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“So, Ava, will you marry me?”
Just as my words are coming out, she’s already nodding her head with tears streaming down her face. “Yes, yes, yes. A million times, yes!”
The crowd around us cheers as I slip the ring onto her finger and kiss her passionately. Malcolm finishes off the song while I twirl her around in the damp grass and the sun sinks lower behind us.
Millie pops a bottle of champagne, which causes the rest of the group to laugh because we didn’t think anyone brought alcohol with them. Should’ve known better when it comes to her.
“Mrs. Rivers has a nice ring to it,” she whispers to me with nothing but love shining through her gaze.
Alex is the first one to walk up to us, patting me on the back in congratulations before giving Ava an awkward hug. She doesn’t let that slide though, which only causes me to laugh.
If someone told me that Alex and Ava would become so close after everything that happened, I would tell you that you’re lying. But, they have. Ava and Alex are almost as close as she and Millie are. He’s been continuing his AA meetings, never faltering or giving in to his urges, and that’s enough to have me giving him the chance that Ava’s been giving him.
Ava’s parents come up to us next, tears shining in both of their eyes as they hug their little girl tightly. I know she’s been missing them like crazy, which is why I have another surprise that might be even more amazing to her than the proposal. I grab her hand, nodding briefly to Ava’s dad to let him know that it’s time to show her the finale. He guides us through a field until we reach the house that sits perfectly on the other side of my future wife’s favorite spot.
Ava looks around curiously, her head cocking to the side. “What’s going on?” she asks.
I give her one more passionate kiss, sneaking the key into her purse, before pulling away with a big smile. “See for yourself. Think we can check it out?”
She shakes her head incredulously. “Are you crazy?”
“Only for you,” I say before pulling her to the front door, which I locked behind me earlier today after getting our room ready for us. ”Check your purse, baby.”
Even though she clearly thinks I’m going insane, she does exactly as I ask and lifts a shaky hand into the dimming light of dawn. “Wh-what’s this?”
“It’s our home.”
She gasps, pushing the key into the lock and turning the knob excitedly. “But, how… when?”
I cast a thankful glance over to her father before saying, “I had a little help.”
“Are you sure?”
“One hundred percent. This is where you want to be, and as long as you’re here, I don’t see myself being anywhere else.”
We kiss, everyone around us fading away, until we get another set of congratulations and everyone heads back down the trail. Alone at last. I lift her up and she wraps her legs around me, then I walk up the stairs carefully so I don’t drop her. If I knew that loving someone would feel this freeing, I wouldn’t have hid from it for so long. Nothing feels better than being loved unconditionally.
