Broken Love Story (Love 3)

My girls look back and wave at us, and I’m so happy I think I’m going to burst. My hands go around Blake’s waist as he looks down at me, kissing me. “Love you,” he says, and I just nod.

We have dinner at Jensen’s house, which is like a private oasis. I swear the girls run straight outside to Mila’s new playhouse that Jensen built her. “I don’t think we are going to get the kids to leave here,” I lean into Blake and tell him as we sit in the outdoor porch area.

“Yeah,” Hailey says, coming to sit on the couch next to Jensen, her feet under her, “I’m not supposed to say anything, but the girls already brought their clothes for a sleepover.”

“What?” I ask, looking at Blake. “You did this?”

He puts up his hands. “I did not.” He tries to hide his smile. “Daisy asked me, and she used the pout.” He tries to plead his case. “And then she said she’s never had a sleepover at a friend’s house.”

I shake my head and roll my eyes. “She has you wrapped around her finger, and she plays you just like a fiddle each time she wants something.”

Now, he rolls his eyes. “She does not.” He turns to his sister. “She doesn’t.”

Jensen throws his head back, “When Mila was at Henry’s, she convinced him to try green nail polish. You Williams men have a soft spot.”

Hailey clears her throat. “Are your toes still painted?” She laughs as he turns to glare at her.

“I was napping.” And we all laugh.

The girls end up sleeping over at Jensen’s with Hailey, who is giving us her house. Crystal is away for the weekend with Gabe, so it’s just the two of us. We walk on the beach back toward Hailey’s house, the full moon shining bright. My hand in his as I listen to the waves crash into the shore. “I don’t know what it is,” I start to tell him. “But it’s almost therapeutic listening to the ocean waves.”

“I guess that is why Hailey loves it so much,” he says quietly.

“I dreamed of this beach,” I tell him, looking down. “Before we even got here, before we even started being what we are.”

“Did you?” he asks as we arrive at the house, and he turns to walk to it.

“I want to sit on the beach,” I tell him, and he sits right down, opening his legs so I can sit in the middle. With my back to him and his legs on the outside of mine, we watch the waves crashing. “I was here, with you,” I slowly tell him as his arm hugs me from the back. “And I think Frankie was here also. Almost like she was pushing me to you.”

“That would probably be her,” he says, kissing the side of my head.

“I love you,” I tell him, turning my head to the side to look at him, my hand reaching up to hold his face.

“Do you really?” He looks at me with his green eyes, almost an emerald green in the moonlight. “Do you love me enough to spend the rest of your life with me?” he asks as my eyes go big. “Do you love me enough to grow old with me?” My heart speeds up.

“Blake,” I whisper as I watch him get to his feet and take something out of his pocket. He gets on one knee in front of me.

“I never thought this moment would come. After Frankie, I just …” he drifts off. “I just never imagined loving anyone the way I loved her.” The tears I try to keep at bay escape. “I was wrong. I was so wrong because not only do I love you with every beat of my heart, but I also know that without you, I wouldn’t be able to survive. I watch you when you sleep, I listen to you breathe, my hand on your heart as it beats, and my body sits at ease,” he says, smiling at me as my lower lip trembles. “I want to help you with the kids; I want to be your shoulder to cry on. I want to celebrate all the milestones that are to come, and I want it to be with you as my wife.”

“Blake.” My hands cup his face, and I lean in to kiss him, not caring that I didn’t answer him. “I can’t believe I was lucky enough to find you, or that I’m lucky enough to have your love. To know that you’re my best friend and my lover. I want to wake up to you and go to bed with you. I want to come home from work to you; I want to sit on the porch and hold your hand as we wait for the girls to come home. I want to have your babies, so we can have a piece of each of our love live forever.” I kiss his lips. “So yes, I’ll marry you. Anytime, any place.”