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“I’m sorry that you ever had to doubt that I liked you from the first moment I met you,” he told me solemnly. “I’m sorry that I ever let you slip away. I’m sorry that I hurt you. I’m sorry that you felt the need to avoid me for four years because you didn’t trust me. I’m sorry for every moment that I wasted when I should’ve been fighting for you” —I was sobbing now— “and I could’ve been getting to know you. I’m sorry that I took so long to admit what I felt for you. I’m sorry it took me so long to fight for you.”
“It’s… okay…” I sobbed.
“And I’m sorry for everything I ever did that made you question what we were to each other. Because you are my little dove, and you have my heart. I want nothing but to be good to you. To be goodforyou. I told you that I would take care of you and I meant it.”
“I love you,” I sobbed brokenly and grabbed onto his face. I didn’t even care who was listening anymore or who was staring or what they were thinking because he just said all those beautiful things to me and really, what else mattered?
He looked choked up, and when he didn’t respond right away, Dani stage-whispered, “Tell her you love her!”
And a couple of people, definitely my aunts, laughed softly.
Shane cleared his throat. “I love you, Jolie.”
“And you need her!” Dani stage-whispered.
“And I need you.”
“You must have her! You’ll do anything to make that happen, otherwise you’ll die!”
“Yes,” he said dryly. “Everything your cousin just said.”
“Dani, shush!” Danica whispered.
“You know it’s all true,” he said solemnly, getting serious again as he gazed into my eyes. “And I want you to be my wife.”
“Yes. I’ll marry you. You know that.”
He smiled, and I fell into his arms. I gave him a shaky kiss, and I was dimly aware that a few people were clapping. There were murmurs around us, and I definitely heard Aunt Marie say, “Well, this is exciting!”
Shane took my face in his hands. Then he said, so everyone could hear, “And if my dad and your mom are pissed about this and it takes a four year engagement to convince them we’re right for each other, then we’ll do it.”
I definitely heard a bit of laughter at that. No one seemed to be freaking out, at least not in a bad way. I was kind of afraid to look up at any of them, though.
“Or, I’ll marry you tomorrow,” Shane promised me. “Whatever you want. Every day that I’m around you, I wake up the next day and I just want more. And that’s always been true. I told you I’d fulfill your every need. I told you I’d do anything for you. And I told you, I don’t pretend. I never lied. I meant every word of it. I love you, Jolie.”
He kissed me again, a soft, devout kiss, and I could practically feel the ladies around me swoon. “Damn,” Dani muttered, “that was even better than what I said.”
“Oh, and I have this. Sorry.” Shane dug in his pocket and pulled out a ring box.
“What…?” I gasped as he opened it, presenting me with a ring.
And not just any ring. An absolutely gorgeous, obviously expensive diamond engagement ring. I felt Danica leaning in, looking over my shoulder. “Oh, wow,” she whispered.
“Where did you get this…?” I breathed as he slid the ring onto my ring finger.
“Dane had it helicoptered in for me this morning. No big deal.” He shrugged. “It pays to know a billionaire.”
I laughed, feeling giddy and fucking amazing. Was this really my life?
My man?
I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him close, and he wrapped his arms around me, lifting me to my feet.
Over his shoulder, my eyes met Mom’s. She was crying, and Jacob had his arm around her. Jacob was gazing at us, with a look of wonder on his face. And those tears in my mom’s eyes? Shock, for sure. But also… happiness.
Maybe because she could see how happy I was, too.
Maybe because she could see that I’d found my unicorn.
