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Over the last year, my love had only grown for Aiden. We were still young, with me at twenty and Aiden at twenty-one, but with all that we’d been through I knew we were each other’s forever. Neither one of us was in any rush to get married and agreed it was best to wait until after college.
Aiden put his arm around me. “Finishing up the details for the auction. Brooklyn and Mike are getting Chinese takeout for dinner. Where’s my girl been?”
I cleared my throat. Aiden hadn’t known about my plans today since I knew he’d insist on coming with me. “I went to Mount Kessler.”
Aiden’s eyes shot to mine, alarm etching his features, he faced me. “Kenzie, are you okay?”
Through the past year, Aiden had been my rock, the one to soothe me during the nightmares and . . . the heartache.
My hand graced his cheek. “I am. It was something I needed to do by myself.”
“I would have gone with you.” Minutely, Aiden relaxed, but continued to watch me closely.
“I know. I love you for it.” I paused. “While I was up there, I talked to Matthew and told him about us, school, and that I was living. It felt good, therapeutic even.”
Leaning over, Aiden’s lips lightly brushed mine. “I admire how strong you are. I love you, Kenzie.”
“I love you, too.”
The front door opened. Mike and Brooklyn entered. They were bantering back and forth as they made their way to the table with the food. Glancing to Aiden, he looked at me with love. This was my family, my life and I was choosing to live. Forever.
SINCE THE DAY I’d gone back to Mount Kessler, eight months had passed. School started in two weeks. After a grueling class schedule for the last year and a half, I was a senior like Aiden. We’d be graduating together. From there, I wasn’t sure where we’d go, but it would be together.
Aiden was hoping to get on as a journalist for a newspaper and I’d followed my love for research. I tried not to stress about the future and let it happen. That was the power of free will and choice—something I’d never take for granted.
Leaving the coffee shop from my late afternoon shift, my phone vibrated.
Aiden: What’s my gorgeous girl up to?
Me: Looking for you.
Aiden: Meet me where I first mauled you.
Me: What are you up to?
Aiden: Hurry!
Me: Okay!
Smiling, I picked up my pace as I walked the ten minutes to campus where Aiden had first run me over as he played football with his friends. A few students milled about on the campus I wondered what Aiden had planned. August heat in Arkansas was unrelenting as I kept my pace even.
Cresting the top of the hill, I saw Aiden standing on the sidewalk in the spot I’d taken the tumble. At the time, I had no idea those electrifying feelings meant that I’d found the one.
Aiden gave me a gorgeous smile and looked at me tenderly.
“What’s going on?” I asked, curiosity nearly eating me alive.
Grabbing his hand, I noticed it shook mildly. “Is everything okay, Aiden?”
He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his black hair while his blue eyes searched mine. The nerves emanating from him were similar to when he’d first asked me out. I wanted to giggle, but held it in, waiting to see where this went—hoping my suspicions were correct.
“It will be, in a sec. Shit, I’m nervous.” I gave him a quick kiss and tried to step back, but Aiden held me to him and spoke against my lips. “I’m calmer when you’re in my arms.”
“I like being in your arms.”
The grip around my waist tightened. “Kenzie, I’ve been wanting to ask you something for a while.”
Without thinking, I responded, “I’ve been wanting to answer something for a while.”
