Page 160 of Blossoms of the Heart
“Things have changed now that you know and I respect that.”
I smiled at her as the idea came into full fruition in my mind.
I shuffled back, took off my dog tags and placed them around her neck.
“What are you doing you crazy boy?” She gave me a weak smile.
Phoebe was always mine.
She was my only.
My always.
My forever.
Time to make this relationship of ours official.
“Phoebe Walker, I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you. I, Taikehiro Tobias Ferreira take thee, Phoebe Allyssa Walker to be my lawful wedded wife.”
The blood drained from her face. “Tai, what are you doing?” she swallowed hard.
“I’m marrying you.”
* * *
Phoebe
* * *
It was like I’d strayed into a dream because I couldn’t have heard him right.
“What?” I was afraid to ask just in case I’d fallen asleep. I straightened up and suddenly he looked nervous.
He ran a hand through his spikey hair and moved so that he was on one knee like he was proposing, except he just said he was marrying me.
“Tai.” I breathed.
“I, Taikehiro Tobias Ferreira take thee, Phoebe Allyssa Walker to be my lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish forever because not even death will keep me away from you. I pledge myself to you to love you forever, and our host of children we’ll adopt. You will always know that you come first and I swear to God I won’t scare our kids with the evil yokai jokes.”
My mouth dropped and my hands trembled. I had to stand up and clutch my hand to my chest because this couldn’t be real.
He couldn’t be real.
“Tai.” My brain couldn’t function.
“Come on Phoebe what do you say? Marry me, please.”
“You still want me?”
“It’s a hard thing for a man to not want the perfect woman.”
“I’m not perfect. Jason—”
“Don’t mention that name again. Forget him like he never happened, he didn’t love you.Ilove you,” he said with emphasis.“You. I loveyou, and that means everything that is you and makes you, you. Now please marry me. Princess Phoebe.”
He smiled at me and stood up too brushing my cheek.
My heart lifted when I looked at him and I realized that I was staring love straight in the face.
“Yes, and I do. I do.” I tried to recall the vows he just made to me. “I Phoebe Alyssa Walker take thee, Taikehiro Tobias Ferreira to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish forever because not even death will keep me away from you either. I pledge myself to you to love you forever, and the host of kids we’ll have.” It felt so good to say that. indescribable. The emotion that soared through me was one that I couldn’t quite express because it was a blend of hope and love and everything in between. It was living. It was life. Adventure. “You are the very best man I know and I loved you from the first time that I saw you too.”
“Come here woman.”
I threw my arms around him, hugging him and relishing the feel of him. “Thank you, Tai. Thank you so much.”
Undiluted happiness coursed throughout me, lifting my spirits to that hope I longed for. I laugh as he swooped me up and kissing me.
“ThankyouPhoebe for making me the happiest man alive. Let’s go home.” He smiled, eyes sparkling with wild sexual energy. “Can’t get nasty with you here. I hope you’re not tired.”
“I’m not tired.”
