For once in my life, I have to say, I’m a lucky girl.
katrina
We wakeup the next morning staring into each other’s eyes. I can’t believe that he’s here and we’re together. I touch the side of his face because it almost feels too surreal.
“Morning, baby.”
“Morning, Dak.”
“Can you see me?” He jokes, waving his hand in front of my eyes.
“I never took my lenses out, jerk.”
“Ohh,” he chuckles. “Listen, after we take Butters for a walk, I want to take you somewhere.”
“Now?”
“Do you have clients today?”
“No clients on Saturdays at my new place. I make the schedule.”
“Cool, then I’ve got you before I have to head to a Hawks’ meeting.”
“You’re back on the roster?” I ask hopefully.
“I am.” He smiles proudly.
“That’s great, Dak.” I scoot myself closer to kiss him. Morning breath and all.
He slaps my ass playfully. “Don’t kiss me like that again or we’ll never get out of this apartment.”
Butters lets out a small bark, warning her new best friend not to hit me on the butt.
“Exactly, girl,” I rub her head. “You tell him.”
Later, as we walk down the familiar streets of the city, each step feels like a journey back in time. Past the cafe where we shared whispers over hot chocolates, the park where we watched the stars. I stop in my tracks when we reach Times Square.
My breath hitches as I look at one of the colossal screens, where Dak’s face appears larger than life.
“Katrina Banks, I am in love with you,” he begins, his voice echoing through the Square. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Is this real?
When people milling around us start to recognize that it’s his face on the screen, they stop and form a loose circle around us.
Dak grabs my hand as the video goes on, recalling our shared moments, his words raw and honest. I feel a tear slide down my cheek. I can’t help it. Dak, with all his strength and machismo, standing vulnerable before the entire city, laying bare his heart, is a sight to behold.
Before I can process what’s happening, Dak pulls a red velvet box out of his inside jacket pocket. It’s similar to the one he gave me with the bracelet inside, except this one is small and square. His eyes are locked on mine, as intense and captivating as ever. His hands are shaking slightly when he places the box in mine, a stark contrast to his usual steady grip.
“I know I’m far from perfect, Trina,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. “But I’m asking for your forgiveness, for you to become my forever partner, and a stepmother to Bella. It’s a lot to ask, I know, but I promise you to do my best to make you happy. If you let me.”
I try to play it cool, to keep my heart from leaping out of my chest. “Who are you and what have you done with my Dak?” I ask, injecting some humor to lighten the weight of the moment.
He grins, but there’s a sincerity in his gaze that won’t let me dismiss this as a joke. “I’m the same Dak who fell head over heels for you the moment we locked horns,” he says. “I just needed a wake-up call to realize what I almost lost.”
“You are bound and determined to put our relationship on full blast, aren’t you?” I tease, indicating the big screen where his confession still plays on repeat.
He chuckles, pulling me closer. “I needed the whole city to witness this, so everyone understands, including you, that there is nothing wrong with us falling in love with each other and telling the world. It’s not an accident that you were my therapist. That’s fate baby.”
“What about Bella and Jana? This new development might be hard for your visitation situation.”
