I tell myself Willa deserves this trust we're putting on her shoulders. She's a good kid and she'd never dream of letting us down.
Getting everything ready, I have a car waiting for us by the time they come back.
Willa is beaming from ear to ear and gives me the biggest hug. I tell her she deserves it and not to let us down. She just passed her driver's exam, so we figured we'd give her my old car as a memento and a way to get around. We've upgraded to a larger car that can safely transport us all.
As we're standing in front of our old house, the girls all head inside while Willa says goodbye to us. Just as we're giving her the instructions in case she needs us, a butterfly floats around us, landing on Willa's jacket.
"That's beautiful!" I gush, quickly snapping a photo. "So beautiful, Willa."
"You know, we have a saying about butterflies," Nox joins in, putting a hand around my shoulders.
"One you're about to make up now?" I tease him.
"Maybe." His eyes glitter darkly. "But they say the person the butterfly lands on gets their happily ever after next."
"Oh God, you're so cheesy," Willa whines. "I'm sixteen, not sixty!"
"Yeah, you're too young," Nox laughs, but I can see the lines in his face grow just a little deeper.
As the butterfly floats on its way, we kiss Willa goodbye and get into our ride. I don't know whether Nox's heart is as heavy as my own, but I end up wiping away tears from my eyes.
"Why so emotional, little bird?" Nox whispers in my ear. "Something wrong?"
"She's just so grown up," I whisper.
"I know. And the boys, too." He tugs on my new white strand of hair. "I like this, by the way."
"Thanks," I grimace. "Thought I should start getting ahead of my age. You won't trade me in for a newer model, will you?"
"Don't be fucking ridiculous," he smirks. "Never in a million years."
"You excited to spend the first night in our house, all by ourselves?"
"Beyond." Nox nuzzles my neck. "What is this, one of our first nights alone in years?"
"Definitely." I grimace. It's been tough getting away from the family lately, not that I mind. But Nox and I aren't as carefree. I'm forever worried about the boys and Willa, and Nox sometimes still seems like he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. "Do you think the kids will be okay?"
"Of course." Nox nudges me. "Stop freaking stressing, little bird."
"I just worry." I fiddle with my dress and Nox pulls my hands away, kissing my knuckles.
"Tonight, you're all mine. The only thing you need to worry about is saying I do."
"I do?" I raise my brows questioningly. "What on earth do you mean?"
He just winks and stares ahead.
"Nox!" I squeeze his hand.
"I already said too much. You'll have to trust me with the rest of it and be a good girl." He smirks at me, the puckered scar marring his cheek making him just like me.
"Are you asking me..."
"Officially, I asked you two years ago." He points to the rock on my finger. "But you kept putting it off and off, so now I've taken matters into my own hands."
"Oh my God, Nox." My eyes are watering again, my knees getting weak. "Are we really getting married tonight?"
"It's just a small ceremony, just us and the priest."
"But what about our family..."
"If you want something else later, we'll do that too. But tonight, I want you all to myself. And I want to make our first night as a married couple in our new house beyond special."
"You already have," I admit in a low whisper. "You make me so happy, Nox. You've given me everything I've ever wanted. This is... this is a lifetime of happiness."
"For me too," he says simply, pulling me in for a deep kiss. And while his lips are on mine, I remember all the reasons I love him and why he owns me.
What he's been through because of me, for me. All the things he does for me, big and small, just to bring the hint of a smile to my lips.
Parker was a monster, but Nox isn't.
Nox is my soulmate, my heart's partner and the man who makes me whole. And after tonight, I suppose he'll be my other half, too.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I whisper in his ear as we come to a stop in front of the new house. The dying rays of sunlight illuminate the gorgeous property. I feel tears in my eyes again.
"Of course I'm sure," he answers, getting on one knee. I gasp, covering my mouth with my hands.
"You already p-proposed," I stutter, making him smirk.
"This is for something else." He kisses my hand and presents me with a long velvet box. When he opens it, an infinity metal collar is inside.