Page 150 of Bred

I pick up the picture, smiling fondly at what I see.

It was a candid shot. I remember it vividly. Brinley was about to take a bite when I stole her attention. Her gaze flickered to me, a playfully mischievous look transforming her face as she instead slowly licked around the ice cream, knowing she was taunting me as she did. Her blonde hair was long and straight against the Beetlejuice striped sweater she was wearing.

She looked young and joyful and beautiful. When I heard her laugh, it felt like there was a missing piece in my heart that just slid into place, making me whole for the first time in my life.

I remember it was the first time I ever truly felt content.

I’ve felt it other times since, and each time, I was with her.

Truth is, she’s owned me since that night. There was a visceral part of me that knew immediately I needed to make her mine and never let her go.

But I did, and it was a mistake I’ll never forgive myself for.

“I can’t tell you how many sleepless nights I spent staring down at this photograph, Brinley,” I say hoarsely. “It was all I had of you inside. For a while, I thought it would be theonlything I had of you ever again.”

“Lucas,” she says softly. She blinks and a tear slips down her cheek when I clasp her hand, getting out of my chair to kneel in front of her.

“Maybe I’m the one who did time, but you’re the thief, Brinley. You stole my attention that night and never let it go. You stole my gaze because ever since it landed on you, I haven’t been able to look anywhere else. But most of all…”

By now, we’ve drawn a crowd; recording this moment with their phones, but I don’t pay them any attention. My entire focus is on the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.

“You stole my heart.”

She lets out a little sob when I open the black box that has been burning a hole in my pocket for the last two months and present it to her. Showcasing the small, princess cut diamond sitting atop a platinum band inside, I take it out and hold it in front of her.

“I know we have a lot to work through. I know everything seems to be moving fast, but that’s the thing. Time doesn’t matter to us. I knew the moment I laid eyes on you that you were the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. So, if you take a chance on me, onus, I promise I will spend every fucking moment of it striving to be worthy of your love. Brinley, will you—”

“Yes!” she exclaims happily, cutting me off. The crowd around us laugh.

“You didn’t let me finish,” I complain, but I can’t stop grinning.

“Well, then hurry up!”

“Brinley, will you marry—”

“Yes!”

This time, I don’t even try to finish. As soon as I slide the ring on her finger, she comes crashing into me, crying happily against my lips as she kisses me. Behind us, the crowd whoops and claps.

“Take me home, Lucas,” she whispers in my ear, clutching me tightly to her.

“You are my home,” I tell her seriously. “It’s always been you.”

I don’t know what I did to deserve this second chance, but I’m grateful for it. Because right here, this moment, is the happiest I’ve ever been, the happiest I’ll ever be.

Until she has my baby, that is.

THE END