Page 134 of Between Never and Forever

I stared at my lilac wedding dress hanging there, and his words brought tears to my eyes. “My mom said that to me before she forgot again. Did you know that?”

“Your mother is a smart woman.”

“I worry I won’t ever be as smart as her most days, that I can’t make her proud, that I’ve lost her. And you with my dad, Dex…” My voice broke, remembering the talk I had with him. “You’re taking on a lot being with me.”

“No more than I was before I was with you dreaming about being with you.” He sighed and stepped up to me to pull me close. “Did she like your wedding dress?”

I nodded.

“Do you think she’d like to see it on you in the spring down by the lilacs in your backyard?”

“Dex… I just want you to know I’m going to be a completely different person soon. A new look, a new brand, and the press might hate me and—”

He cut me off. “You asked me once why I needed you in my home. Not just wanted. Needed. It’s because I wasdyingwithout you, Kee. Suffocating. Couldn’t fucking breathe without you. Is that answer enough? I didn’t commit. Toanything. I haven’t loved a woman before you nor will I love another after you. I knew it then like I know it now. I have always loved you, and I hated you for that, Kee.” He dragged a hand over his face, and then he got down on one knee. “Only because I couldn’t be with you. So, you’re wearing my ring but I want you to say it too. Say you’ll marry me. Say we belong together. Say yes because I’m asking you now. Will you marry me?”

“You’re not telling me?” I whispered.

“I will if you say no, but I’ll ask first.” His dimples showed. And I knew as I looked at him that was the truth. Dex would always protect me. He wanted to. He needed to. But he’d also take into consideration my requests.

We were a team, and I knew as I gazed at the lilac lace splattered with red, it was the only team I wanted to be a part of. “You know you didn’t get rid of all the evidence. If I marry you in that dress, someone might see,” I whispered.

“Maybe you and not just someone but everyone, needs a reminder that I’ll make the world bleed if it hurts you. Do you get that?” he whispered against my ear.

I grabbed his shirt and pulled him close, crying now because there was no way to stop myself. “Then don’t let them hurt me again, because I sort of like the world we’re creating.”

“Is that a yes? You’ll marry me? Be with me forever?”

“Yes… For forever and ever.”

~The End~

ChapterForty-Three

EPILOGUE - KEELANI

“It’s perfect,”I whispered, probably a bit too lost in the picture of Dex and I surrounded by lilacs in my parents’ backyard. The sunlight poured on us and glinted off the new gold gate Dex had replaced.

On our wedding day, Dex had even given me a shiny key that opened that gate and a tiny music box. When I unlocked the music box, it slowly opened and played the melody of the song my mother and I always sang together.For the woman who is Kee to my heartwas engraved on it.

That had only been a few weeks ago, but now I felt the tears streaming down my face and remembered the smell of that fragrant flower as I walked down the grassy aisle on that perfect day.

“Good. Then, they’re printing it,” Dex said like there was no room for negotiation. He’d been sitting at his new desk within my office at Trinity Enterprises while Olive, Pink, and I sat on the ground, stressing over final approvals for one of the biggest magazines in the world.

He hadn’t said a single thing until now. “You want to add your opinion now? We’ve been talking about this for nearly an hour.” I glared at him.

He glanced up from his laptop and gave me his dimples as he smiled. “I have no idea what you all have been talking about for the past hour, but it hasn’t only been that. Anyway, I’m hungry for lunch with my wife. You like that one.” He nodded at the photograph in front of me. “I can tell. So, go with it.”

So easily now, the man trusted my judgment and told me to follow my gut. I did most of the time too because I’d been learning to trust myself.

“He’s right. That’s the one.” I pointed down at the photo.

He nodded and then looked at his watch. “Also, you have a meeting with a new artist in an hour and a half. So what do you want for lunch?”

Olive pushed at the flowers in her hair before she nodded and then stood up from the ground to stretch. “Well, that was easy. Also, you’re not doing any appearances for the next month. So, I’m guessing you’ll have some time off?”

I nodded softly, not wanting to tell her she wasn’t needed.

“Means you’re free for a whole month, I guess.” Dimitri walked into the office and blurted out what I didn’t want to.