Page 326 of Iced Up Love: Part Two
My chest aches.
“I would have waited,” he continues. “As long as it took. Because you were always worth it.”
His thumb brushes my knuckles.
“You’re home,” he says. “For me, there is no better feeling than walking into the door knowing you are waiting for me. And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you feel that.”
Another ring is slid onto my finger before Elijah steps forward. He steps in close, close enough that I feel his breath before he even speaks.
“You were always mine,” he says quietly.
No hesitation.
No apology.
“You just didn’t know it yet.”
A soft murmur of amusement moves through the crowd.
“You belong to me,” he continues, his hand sliding to my jaw. “And I belong to you.”
Something inside me cracks open.
“I never gave you an engagement ring,” he adds, softer now.
His fingers slide another ring into place beside the first.
“This is that.”
My vision blurs.
“And this...” his voice drops, rougher now “is me choosing you. Every time. In every way.”
I can’t speak.
I don’t need to.
Because they all see it.
The way I feel.
The way this means something.
I hold back the tears as I slide a ring onto each of their fingers, whispering I love you with each one. It’s not traditional, but ours and means everything to me.
And when it’s done, the applause breaks through.
Loud.
Warm.
Real.
People move toward us after. Congratulations. Touches. Voices, but it all feels slightly distant, like I’m floating just above it, until Elijah leans in beside me.
“Do you want to see the house?”
I laugh softly, breathless.
