Fuck. She’s so beautiful it hurts.
I clear my throat and lean forward, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Hey, angel. Missed you.”
“Missed you, too,” she replies, accepting my outstretched hand. Her dainty fingers lace with mine and I pull her hand up to my mouth, placing another kiss there before leading her to my truck.
“Where are we going, anyway?”
I smirk. “It’s a surprise.”
She groans. “You know I don’t like surprises, Killian.”
“You will like this one, I promise.”
I help her into the truck and fasten her seatbelt. She shakes her head at my overprotectiveness, but I ignore it, stealing a quick kiss before closing the door and rounding the truck to the driver’s side.
The drive is short and familiar, and it doesn’t take Daisy long to figure out exactly where we’re going. Her head swings in my direction. “Are we going to our spot?”
I say nothing, the smile tugging at my lips answering her question instead.
Our spotis the place I took her on our first date. There’s a creek that runs along the edge of Rosewater Creek. You wouldn’t know it was there if you weren’t looking for it. It’s nestled behind a thick forest of trees that open up into a clearing. Farther into town there is a dirt road that takes you to a picnic area where families take their children, but I found a more secluded spot a mile down creek next to an old oak tree one night when I was trying to escape the shitshow at home.
I had sat there that night, letting the sound of the running water soothe the storm warring inside of me after wrestling a bottle of whiskey from my mother’s weathered fingers. It became sacred to me, sort of like my safe place where I could hide when things got too much.
When I finally plucked up the courage to ask Daisy out, I knew I wanted to take her there. I wanted to share that sacred part of me with her. It becameourspot after that.
I turn off between the trees, my truck bouncing over the uneven terrain beneath us and my earlier nerves come creeping back in.
I have a reason for bringing us out here tonight. My thigh tingles from the velvet box tucked against it as if reminding me it’s there and I tighten my hands on the steering wheel.
The thicket of trees open up into a large area of empty land, and I park the truck before climbing out and helping Daisy down.
“Let’s go, angel.”
I’m grateful for the shade from the August sun as we navigate the forest. Daisy’s steps are careful and delicate as she walks beside me, completely unaware of the fact that I’m having an internal meltdown.
I knew from a young age that I wanted to marry Daisy. There was never a doubt in my mind about who my wife would be. I’ve just been waiting for the right moment to ask her.
I hear her quiet gasp come from behind me as the clearing comes into view and I can’t help the smile that forms on my lips.
Rose petals litter the ground in front of the oak tree, spelling out the question that has been burning on my tongue since the moment my lips met hers for the first time.
Daisy halts in her tracks and I turn to face her. A small hand comes up to cover her mouth as glistening eyes flick between me and the words on the ground.
I pull the box from my pocket and sink to one knee at her feet.
“Daisy. I have loved you since I was eight years old. I’ve never wanted anything in this life more than I want you. I want your good days, your bad days and every day in between. You’re my best friend and I never want to know a life where you don’t exist. Will you marry me, angel?”
I have barely finished the question before she’s leaping at me. Her arms wrap around my neck, and her tears soak my cheek as she nods against me.
“I love you so much. Of course I’ll marry you.”
***
Something cold settles in my chest as I watch her car pull out of my driveway. With the realisation comes a strange calmness. Almost as if my body is telling me, it’s time.
It’s time to moveon from Daisy Bennett.
CHAPTER 18
