I suck in a breath, taking in the sight of my man down on one knee before me. It’s a day I always knew would come, it was a question of when, and here it is. Finally, my dreams are coming true.
I get out of my egg chair and place the champagne flute down on the small table. I make my way towards him, still unable to control the tears of joy that continue falling from my eyes.
“I can’t believe you did all of this,” I tell him as I stand before him and revel in the feel of his hands on mine as he holds them firmly between his warm palms. “It was the best thing I’ve ever seen.”
He shakes his head. “It was all for you, Angel, but I’m already looking at the best thing I’ve ever seen.”
I feel a slight blush spread over my cheeks, and I love the fact that he’s still able to make me react like this, even after four years together. “I love you,” I whisper into the night, never having such a pure and perfect moment in my life. With the music in the background, the candles create a dull glow through my yard, and the light breeze that brings with it the scent of pine trees, reminding me of the holidays.
“I love you too, Amelia,” he tells me proudly, “Which is why I can’t let this go on any longer. You’re the one. You always have been. My life changed for the better the day you decided you were going to paint the girls’ room. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you enough for the happiness, love, and joy you’ve brought into my life. While you’ve given me a child, you’ve also given me so much more. You willingly became a mom to Zeke, you let me love Ryan and Coby as if they were my own, and you gave me a love that I never realized I needed in my life. It’s because of all of this that I can’t go another day without asking you this question.” Bull pauses a moment, giving my hand a squeeze as he does his best to keep check of his emotions. “Will you make me the happiest man who ever walked this planet and do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife?”
My emotions become all too much and I throw myself down into his arms, crushing my face into his neck in the process. Bull catches me with ease, holding me tight as laughter vibrates through his chest. “Yes,” I grumble against his skin. “Yes, of course, I will.”
Bull’s lips come down on mine, and as the girls’ high-pitched excited squeals echo throughout our yard, they come and crash-tackle us to the ground. Zeke can’t help but join the pile, and Reece comes bounding after him, flopping onto my back, always careful not to get herself too involved in reckless situations like the cautious little girl that she is.
I grin against Bull’s lips as our kids show us their joy and excitement in the best way they know how. “I love you so freaking much,” I tell him.
Bull somehow finds my left hand in the jumble of limbs and slides the beautiful silver ring onto my finger. “I love you too, Angel. Always.”AMELIA
FIFTEEN YEARS LATER“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
Reece rolls her eyes as Bull groans for the twentieth time. “They’re going to be fine, Angel. Can we get going before we miss our booking?”
I cringe, looking back at my not so little babies. “But …”
“No, Amelia. Get your fine ass out the door.”
“Seriously, Dad?” Coby groans in distaste. “Do you have to talk like that all the time? You’re grossing me out.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Bull grins, purposefully teasing the kids as he looks me up and down like a hungry bear, ready to eat the most satisfying meal of his life, though hopefully, that’s exactly what he’ll be doing come tonight. “Your mom is fine.”
Zeke picks up my bag and starts walking towards the front door, the universal sign for ‘get the hell out of here.’ “Dad’s right,” he says. “If you don’t leave now, there won’t be a point in going at all.”
I let out a sigh. “Fine, but remember—”
“We know,” Reece cuts me off. “The emergency numbers are on the fridge, the first aid kit is in the cupboard above the oven, the fire blanket is on the wall, and the alarm code will be set. Zeke will be kept away from anything flammable while Ryan is strapped to a chair to avoid breaking any bones. We’re good, Mom. Go and enjoy your night away. You deserve it after dealing with Coby’s whining all the time.”
“Excuse you,” Coby says, starting the inevitable fight. “I’m the whiner? Speak for yourself. You’re the one who hasn’t stopped sulking about her boyfriend, who may or may not bat for the other team.”