “You know how I feel about you not having a phone.” He leans in and kisses me on the forehead. “But I trust you. I’ll be waiting for you as soon as you’re done.”
“I love you, Sam.”
“I love you more, Magnolia. Now, hurry along before I lose the last of my restraint,” he whispers, sending a flood of butterflies to my belly.
I wave goodbye, blowing him a kiss as I climb on the bus, where I find a proud-looking Carl smiling back at me as I take my seat.
“Well, how’d it go?”
I stare out the window smiling as we pull away. “I think I just got everything I ever wanted.”
EPILOGUE
Sam
Six months later …
I stand from my seat and raise my glass in a toast. “If you had told me I would be a married man one year ago, I never would’ve believed you. The very thought of committing to anyone for more than a year was unspeakable… Hell, I even had a contract to enforce it. But there are forces more powerful than any will of man, even my own steel-clad stubbornness.” I look at my beautiful bride sitting beside me, meeting her gaze. Her bright eyes see the best in everyone around her, and I still can’t believe how I got so lucky.
