Forever Mine

STEPH

Beingon the big wheel with him reminds me of my nineteenth birthday on the big wheel at Blackpool. Only Vienna is a tad more romantic. Our large enclosed carriage stops at the top as people are loaded beneath.

I stand, looking through the open window. “You can see the entire city from up here.”

Cal stands, looking at me, not the view. The setting sun casts a red hue over the skyline, reflected in Cal’s eyes like a raging inferno.

“This is so romantic, Cal.” I wrap my arms around his waist and his lips press against my forehead.

“Have I done good?” His chest rocks as he silently laughs.

I lift my head and kiss his lips. “So good.”

He cups my face, angling my head so he can kiss me deeper. “Do you remember the last time we went on a big wheel?”

“I’ll never forget my nineteenth birthday.” I glance at my amethyst ring on my right hand. The jewels sparkle in the setting sun and a whimsical smile spreads across my face. “So far, this birthday has been the only one to top it.”

“What, in the last twenty-three years, you’ve never had a better birthday than Blackpool?”

“No. Because I’ve never spent a birthday with you since that day.”

Cal’s fingers lift my chin. His tongue slips between my lips and his arms wrap tightly around my body. “I can’t promise trips to Vienna every year, but I can promise we’ll be together for every birthday from now on.”

A hand slips under the fabric of my floaty dress and trembles against my thigh as he kisses me deeper.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth. His hand delves into his Jean pocket. I press my hands against the cotton fabric on his chest, feeling the heavy rise and fall of his lungs, and pinch my eyebrows together, wondering what’s weighing heavily on his mind.

He pulls his hand out from his pocket with a small red velvet box.

My mouth drops open. The surrounding cityscape spins around me as I take a step back. “Callum.”

He steps forward, closing the gap. “Stephanie.” His lip quivers, but curls in one corner, and his eyes sparkle. A trembling finger grazes my arm, sending goosebumps all over my flesh.

“This is your main present.” He waves the box in the air and grins. “It’s earrings.” He chuckles, then places the box in the palm of my hand.

I stare into his brown eyes, burning with flecks of red and gold. My heart pounds. We’ve been here before. I can’t figure out if he’s teasing me or not.

“Aren’t you gonna open it?”

“Aren’t you going to get down on one knee?” I hold my breath. A tingle shoots down my spine and my limbs tremble.

He chuckles again. “I told you, it’s earrings.”

I smile. “You wouldn’t be shaking if you were giving me earrings.”

He pulls his jacket closed. “I’m chilly. Look, if you don't want the earrings, that's fine. I can take them back. Or give them to someone else.” He shrugs a shoulder, acting all nonchalant.

I clutch the box tight and swat his chest. “I do want them. Stop teasing me.”

He pecks my forehead. “You want me on my knees?”

“Always.” I wrap my fingers around his neck and kiss his delicious lips while my other hand with the box rests against his heart.

He takes the box from me and breaks the kiss. “I'm gonna have to take these back. I'm afraid you're gonna be disappointed.”

I hold on to his neck, gazing into his eyes with a smile stuck on my face. “You’re such an adorable bastard.”