Page 74 of Justus
“Whatthe hell?” Sadie exclaims.
Wrappingmy arm around her stomach from behind, I pull her back to my chest, and put mylips to her ear. “I have plans for you and I want you to remember every second.So, no Drunky Sadist tonight.”
“Hmm…soundsgood. Let’s get out of here.”
Aftersaying goodbye to everyone and congratulating Dare and Ayda again, we head outside.It’s a beautiful night and the moon throws sparkles across the lake. This isthe perfect opportunity.
“Let’swalk down by the dock,” I suggest, and Sadie smiles up at me, slipping her handinto mine.
She’squiet for a bit, just taking in the beautiful night. “Spring is almost here,”she murmurs. “I’m glad. I hate the cold.”
Oursteps on the wooden dock echo through the still air, the lights and sounds ofthe restaurant behind us fading away. “I’ll keep you warm.”
“Inyour bed?” She turns and gives me a teasing look that makes me want to stripher right here. A light breeze lifts her blond hair, and she brushes it out ofher face. Fuck, she’s beautiful. Her lips droop into a frown. “Justus? Issomething wrong?”
Great,I’m just standing here gaping at her like a moron. I have to do this. I have toknow she’s mine forever. She steps back when I drop down on my knee.
“Sade,I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. From the first moment we spenttogether I knew you were different. You make me want things I’ve never evenconsidered before. Even in the beginning, it was never fake for me.”
Tearsfill her eyes and she clamps a hand over her mouth as I produce the ring shegave back to me from my pocket. “When I bought this, it wasn’t just a ruse totrick your mother. I know it’s crazy, but even then, I thought about youwearing it, showing the world you’re mine. Will you wear it? Will you be mywife, my Sadist, forever?”
Asob escapes before she nods and pulls me to my feet. “Yes!”
Theword barely leaves her mouth before my lips are on hers. “I love you, Sweets.”
“Ilove you.” She steps back and wipes her eyes, allowing me to return the ring toher finger. Looking up at me, she laughs, and I grin at her.
“Notthe way you pictured your marriage proposal?”
“Beingasked by a zombie unicorn while covered in fake blood? Not exactly, but it’sperfect. We never do normal.”
“Normalis stale. Let’s avoid it at all cost,” I suggest, wrapping my arm around herwaist as we walk back toward the car.
“Agreed.We should wait a few days until we announce our engagement so we don’t takeaway from Ayda and Dare’s special day.” She holds up her arm that’s streakedwith fake blood. “And we have to come up with a wedding crazier than this.”
“Ihave a few ideas.”
“Momis never going to believe us when we tell her.”
Sadie
“Ican’t believe we’re doing this!” I squeal, climbing into the hot air balloon.
Justus,the officiant, and the photographer slash balloon pilot are already inside.“You said you wanted an exciting wedding,” Justus says, grabbing my hand.
“Andyou delivered,” I giggle, nerves getting the best of me. “I can’t believeyou’re afraid to fly in an airplane but not in a hot air balloon.”
“Planescrash into the ground at hundreds of miles per hour. The balloon gets a leak,we float down. Big difference.”
Iexchange a look with the pilot and officiant and shake my head. “Probably bestnot to tell him.”
Aflame roars above us and we’re off. The view above Lake Tahoe is breathtakingand I spend a moment taking it all in, lost in the beauty of the nature thatsurrounds us.
“Areyou ready?” the officiant asks.
Floatingover Lake Tahoe, with the Sierra Nevada mountains behind us, we exchange vows.It’s a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life. The sparkle in Justus’seyes when I said I do, the emotion in his voice when he did the same.
Afterwe’re pronounced man and wife, he stands behind me, his arms wrapped around mywaist, his chin resting on my shoulder, as we watch the scenery unfurl belowus.
