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"I know." She smiles sweetly, her eyes locked with mine. "Did you really mean what you said that day on the beach?"
I cup her face, running a finger over her lips. I'm obsessed with every part of her; I have been for a very long time. "That I'm going to marry you as soon as you're ready?"
"Yeah?" she says sheepishly, dropping her face so she's not looking at me anymore.
"Are you saying you're ready?" I ask, hopeful.
She looks down at her hands and fiddles with her rings, twisting them like I've noticed she does when she’s anxious about something. Then her eyes rise to meet mine with a fresh determination. "I don't want to waste any more time, Heath. You're right, I know you better than anyone, and I shouldn't have ever doubted you over the whole scandal thing. My gut told me you would never do that to me. Spending that time away and my dad forcing that wedding contract on me today made me think about everything I would be missing if I didn't have you in my life. I don't want that. I need you in my life more than I need air to breathe. You, my kids, and my sisters are the only real things I know right now, and I want to know my future is secure with you." She looks back at me like I'm the answer to all her prayers, and I have waited so long to be exactly that. She is the only thing that matters to me. Her and her children. Us being a family.
A slow smile creeps onto my lips. I know I'm probably giving myself away, but I can't help it. “Millie, I sold my house today. I’m all in.”
I can see her uncertainty wash away, that was exactly what she needed to hear. “You did? That’s amazing.” Her beautiful face lights up with excitement, and she throws her arms around me, kissing my lips.
I put a little distance between us. I want to celebrate with her, but first there is something I need to do. I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, enjoying the heat in her gaze as she watches me. "Hold on a second," I tell her, pulling away and rushing to my suitcase and rooting around in there for the box. "Close your eyes," I call back to her.
"Why?" She gives me a hard look, not wanting to play. And after the day she's had, that’s understandable.
"Just do it, Millie," I tell her with a grin. I have gone from furious to excited in a matter of minutes. This might not be exactly how I had planned to do this, but I have known for a long time it's what I wanted. I was just waiting for her to catch up with me.
"Okay." She closes them and waits patiently for me to return.
I get down on one knee in front of her and open the box. "You can open them now,” I tell her. Her lashes flutter open, and her pretty blue eyes go wide as her face lights up. "Marry me, Ms. Amelia Rose Harper."
"You had the ring already?" Her hand goes to her chest, and she laughs, hardly able to believe it.
"I had it designed after the reunion. I knew, Millie, it's always been you. Now we can spend the rest of our lives together." I stare up at her, waiting desperately for her response.
"Yes," she sobs, happy tears slipping down her cheeks.
I slide the ring onto her finger and stand so I can pull her into me and kiss the girl I fell in love with so long ago I can't even remember when it happened. All I know is I would do anything for her, and I will for the rest of my life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
AMELIA
Twodaysago,Igot engaged. The kids were ecstatic when we told them, and I haven't been able to wipe the smile from my face since. After celebrating for half the night, we talked a little more and decided we didn't want to wait to get married, partly because I don't trust my dad not to pull some other stunt after his threats and partly because we have already wasted so much time. We want to get on with our happily ever after now. I know in my heart it's the right decision. As soon as we decided, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. My body and soul were content for the first time in my life.
We went over numerous ideas of what we could do, but in the end, decided an elopement with just the four of us was the best idea. We can have a party with all our friends and family later, but with all the drama, this needs to be just for us. Our little family.
I remembered that my cousin Elly in Australia runs a company planning weddings, and we both thought getting away for a bit together couldn't be a bad idea with the ultimatum I was given, so I gave her a call. She was ecstatic for us and has promised to keep our secret until after the wedding. Heath was able to book the private jet, and I grabbed a dress from my design studio I had been secretly working on, hoping one day I might have the chance to wear it, and here we are, a couple of days later in sunny Australia. I have never done anything so impulsive in my life—well, maybe jumping on a plane and taking off to Paris for three weeks, but this one will change my life forever, and everything about it feels right.
We collect our bags, and as we walk across the tarmac toward Elly, I lean into Heath. It’s all starting to feel real. "My sisters are going to kill me for keeping this from them," I whisper to him.
"The boys are going to kill me, not to mention what my mom will do. But for once in our lives, this is about us. They will understand." He smiles. He's the happiest I have seen him, and just knowing that makes all my concerns about anyone else disappear. He’s right, this is about us, and I want this more than I have ever wanted anything.
"Millie!" Elly squeals when she spots us and comes shuffling over. She’s just as adorable as I remember, in her short skirt and Doc Martins, with the frilly socks peeping out the top.
"Elly." I wrap my arms around her in a warm hug. It's been years since I’ve seen her, but she hasn't changed a bit. Long blonde hair with a pale pink tinge to it, a leopard-print skirt, and black tank top. She has a funky sense of style I have always adored. When I was younger, I wanted to be just like her, I thought she was so cool. I pull back from her so I can introduce her to the rest of my family. "This is Heath, Connor, and Ruby," I say proudly, feeling like a real family for the first time.
She gives Heath a hug then smiles down at the kids. "Hey, guys, are we just a little excited for the next few days?"
"I have a pretty dress for the wedding, and Mom says I can even get my hair done," Ruby tells her, taking her hand.
"You sure can. I have it all planned out for you. It's going to be so much fun," Elly tells her as they walk toward her car together.
When we're all settled in Elly's car, I switch on my phone. A long list of missed calls pop up, mostly from my father, but Jasmine, Summer, and Mom make the list as well. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help myself. I press play on the first message.
"I don't know what you're playing at, Amelia, but stop ignoring my calls. This is your last warning. The plane leaves at three pm today, and you’d better be on it. The details have been sent to your email." My father's tone is furious, and I know the relationship we used to have is dead and gone. It was as soon as he threatened me. It hurts, but this was his doing, not mine. I can live with my life choices; I wonder if he can say the same. There are fourteen more calls from him after that one, so I'd say I'm out of warnings. I don't care, what's the worst he can do? Destroy my business? Let him do it. I started with nothing; I can do it all over again if I have to.
