Page 94 of Finding Hayes
She didn’t speak as I reached into the pocket of my flannel shirt and pulled out the little black box I’d hidden there. I opened it up, and there was a platinum band with a princess-cut diamond sitting on top. Classic and beautiful, just like her.
“Hayes,” she whispered. “What is this?”
“That ring you’re wearing isn’t worthy of you.” I chuckled, because we’d gotten it off of Amazon for twenty bucks, because we just needed something to look the part for appearance’s sake. “I want my ring on your finger. I know we want different things, but maybe none of that matters as much as we think it does. Maybe all that matters is you and me. Because when I’m with you, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. And I know it’s selfish to ask you to be with me when someone else can give you everything you want. But I’m a selfish man when it comes to you. I don’t want to let you go.” My voice shook, which startled me. I wasn’t used to being vulnerable, but I knew it was necessary. I didn’t want her to move. I didn’t want her to leave Magnolia Falls.
I don’t want her to leave me.
“Are you doing this because you don’t want to lose me as a friend again?” she asked. “Because things are different now. We’re not going to lose touch this time. You’re stuck with me,” she said, as the tears streamed down her pretty face.
“I’m not doing this because I’m afraid we’ll lose touch. I’m doing this because I can’t live without you. I don’t want to be friends who hook up.I want you to be mine.I want to grow old with you. I want to watch you chase your dreams and support you every step of the way. I want you, Sav. I want us.” I used the pads of my thumbs to swipe the falling tears away. “I want a life with you.”
She nodded, blinking a few times as the tears continued to fall. “I thought you never wanted to be married for real? Never wanted forever with anyone.”
“I thought so, too.” I shrugged. “But then you came back to town like a blazing wildfire and brought me back to life. Setting my world on fire. And I know without question that we belong together. We might not be perfect, and things might get messy, but I’ll fight for us every goddamn day if you take this chancewith me.”
“I’ll take that chance with you,” she whispered. “Because you are all I want, Hayes Woodson. You are all I need. You are enough.”
Those were words I never thought I’d hear.
She took the fake ring off her finger, and I slipped the new ring on in its place.
There was an elephant in the room that we’d clearly decided not to discuss.
She wanted a family.
I wanted her.
At the end of the day, we’d figure it out.
I hoped that after reading the letters, she’d understand why I was the way that I was.
My intense fear of failing when it came to the people that I loved.
And right now, I just needed her to know that I was all in.
She stared down at her hand and smiled. “It’s gorgeous.”
“You’re gorgeous, Shortcake.”
“I need you to know that if it’s just you and me for the rest of this lifetime, I can live with that, Hayes. I just needed to know that you felt the same way.Youare my family, and that’s enough for me.” Her voice wobbled, and I knew what she was saying.
She’d give up her dream of a family for me.
And I was the selfish prick who was going to let her do it.
Because I loved her that much.
“We don’t need to decide anything today. All we need to know is that we’re going to make this work. Whatever it takes. And I think it will help if you read the letters.” I tucked her long hair behind her ear, and she nodded.
I tugged her down and kissed her hard, my tongue exploring and claiming her the way I was desperate to do.
When I pulled back, she was smiling at me.
“I couldn’t wait to get home today, but you surprised me, and I know you hate surprises, so thank you.” She sighed. “So, I’m staying in Magnolia Falls. We’re really doing this.”
“Fuck yeah, we are. If you want this, Sav, I will be by your side. However you need me.”
She nodded, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. “I want this.”
