His eyes search mine and I lift my hand up to cup the back of his neck.
“You are themostmagnificent person I’ve ever met. You’re kind and your soul is so damn pure.” I squeeze his neck hard, wishing and praying he’s really listening to me right now. “You’re mywholeworld, T. You know that, right?”
A smile pulls at the corner of his lips. “Yeah, E. I think I do.”
A small laugh comes out as I shake my head. “No. You’ll never truly know the extent of my feelings for you.” I unclasp the black necklace he wears around his neck and he gasps as the ring attached falls onto my chest.
“B–but how could you when I’m so…messed up?” He stutters, sitting up.
I sit up too, scooting in close to him. “I know you may struggle with seeing it, but I don’t. Shitty things happen in life, Angel. Things go wrong. People die. But…” I breathe out a tiny, shaky exhale. “Amidst everything…through it all…there’syou.Like a beacon of light in the darkness. A reminder that life… isn’t so bad. It’s actually pretty incredible.
Tobias looks at me with tears in his eyes. His lips quiver, and hell, so are mine.
“I see how incredible you are, and if it takes the rest of our life for me to show you…I’m prepared for that. I’m looking forward to it.” I hold up the ring in my hand. His eyes widening as he looks at it like it’s for the first time. “I gave you this after we lost someone so special to us both.” I swallow deeply. Tobias wraps his hand around mine as we both look down at the silver ring. “And you’ve held onto it like armor, which I love. But I think it’s more like aswordthan armor—a reminder of how strong you are. How strongweare. No matter what we go through… our love will always win.” I take his hand in mine. “I think…it’s about time you start wearing this where it’s meant to be.” Before I slide the ring on, I look at him. “If that’s okay with you.” I hold my breath. “Will you marry me, Tobias?”
Please say yes.
He sucks in a breath, his eyes darting from mine to the ring at his fingertip.
“You—you wantme?” His eyebrows pinch, making my heartswell.
“Are youkiddingme? You’reallI’ve ever wanted. It’salwaysbeen you. It will alwaysbeyou.”
He doesn’t answer right away. Just presses his forehead to mine, breathing me in like it’s the only proof he needs.
I see the questions raking through his brain. He’s scared but he loves me. I know he does. I feel it in every kiss. In every touch. I know what we have is real.
Finally, he lets out a shaky laugh through the tears spilling down his nose and onto the blankets below us. “Yes.Of course,yes.”
My heart thuds against my chest in excitement as I shakily slip the ring up his ring finger.
The perfect fit.
Hoisting me up on his lap effortlessly, I lock my legs around his waist.
“I can’t believe this.” He laughs against my lips. I laugh too, shaking but purely out of happiness.
“You’re mine, baby.” I squeeze him in my arms harder than I ever have before. “I’m so damn lucky.”
I can feel him suck in a shaky breath as he clings hard to me.
“You really want me. Forever.” His voice shakes as his fingers dig into my skin.
“Forever.” I kiss him softly at the corner of his mouth. “And ever after that.” I kiss him on his forehead.
And I continue, burning soft little promises into each kiss. Just like the first promise we ever made to each other.
Promises that’ll never be broken, because we both know how certain they are.
How infinite.
49
Epilogue
August
Elijah
