for a second. “Like how much older?”
Now it was her turn to think about it for a second. “Like when we’re eighteen. That’s old enough.”
“Okay.”
“Aiden...” She giggled, twirling her hair in a big knot around her finger. “You have to ask me first.”
“Oh, I do?” I scratched my head. “When?”
“When we’re eighteen.”
“Okay.” I nodded, meaning it. “I’ll ask you when we’re eighteen.”
“Okay.” She nodded back. “I’ll try to act surprised too. Ask me in a good way, alright? So I cry.”
She was confusing, but in the best way possible. I’d say anything she wanted just to keep her by my side, so I’d always feel this way.
Safe.
I knew right then and there my momma had something to do with this. I didn’t know how, but she kept her promise to me. This had to be the girl, I felt it in my bones.
“Why would I want to make you cry?”
“Because they’re happy tears and crying with happy tears is like super romantic.”
“Oh… Okay then. I’ll ask you in a way that will make you cry happy tears.”
“Okay good, but don’t make me cry in any other way than happy tears. Ever. You promise?”
“I promise.”
“Those are happy tears, right?”
She fervently nodded and even with makeup running down the sides of her face, she was still the most beautiful woman I ever laid eyes on.
“They say everything is about timing, Bay, and I’ve waited years for this day.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
<>Aiden<>
Then: Eighteen-years-old
Her mouth trembled as she licked her lips, captivated with every word I was expressing. Pouring my heart out to her.
“I can’t tell you how many times just thinking about this moment got me through my darkest hours, Bailey. Seeing your face, your smile, your goddamn beauty. You’re the light in my life. The love in it as well. You’re the reason I’m still breathing, I’m hopeless for you now.”
She smiled through her tears, flowing freely down to the ground in between us.
“Wherever you are is home to me. Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” she sniffled, blinking away another tear.
“I can’t live without you. You’re my heart, Bay. You’ll always be my heart,” I stated, clearing my throat, getting caught up in this moment.
“I know. You’re mine too, Aiden. Life has been hard for us, but I wouldn’t change it for anything because it’s what led me to you.”
Her words couldn’t have been closer to the truth.
“I just want to give you everything you ever wanted, including my last name.”
She laughed, wiping away more tears.
“You’re the beat in my heart, the blood running through my veins… I can’t promise you that tomorrow will be easy, or that there aren’t rough roads ahead, but I can promise you that I will forever be there with you, standing beside you, holding your hand, loving you with everything that I am. I thank God every day for the gift that is you.”
I grabbed her left hand with one hand and with the other I pulled out the ring box in my suit jacket.
“I want to wake up next to you for the rest of my life. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms every night. I want to start the life we’ve been dreaming of since we first laid eyes on each other. I want you, Bailey, that’s all I want, you’re all I ever wanted… Will you do me the honor of being mine forever? Will you marry me, Beauty?”
She nodded, sucking in air. “Of course, yes, yes, yes a million times over!”
Her eyes never wavered from mine as I slipped the ring on her finger.
“I know it’s not the biggest diamond, Bay, but I promise I’ll get you—”
She threw her arms around my neck. “It’s perfect.”
I didn’t hesitate to hold her against me, claiming her lips. We stayed just like that for I don’t know how long. Lost in one another’s embrace. Thinking about the once in a lifetime love we shared.
“This is the best birthday ever.”
“It’s not over yet.”
“What do you me—”
I nodded to the orchestra who were walking up, softly playing Canon de Pachelbel, and she burst into tears again.
The ordained minister and the videographer I hired, who’d been recording all this time quickly appeared behind them. There was no way I wasn’t recording this moment in time for us to look back on, and our children to watch some day.
“Lovely to finally meet you, Bailey,” the minister greeted, taking ahold of her hand. “Are you ready to get married, birthday girl?”
She nodded, unable to form the words to say