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Hill gave her a squeeze when everyone repeated “To final girls.”
He leaned close to her ear. “To my final girl.”
Warmth moved through her, and she turned to brush her lips against his. “To my final guy.”
The words came out so easily because she knew them to be true. They’d been together for over a year, and not once had she doubted what she’d declared the night of her attack. She loved him. He loved her. They were meant to be together.
That hadn’t meant there hadn’t been work to be done. Both of them had issues they were working through in therapy. Andi still looked over her shoulder at night. She was still suspicious of strangers. Hill had to be vigilant to keep his depression from surfacing again, and he still had flashbacks to the fire if he heard certain sounds. But the difference was that they were a team now. They didn’t have to fight those battles alone.
Love meant someone had your back. Love meant you didn’t have to hide what you were struggling with. Love taught you that sometimes it was okay not to be okay.
But more often than not lately, Andi was so much more than okay. She washappy. Full-throated, screaming-into-the-sky happy. She’d worked really hard to get there, and she wasn’t going to take one second of it for granted.
Andi settled in and enjoyed the evening with her friends, laughing a lot, drinking a little, and eating too much of Hill’s bread pudding. But when the sky went full dark, her friends started the dance ofIt’s getting late, we better get going.They gathered their things and headed out as if they’d mutually agreed on an exit time. After exchanging hugs with everyone and sending them all home with containers of leftovers, Andi shut the front door, locked it, and turned on the alarm. The sound of it activating was a comfort to her even in this quiet neighborhood. She spun around, leaned back against the door, and sighed.
Hill was standing in the middle of their living room, watching her with a look of affection that made her want to clutch her hands to her chest like an overdramatic actress.
“What’s that sigh for?” he asked.
“Tonight was great. I love my friends.”
“They’re awesome.”
“And I love you,” she said, taking in the view of him—dark hair mussed from the breeze outside, T-shirt clinging just enough to give her dirty thoughts.
“I love you back,” he said as he took a few steps closer. “In fact, you’re my favorite. Like, in the world.”
She closed her eyes and took in the sweet words, contentment winding through her like a drug. “Did you mean what you said about me being your final girl?”
He took her hands, and she opened her eyes, finding him right in front of her. “I did. Well, woman, not girl.” His lips kicked up at one corner in a suggestive smile. “You’re definitely all woman.”
“I meant what I said, too.”
He guided her arms around his waist and filled the space in front of her, his body heat radiating against her. “Good. Because one day, when you’re ready”—he leaned down to kiss her gently—“I’m going to marry the hell out of you, Andi Lockley.”
The words cascaded through her, filling her up to the brim. Her gaze jumped up to his. His brown eyes held her stare, saying everything she could ever want to feel from him. Sincerity. Love. Honesty. Forever.
“Is that right?”
“Absolutely.” He pushed her bangs away from her eyes and cupped the back of her neck. “With your permission, of course.”
A crazy thought snaked its way through her, whispering, daring her. “And what if I’m ready now?”
He didn’t flinch. “Then I’d marry you now.”
His lack of hesitation stole her breath, and an overwhelming sense of rightness flooded her.I’d marry you now. Now.“You’re serious.”
“I’m serious,” he said, voice calm as ever. “But there’s no rush. I’m not going anywhere. I just want you to know my intentions.” He kissed her again and gave her a small smile. “I’m done for. You’re it for me, neighbor. Ruined for all others.”
Her throat tightened, emotion knotting there. “You’re it for me, too.” She took in the sight of him, letting herself feel exactly what she was feeling and not overthinking it. “So if I’m it for you and you’re it for me, what exactly are we waiting for? What if you and I…”
“What if you and me, what?” he asked softly when she didn’t continue.
“What if we did that?” she said, boldness making her spine straighten. “Got married. Like this weekend.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “Like elope? Don’t you want all the pomp and circumstance with your friends and family there?”
Images flashed through her mind. Her parents inviting all their friends. Picking out bridesmaids’ dresses. Having her family dictate when and where things happened in order to stick with family tradition. Having to decide which state to have the wedding in. What food to serve. Which music to play.
