Instead it only increases as his eyes begin to sparkle.
“This isn’t how I planned it. But I don’t want to waste another minute without you by my side. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me, Nicole, and make me the happiest man in the world.”
My lips twitch a bit. “You planned this?”
His eyes glimmer with hope. “Yes and it was going to be much more romantic than me in a hospital room, but I’m asking anyway.”
I can’t believe that I’m not freaking out about this, but I’m not. Everything with us has happened so quickly and I don’t want to waste another minute of another single day not being by his side either. But still, we’re in a hospital. And he’s drugged in pain and just woke up from an eight day coma. I begin to doubt he’s serious. Or lucid.
I nod at the pain medication next to him. “You’re high on morphine.”
“I’d ask you even if I wasn’t under the influence.” His faces changes to a scowl. “You haven’t given me an answer.”
I lean forward closely and carefully so I don’t put any weight on his ribs, but lay just enough pressure on his chest so he can feel me. “Yes, Zack. Of course I’ll marry you. I love you.”
I lean in the rest of the way and melt into his arms as we kiss slowly and passionately for what seems like hours. And I as pull back and look at him, starting to look sleepily from the drugs, I know without a doubt that I will have him forever.
Zack came along at a time when I was just beginning to feel again and he ripped off all the cages and walls I had put around my heart and tore them down slowly and patiently and with all the love I could possibly feel. I never thought I could love someone again, but now I know, the second time around is even better.
Epilogue
Nicole can’t see me from around the corner, but I don’t want to approach her yet. She has no idea how often I simply stand away from her, watching her, completely mesmerized by her. And it’s been like this since the first day I met her at that run down bar almost two years ago.
She stands just off the stage, watching the crew tear down the opening act and prepare for us to take the stage. I smile as she nervously alternates between biting the inside of her cheek, and running her fingers through her long chocolate hair. She’s absolutely beautiful. The most beautiful and amazing woman I have ever met and I still can’t believe she’s mine.
I watch her shift her feet, nervous for what’s coming and I know I should go comfort her. Wrap my arms around her and tell her everything is going to be just fine, but I can’t yet. I smile as she lifts her left hand slowly in front of her – looking at the wedding band I placed on her finger a month ago.
Is she remembering what I do whenever I see it on her hand, or the matching one on mine? How perfect that day was when we said our vows in front of our family and closest friends on the beach in front of our house? Because that’s what I see.
I see her long hair, blowing gently in the breeze, the blue ocean behind us as the bright sun rose high in the sky. There wasn’t a cloud in sight and I still get tears in my eyes when I think about how she smiled at me, and promised me forever. I feel like a pussy getting all teary-eyed over her, but I can’t help it.
“Come on, man. Quit drooling over your wife and let’s get this show on the road.” Chase’s slap from behind pushes me forward and causes just enough commotion that Nicole sees me stumble around the corner.
My breath hitches in my throat as she smiles nervously at me. I know she’s about two seconds away from freaking out and instantly I want to hold her and calm her.
I want her to calm me.
To promise me again, that we’re forever.
We both know it’s not a promise we can keep, but we decided to hope for forever and make the best of today for as long as we’re together and it’s a promise that I will keep until my dying breath. She’s been through too much