Don't Kiss the Bride

What the what?

They planned this?

My mouth falls open as my gaze roves over the car. The curve of the fenders. The sleek hood.

“Jude… is this—” I stammer, circling the car in disbelief. I run my hand across the smooth paint.

“Your car? You bet your sweet ass it is.” He holds the keys out to me. My hand shakes like a leaf as I take them. “I bought it for you, Skylar. It was the only way I could get you to take my fucking money.”

Tears start to stream down my cheeks. “You did?” I choke and cover my mouth with my hand. “You did this for me?”

“Yup. Do you really think I’ve been working on my bike in the garage all this time? I’ve been going crazy trying to get this done. It was in the shop for two weeks, and you didn’t even realize it wasn’t in the garage. The whole lottery ticket thing, and then my accident, and then you getting all impatient, kinda threw a monkey wrench in my plans though, and I had to speed things up.”

“What do you mean?”

He smiles that adorable, boyish smile I haven’t seen in weeks. “Don’t you want to check out the inside?”

“Yes” I wipe at my eyes. “I think I’m in shock… I can’t believe you did this—” I climb into the driver’s seat and touch the new bright-red upholstery. It smells so new and clean. Everything’s been restored—the steering wheel, the pedals, the stereo, the floorboards. And from the sound of it, the engine and pipes and things I don’t even know the proper names of. It’s like it’s a brand-new car again.

Bittersweet happiness lodges in my throat. Oh, Papa. Look at our car.

Jude gets in the passenger seat and pushes his sunglasses up onto his head.

“Do you like it?” he asks.

Bursting into full-blown tears, I throw my arms around him and hug him as hard as I can. “I love it. It’s exactly how me and Papa dreamed it would look someday.” I suck in a shuddering breath. “I don’t know how to thank you for this. This means so much to me. You’re the best person in the whole world.”

“You can thank me by saying yes,” he says, untangling from me.

“Say yes?” I repeat, furrowing my brows at him. “To wh—”

I follow his gaze to a thin chain hanging from the rearview mirror. Something silvery and dazzling is dangling from it.

My hands fly up to cover my mouth and my eyes bulge. “Oh my God, Jude. What is that?”

Completely stunned into silence, I watch him take the chain off the mirror and then undo the clasp to pull the rings off it.

Holding the diamond ring in front of me, he leans forward, splays his hand across my cheek, and kisses me like he wants to swallow me up.

When we finally part, I’m breathless and swaying in the seat.

“You better breathe, Sparkles, or I’m gonna have to give you CPR.”

“Jude… is that…” My voice catches in my throat.

“A vintage engagement ring? Yup. And your wedding band. I know you were getting upset, but I needed time to do this right.” He lifts his eyes to meet mine. “I love you, Skylar. I’m not afraid to say it or feel it anymore. I love you so fucking much. I don’t want you to leave. Ever. I promise I’ll never hold you back from what you want. I want you to have everything you dream of. I want us to build a life together. We can travel, like you always wanted. We can run the bar together, and you can still do photography and social media. We’re perfect together, and I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks. I’m not letting my fears get in the way of what we both want anymore.”

I gasp when he slips both rings onto my finger.

“Will you be my wife? For real this time?”

“Yes,” I whisper, staring at the rings. “Yes! That’s all I’ve been dreaming of.” New tears roll down my cheeks, and I grab his face and kiss him. “I love you,” I say breathlessly. “I really love you so much.”

“I love you, too.” He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it. “I really love saying that. Promise me it’ll be forever,” he says. “No matter what, promise me we’ll always work it out. I’d never get through losing you.”

“I promise.” I squeeze his hand. “But you really have to talk to me. I get you’re the sexy, strong, silent type, but maybe dial back on the silent, okay?” I say playfully.

He grins and my heart swoons. “I’m tryin’. I said a lot today.”

“You did. And I can’t believe you did all this.” I kiss him again.

He pulls me into his arms from across the console. I don’t want to let him go. I’m afraid I’m dreaming, and I’ll wake up and this will all be gone.