His hands take the necklace out of my grasp, removing it from the box and shifting behind me to secure it around my neck. When the weight of our love is pressing onto my chest in a way only we can understand, he kisses my temple and whispers.
“I love you endlessly, Rosalie.”
I could cry. I may cry. And if I do, I won’t feel the need to hide it from him, or anyone else, ever again.
One arm wraps around my stomach, holding me close to his chest. The other comes around my body. Locke’s left wrist twists in my field of view.
“I wanted something too. So you’re always with me.” He shakes his arm once, twice, before the sunlight hits the metal of his watch just right. At the exact angle where I can see the letter“R”engraved into the silver. “I hope people see it. I hope they ask about it, and I get to tell everyone that my life only started when I met you.”
I can’t take my eyes off the letter that brandishes him as mine. There won’t be a moment in my life where I feel more cherished than this. I don’t think it’s possible. His love for me makes the world melt away. I lean back into his chest and melt with it.
“Are you sure you don’t want to propose right now?”
His chest vibrates against my back, and I laugh with him, but it was genuine question.
I want to say yes.
“I have ideas for your proposal. It has to be the perfect proposal for my perfect girl.” He brings my left hand up to his mouth, kissing the empty space of my ring finger. “Sitting in bed eating pancakes isn’t it, unfortunately.”
I don’t know how anything could get more perfect than this. Locke has rewritten the world for me. When I thought no one would take me seriously, he did. When I wanted a friend, he was one. When my mind couldn’t let go of the skewed sense of romance I’d experienced, he erased it for me.
Without asking, Locke McCarthy has become the prince charming a younger me saw in romance movies. I have no doubt he’d kiss me in the rain and chase me through an airport if given the chance.
How lucky I am, to experience a love I thought only existed in fairy tales.
Humming, I lace our fingers together and close my eyes. I try to imagine crazy romance fantasies. Something, anything that feels too outlandish to be real. Anything to give me that sense of dreadful longing I endured my entire life.
Nothing comes. I can’t think of anything. Everything I want, and everything I imagine, feels in reach. Locke said he would give me anything I desired. Like he believes in me, I believe in him.
I mumble through my smile, “I don’t know. I can’t imagine a more perfect moment than this.”
There’s a flurry of kisses across my cheek, down my neck, and around my shoulders. I’m giggling in Locke’s arms when he says, “With you, Rosie, every day is perfect. One way or another.”
thirty
LOCKE
Ghost tuckshis head deeper into my chest, when a dog a few seats down makes eye contact with him. I think he hates vet visits because he has to socialize with people and animals outside of his comfort circle. I think that’s why we go so well together.
There’s been minimal changes to the waiting room since his last check-up. A few new posters here and there, and the front door doesn’t squeak so loudly when someone pulls it open. The young woman at the front desk didn’t try to make small talk when I checked in and doesn’t throw any more flirty glances my way. I’ll credit that to the hickey peeking out from under my sweater.
The clinic itself is always clean and welcoming. It’s the same one I’ve brought Ghost to for as long as I’ve had him. Those factors are enough for me to overlook the vet being fifteen minutes late every time we come.
One hand pets Ghost to soothe him from the dog still staring him down, and the other is scrolling my phone. Past the socialmedia apps and unread emails, there are text messages. The chat labeled “Dad” gets ignored for a group of people more worth my time.
LILIANA
Is there a day everyone would be available the week of Thanksgiving? Grant and I want to host a Friendsgiving, if you guys are interested.
Princess
WAIT THAT’S SO CUTE
Billie
YES YES YES YES
i actually need this so bad omfg
