Page 120 of One Life to Loathe

Sam’s eyes were sparkling when she looked over her shoulder at me. “Daisy says they put together a small party for us.” She was glowing from within again. Honestly, over the past few months, she hadn’t stopped.

She was still my miracle. “Awesome.” I put our luggage behind the front desk. Even though I’d secured the condo, we were still spending the weekend in the hotel. Jax had reserved the honeymoon suite for us, and I wanted to take full advantage. “Let’s party.”

Sam didn’t wait for me. She had her head bent together with Daisy as they caught up with one another. I was slower as I followed, my hand automatically going to my pocket, where the ring box was waiting.

“It’s not as hard as you think it is,” Jax said as he fell into step with me. “Just speak from the heart.”

“Wasn’t it just you and Daisy when you proposed?” I challenged.

“So?”

“So, I’m doing it bigger … and better.”

Jax shot me a dirty look. “Bigger isn’t always better.”

“If you say so.” I watched Sam closely as she strolled into the ballroom. The first thing she saw was the huge donkey hanging from the ceiling—Daisy didn’t go small on the lone donkey—and then her gaze moved to her parents, who were standing next to the bar and grinning.

“Mom? Dad?” Sam’s confusion was evident. She hurried over to hug them, but I could practically hear the gears in her mind working. “What’s up?”

“We just didn’t want to miss anything,” Carter replied as he beamed at his daughter.

Bonnie was already crying, which only served to further Sam’s confusion.

“What’s going on?” When Sam turned, she found me on one knee.

My face burned as I looked up at her. I might’ve been a good actor, but the real-life stuff often threw me. I had vowed not to screw this up, though, and I was determined to follow through.

“You’re my favorite person in the world,” I started.

Sam’s hand moved to her chest and she began to rub it. She’d obviously figured out what was happening.

“From the moment you called me a donkey, I knew I was a goner,” I continued. “I fought it because I didn’t know what this was. Now I know, and the only thing I’m absolutely certain about is that I can’t live my life without you.”

I took a deep breath and opened the top of the ring box. Because Sam was sunshine, I went with a huge solitaire canary diamond in a white gold setting. The moment I’d seen the ring—on one of the rare occasions I was off on my own and could do some shopping—I knew it was the one for her.

“Oh, my…” Sam’s mouth fell open, telling me I’d bought the right ring.

“I don’t know where the movies will take me, but I want to know that I’ll always have you as my home,” I said. “Will you marry me?”

Sam didn’t hesitate before throwing herself at me. She clung tight as she sobbed into my neck. “You’re such a donkey for keeping this from me,” she complained. “I can’t believe you did this.”

There was more. There was the condo and eventually a house. This was enough for now, though. “Don’t you think you should answer me?” I prodded.

“Do you actually think I’m going to say no?” Her face was streaked with tears as she pulled back.

“I still need to hear it.”

“Of course I’ll marry you.” Her voice cracked, tugging on my heartstrings. “I don’t ever want to be away from you either.”

I slipped to the floor and pulled her into my lap as applause broke out around us. She was my happily ever after, and I planned to keep her forever. The rest of it, well, we would figure it out as we went along.

As long as we had each other, we had everything.

“I can’t believe this ring,” she said as she held it up. “This might be the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“There’s stuffed lobster for dinner,” I told her.

I didn’t think her smile could get any wider. I was wrong.

“Okay, the second greatest.”

“I’ll keep working on it. Forever.”

“And ever and ever.”

“Absolutely.”