Page 67 of Sweet Possession

Asher

One year after that…

Amalie squirms in my hold, squealing with glee as I lead my blindfolded angel towards her surprise. I press a kiss to her head. “Baby girl, I think you are more excited than your mama,” I coo.

“Can you take this thing off me already?” Remi whines.

I chuckle. “We’re here. Give me a second to get the door open, and then all will be revealed.”

Positioning my angel so she doesn’t block the sidewalk, I pull the key out of my pocket, push it into the lock, and open the door. I grin. It looks even better than I thought it would.

Stepping back, I glance up at the sign. Remi may want to change it, but I think the name fits perfectly. With my free hand, I reach up and pull the silk up and over her eyes. I watch as she blinks, then frowns in confusion as she takes in the shop in front of her.

I see the moment everything clicks. She gasps, her hand flying to her mouth when she spots the signage.

“Angel’s Art Studio?” Her eyes dart to me. Tears fill them as she looks at me in disbelief. “Asher, what did you do?” Her voice shakes.

“It’s your birthday present. From us,” I state.

Remi shakes her head. “No. No. This is too much.”

Stepping into her, I pull her close with my free hand. “It’s not enough, if you ask me. You deserve everything, angel, and I want to give it all to you, just like you have given me everything. You and Amalie are my world, and I thank God every day you walked out on that stage that night. One look and you stripped away everything I thought I knew. You captivated me. You made me realize what I thought was love, was not love at all. When I look at you, I’m home. When I touch you, I know it’s love…” He trails off with a chuckle. “Actually, love seems like too small of a word for what we have. It’s timeless. Never-ending. Otherworldly.” Tears fall down her beautiful cheeks, but I carry on. “I know with everything in me, I was meant to walk into that club. We were fated, angel. In this life and the ones after, I know we will always find each other. Our souls are connected in a way even I don’t understand. You are my twin flame, my other half. You own half of my soul, as I own half of yours.” I drop down to one knee, my daughter still on my hip. I look at her and smile. “Shall we show mommy her other surprise?” Amalie’s chubby finger reaches up as she bounces around. Pulling the black velvet box out of my pocket, I hear Remi’s loud gasp as I flick the top open. My gaze meets my angel’s as she drops to her knees on the sidewalk in front of me. I know we have gathered a crowd, but I don’t care. I want the whole world to know this woman is mine. “Remi Hale, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

She nods, tears pouring freely down her face. “Yes. Yes,” she croaks. I grin, plucking the platinum, two-carat, tiffany-cut ring from the cushion. I slide it on her finger, then press my lips to hers, only to pull back when Amalie’s hand hits my cheek, and she squeals as if she understands what is going on.

“Look, baby, mama said yes,” I murmur as I watch my girls. I don’t know how long we stay like that but when my knees start to ache, I pull us both to a stand. “Come on, let’s check out your studio.” I take my angel’s hand and pull her through the door of her brand-new art studio. I didn’t spare any expense with the renovation. It’s Remi’s own little haven where she can do as she pleases. I make enough money from playing poker and my new consultancy company that my angel doesn’t have to work, but she insists on it. Remi made a lot of money from gambling—she still plays the odd game—but this is what her dream is. She was going to use her own money to open a studio, but I beat her to it.

“What do you think?” I ask as she takes in the easels, the chairs, and blank walls large enough for showcasing her work.

“Asher, it’s amazing,” she murmurs, awe in her voice.

Dropping Amalie to the floor so she can move around, I grab my angel and pull her to me. “Youare amazing, fiancée.” I smash my lips to hers, only to break apart when the sound of the door opening alerts us to someone arriving.

Glancing over, we watch as my parents walk in with a cake, champagne, and glasses, Brody and his new girlfriend trailing behind them.

Yes, girlfriend.

It took a while for us to work out our friendship, but we got there. Once Brody realized that he and I were never going to be, he stopped fixating on me and a couple months ago, announced he was seeing someone. That someone is Jenna, and I have never seen him look happier. I think he meant it when he said his attraction to men was singular to me. I encouraged him to date men and women, but when it came down to it, he admitted he wasn’t attracted to any other male. I know now that what he felt for me went beyond attraction. We grew up together, were so close for so long and I think somehow those lines blurred for Brody. Do I still think he has feelings for me? Yes. He said as much. But he knows now that my feelings are not reciprocated, which has given him a new understanding. He no longer hates Remi, and he no longer tries to interfere with my relationship. We will never be how we were before Cali, but he is in my life, and I’m happy about that. It’s the least I can do after he saved my girl.

“Congratulations,” my mother squeals before scooping up my daughter. They knew what was happening today. The engagement and the studio.

“Thank you.” My angel blushes beside me.

My father drops the cake onto the counter and makes quick work of popping the champagne and handing us all a glass.

Everyone cheers in celebration, and I have never been happier.

As I look at my angel and my daughter, everything feels right in the world.

I am home.

They are my home.

The End.

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