“Morgan, his mother, the girls, everyone has been looking for you.” He kept on, pulling me up and holding me on the way down the path.
“I said I’m sorry. He left me. He saw the texts from stupid fucking Max and broke up with me. I’m not destined to be happy. I don’t deserve to be happy.” I sobbed, stumbling over some loose rocks on the way down the mountain.
“Listen to me, you do deserve love.” Jonathan held onto my shoulders and stopped walking. “You are not broken or damaged or whatever else the fuck you think you are. Morgan did get upset, but I’ve talked to him and he’s sorry. If you had answered any of his calls, you would know that.”
“He knows that I would never get back with Max?” I whispered, my voice hitching in the aftermath of my sobs.
“He does, and that man loves you. He’s been out of his mind all day looking for you. He even called the police. Now, come on, we have to get you warm.” Jonathan half dragged me home, where he sent me to shower and get dressed.
With my hair wrapped in a shower cap, I stood under the shower for a lot longer than I normally did, allowing the hot water to seep into my cold bones. Once I’d warmed up, I got out, towelled off, and dressed in jeans and a jumper. I let my hair down to try to keep my neck warm as I was still shivering a little.
Sitting in front of my dressing table mirror I studied myself. I still looked the same, but inside I was completely different. I was in love again, and this time I wanted it to be different; Morganwas different, in many ways, to all the other men I had been with.
I put on a little makeup to try and cheer myself up as I thought about him. He was a kind, sweet, good guy, and I had pushed him to the edge of that goodness. Something I wasn’t proud of, but I would spend every day trying to make it up to him and never make him feel like that again. He deserved more, and I would strive to be better for him.
My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. “Hey, you okay?” Jonathan poked his head in.
“Yeah, finally got warmed up. I’m just going to call Morgan, and then I’ll come out and maybe we can watch a movie?” I smiled, grateful to have a wonderful brother in my life.
“Can you come out with me first? I need to show you something before you call him, okay?” Jonathan grinned like a hyena.
“Oookay.” I got up and followed him out to the pool area. “What is this?” Twinkling fairy lights had been placed around the pool, and cream pillar candles were dotted around the whole area, giving off a soft, romantic, warm glow.
“Turn around, Andie,” Jonathan said, kissing the side of my head.
I spun to see Morgan down on one knee with a huge bunch of flowers at his feet.
“Jon, what the hell is this?” I said through gritted teeth. I had to leave. What were they thinking?
“Just listen to him. I promise you will like this,” Jon said.
I looked into his eyes and saw only honesty. I took a deep breath and focused back to Morgan. I heard the sliding doors close behind me, leaving me and Morgan alone.
“I’m glad we found you.” He smiled up at me.
“Sorry. I needed to think things over.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“I’m sorry for what I said, I didn’t mean any of it. I was a stupid idiot.”
“I would never, ever get back with Max. I told you there is nobody else for me but you, and I meant it.”
“I know and I’m sorry. I let my insecurities get the better of me and took it out on you. I can’t promise to get rid of them straight away, but I am working on it. I want us to forget everything in our past, okay?”
“I’m good with that.” I nodded eyeing up the little blue box he held in his hands. I was so nervous and so not ready for another marriage.
“Andie, I have loved you from the start. We haven’t had it easy, but that’s only made me love you more. When I thought I was going to lose you in Spain…” He choked up.
I felt a lump form in my throat as tears sprang to my eyes. I placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed as he looked down to the tiles at my feet and tried to gather himself.
“It nearly broke me. I swore then that I would get you to love me, that we would never be apart again.” He held my hand; my eyes hadn’t left his. “What I’m saying is, you’re it for me, we are endgame. So, I’m asking you Andie, will you be with me? To walk down the street hand in hand, to dance with me, and let me kiss you whenever I want?”
He held up a beautiful, sparkling tennis bracelet. “Fuck,” I whispered under my breath, Jonathan was wrong, I didn’t like it… I loved it. “Morgan, get up.” I grinned.
He looked worried and his face fell. “Answer the question,” he said, not moving.
“Just get up, please.” I tugged on his arm.
Morgan got up and stood in front of me, looking down at the floor.
