Page 172 of Already At Risk
“I like the idea that the pages are well-loved,” he’d said earlier, voice casual.
Now, he spoke again. But he sounded a little more tentative, catching my attention from across the beach.
“Hey, Chloe?”
I pulled my cardigan around me tighter and traced a line in the sand with my toes.
My daughter perked up. “Yeah?”
“You know I love you and your mom a lot, right?”
“I know.”
I liked the way she didn’t hesitate.
“What would you think if I asked your mom to marry me?”
Chloe giggled uncharacteristically, and I froze, my heart flying into my throat.
“Ugh,finally,” she answered. “That’s what I would think.” And then it was quiet except for the thumping in my chest, which I suspected could be heard all the way across the ocean. A few beats later, Chloe’s curious voice interrupted the stillness. “But if Mom becomes a Bryant…can I, too? I don’t know why I have my dad’s last name if I never see him.”
“You know, I was thinking we could all be Londons. I made a promise once that I’d never take your mom away from her family in any way. And I think that includes her name. Would you want to be a London, Chlo?”
“Yeah, I do.” Her confession was quiet, barely audible, but it tore me up inside. “Especially if you’re going to be.”
“I’ll see what I can do, ’kay?”
“That means you’ll take care of it, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, Champ. That means I’ll take care of it.”
The next fall
NATALIE
Cameron burst through the door at home, carrying the most sunflowers I had ever seen at one time…ever.
“Do you think this is enough?”
“Do I think that’senough?” I echoed, choking on an incredulous laugh.
“Yeah.” He gave me a serious look, like he was really concerned. “There’s a few more in the car. And I suppose we could cut the ones on the front patio if we really need more?—”
“No.” I shook my head. “Uh-uh. No cutting the ones on the patio. Those aremysunflowers.”
Cameron’s lips twitched as he put the pile of flowers down on the counter. They seemed to spread everywhere, taking up the entire room.
“I will not touch them, then,” he assured me and then closed the distance between us, sweeping me into his arms with surprising quickness. “God, I can’t wait. I feel like I’ve been waiting for so long.”
I tipped my head back to look at him, say something maybe, but Cameron took advantage of the opportunity to cover my lips with his, sinking us into a deep, toe-curling kiss. Heat bloomed, brighter and hotter than ever before, and I gripped his shoulders, hanging on. I knew he’d carry me through this weekend. And then the rest of our lives.
“You’ve been very patient,” I whispered against his lips whenwe finally broke apart. “Thank you for that. I love you, like, an unbelievable amount.”
“I love you so fucking much,” he groaned in response. “I would have waited lifetimes to marry you, Natalie London.Lifetimes.”
“Only two more days. I promise.”
“Two more days,” he sighed, dropping his forehead to mine. “Two more days until I get to see my beautiful bride walk down the aisle.”
