One Wish

“I figured you would like to join your fellow butterflies.”

Knowing the true meaning behind this, my heart melts. “You’re one special husband, Eli. Don’t let anyone tell you different.”

I beam at him and for a moment, our eyes are locked, my pulse racing like never before. But then a butterfly decides to choose that moment to land right on the tip of my nose, making me go cross-eyed.

The sound of Eli’s laughter echoes around the room, making me join in right with him. This moment is perfect. Too perfect. I just don’t want this day to end.

Noticing we’re the only ones here, I ask, “Where is everyone?”

Eli glances down guiltily for a second. “I kind of called in a favor when we were at the restaurant, managed to get this place to ourselves for ten whole minutes. I figure it would be just the time we needed.”

I take in how green the leaves on the trees look, how vibrant the different flowers are, and I sigh contentedly. “It’s like a little oasis in here. It’s beautiful.”

“Just like you,” Eli simply replies, causing me to snap my eyes to him.

It’s then that I realize something. He’s coming back to me. It may have taken a while and some careful planning, but little by little, I have managed to pull him towards me. All my hard work is paying off and now I’m finally able to be with my husband the way a wife should. Spend precious time with him, converse with him, share these tender moments with him.

I have no idea of the woman I was before, but I know in my heart of hearts that right now, this is where I am meant to be. With Eli.

Always with Eli.

“Er, excuse me, Mr. Prescott, but we need to open up now.”

Behind Eli is a young guy in uniform with a baseball cap on looking all kinds of sheepish. He’s gripping his hands together, nerves getting the better of him.

“Okay, thank you,” Eli replies. “We’ll be right out.”

The young employee simply nods his head, closing the door behind him. When he does, Eli turns back to me. “I guess we better get going.”

Walking towards him, I reach out my hand. “Yeah, I guess we better.”

My whole body humming and my heart dancing, we walk hand in hand to the exit, and when we open the door and walk through the foyer, we notice another door with a mass of people behind it. When they spot us together, the people gape in shock, quickly grabbing their phones to take pictures.

“I take it we’re still trending?” I kind of ask.

Eli gazes back at me with a cocky smirk. “I thought we didn’t care?”

“Nope,” I snap back, pouting my lips in determination. Eli snaps out a laugh.

The car journey back is quick and wonderful, considering I have my main man sitting right beside me the whole way. It’s funny having these rushes of pure excitement being near him, like this is the first time ever—as well as our first date. Did we ever date like this in the beginning? I kick myself because that’s a really stupid question. We must have.

At home, we talk animatedly about our day before we excuse ourselves to freshen up and change into appropriate clothes for the fair.

Thankfully, the evening is warm, and the wind’s light. Perfect for the time ahead tonight.

“You look wonderful.”

I glance down at my simple pair of jeans and red t-shirt. In my hand is a red cardigan, just in case it gets cold.

“It’s just something I threw on,” I say back, taking him in as I do. His hair is still wet from the shower, allowing the beautiful greens of his eyes to stand out even more. He’s clean shaven, making his jaw pronounced, and he too has donned a white t-shirt and jeans, which seem to fit his toned physique like a glove.

“You look… well,” I say, deliberately letting out a sigh. “Most handsome, I must say.”

Eli narrows his eyes and smirks at me. “Are you flirting with me?”

I swivel my body from one side to the other in a playful manner. “What if I am?”

His swagger towards me has my heart rate picking up a notch. “Well, then I’d say that if you play your cards right, Ms. Banks, you may actually be able to reach first base with me tonight.”