No past grievances mattered. I refused to live another second, letting anyone tarnish an ounce of my joy because I’d come to the understanding that by going through heartbreak and feeling disappointment, they could also bring the most beautiful of blessings.
Boden.
As we neared the ground, I raised my legs as my instructor had taught me and breathed exaggeratedly with my hands on my forehead once my feet hit the grass, and we stopped.
“Holy shit. I did it.”
“Yeah, you did. You’re a pro-girl,” Carl, my instructor, responded while unhooking us from one another.
“I can’t thank you enough.”
“It’s my job, but the pleasure is all mine.” He offered me a hand, helping me as I stepped out of the harness. “Think you’ll do it again?”
I turned, looking upward in search of Boden. “I just might.” I beamed as my chest burst with joy, watching Boden prepare for his landing. “Thank you, Carl.” I patted his arm twice and took off running.
Boden had barely separated himself from his tandem partner before I jumped into his arms and wrapped myself around him like a clingy monkey, pressing my mouth to his with a need so great it was practically primal. He matched my level of intensity as our tongues tousled, and his grip on the back of my thighs deepened.
The sound of a car honking caused him to pull back and look over his shoulder before he lowered me to the ground. To say my lips felt bee-stung wasn’t an overstatement, as my whole body vibrated with unparalleled adrenaline.
I then watched with bewilderment as Boden reached for something in his pocket before lowering himself to the ground beside me.
“Nova, come,” he called out, and I whipped around in confusion.
When I followed his line of sight, I watched the most adorable little puppy barreling toward us, nipping right away at the treats in Boden’s outstretched hand.
“That’s a good girl,” he praised her before grabbing hold of the leash. He then lifted her to his chest and waved over toward Brooke.
“Lakelyn, I would like to introduce you to Nova. Nova, this is Lakelyn, the love of my life.”
“You got a dog?” I questioned as I couldn’t stop myself from grinning or scratching behind the pup’s ears.
“I did, and Nova has two very important questions she’d like to ask you.”
“Oh she does, does she?”
“Mm-hmm.” He smirked as if the man couldn’t get any sexier.
Boden snuggling Nova under his chin was a picture of perfection I’d never tire of seeing. “One, she wants to know if you would be her dog Mama and two, if you’d move in with us and make us a family.”
“And here I was under the impression you’d already asked; if my memory serves me correctly, youtoldme when we were in the shower that you wanted me in your home. To make it ours.”
“This is true. However, this is me officially asking you. Lakelyn, will you move in with us?”
“Nothing would make me happier.”
Boden wrapped an arm around my waist and gave me a chaste kiss, which the puppy seemingly wanted in on as she licked my cheeks excitedly.
“Okay, okay, you sweet little thing.” I took her in my hands and nuzzled the fur on her neck with kisses. “How did you do all of this? Is she the same breed as Sheba?”
“My sister helped, and yes, she’s an Australian Labradoodle.”
“You are seriously the cutest. Did Daddy really think he needed backup to get me to say yes?”
“Nah, I was pretty confident it was a done deal, but this little one, she’s my gift to you.”
“Boden.” My eyes became glossy. “She’s perfect. I love her to pieces already. Thank you. I can’t believe you did this.”
“Haven’t you learned by now there isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do to make you smile?”
