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He grins, kissing me once more. “I love you, Emma. I’ve loved you for a long time. You just never noticed me with Lake around.”
“Lake?” I ask, wondering what she has to do with this.
“Emma, I’ve loved you since you were twelve years old and I saw you picking up litter in the park. You looked so beautiful, even covered in dirt and grime.”
“Since I was twelve?” I repeat. I remember that time in my life. I went through a faze where I made everyone on our street recycle, and I made my grandparents buy me a litter picker. I wanted to make a difference.
He nods, rubbing his hands up my sides. “Yeah.”
I soften further against him, feeling the love seep through my veins. “I love you too, Banner. I’ve not loved you as long, but I can tell you I love you just as much.”
His expressions soften, his eyes shining back at me. “I didn’t have the courage to do this when you were twelve, and I don’t have a love note with tick yes or no boxes, but I have to ask. Will you, Emma Burton, be my girlfriend?”
I laugh, nodding. He swings me around, his face lit up with happiness, before he drops me to my feet.
His lips reach mine, kissing me deeply and thoroughly.
This… this I could get used to.
I could spend the rest of my life kissing him, loving him. And he doesn’t know it yet, but I plan to make him happy for the rest of his life.
Because one day, I am going to marry him.
EPILOGUE
TEN YEARS LATER
I knew that one day this day would come. I dreamt of it for so long. I just didn’t anticipate how nervous I would be.
I bend down when little hands pull on my dress and look at the beautiful little girl with her chubby cheeks and bright, round, blue eyes.
“Lily-Mae, you look like a princess,” I tell her, truly blessed to have her in my life.
“Where are my daddies?” she whispers, looking around with curious eyes. “I might need a poo-poo soon.”
I laugh at her bluntness, hugging my niece. Technically, she’s my second cousin, but when Mark and Levi adopted her four years ago, I couldn’t picture being anything other than her auntie.
“Lily-Mae, your daddies are waiting for you at the end of the aisle, waiting to see you in your beautiful dress.”
She huffs, her chubby cheeks blowing up before she inhales, crossing her arms over her chest. “We’d better get this show on da road den.”
She never fails to bring a smile to my face. “Yep. I have my Prince Charming waiting for me at the end of the aisle.”
And I do. The past ten years have been a whirlwind. I’ve loved him harder and stronger with each day that’s passed. We’ve had to make some adjustments along the way, but we’ve pulled through. There is nothing that could tear us apart.
Her adorable little face scrunches up in disgust. “Uncle Banner eats all da best ice cream. He no Princes Charming.”
I giggle when she begins to pout. “I promise to hide some extra ice cream, just for you.”
Her entire face lights up and my heart squeezes in my chest. “You are da best auntie ever.”
Even though her words make me happy, it still makes me sad that she’s missing out on the aunties and uncles she could have had through Mark’s siblings. None of them have gotten in touch with him since he left home. It’s like they were hoping he’d all of a sudden be into girls. Now he’s married, has a beautiful daughter, and is going the adoption route again.
I stand up straight, waiting for Jordan to take the little girl’s hand. “You look beautiful,” she tells me.
I reach over and squeeze her hand. “Thank you. You look beautiful too. Thank you again for wearing a dress.”
She glares teasingly at me. “I wouldn’t do this for anyone else.”