Page 33 of Forever, Never, Always (Forever #2)

Sofia

Zoe is fussing, moving around like she’s got ten things on her mind, none of which she’s willing to explain. It makes no sense. There’s a buzz in the air, something unspoken, not quite tension but not quite nerves. Excitement?

Meg lifts up Harry’s little overnight bag and gives it a shake. “Is this the one?”

“Yep,” I nod slowly, still watching Zoe out the corner of my eye. “It should have everything you need for a couple hours.”

“Mind if I grab some extra clothes and stuff?” Meg asks, all casual, but there’s something about the way her voice goes up a notch.

I narrow my eyes. “What’s going on?”

They exchange a look. It’s quick but not quick enough. I catch it, and now, I’m really suspicious.

“Okay, full disclosure,” Zoe says, exhaling as she places the curling iron down and sits beside me with the kind of deliberateness that means this is a thing . “To make up for everything, I’d like to take you out. Special dinner. A few drinks after, if you’re up for it.”

I hesitate. I’ve got an interview in an hour with a writer’s magazine, something that could actually turn into my dream job. A new beginning.

Zoe’s eyes sparkle. “And maybe we’ll be celebrating your new job.”

“And I’m happy to have Harry overnight,” Meg adds, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “So you can fully relax.”

I glance at my baby boy as he pulls himself to stand against the couch, his fingers gripping the edge like he’s willing himself to stay upright.

His eyes flit to mine, and my heart clenches.

He’s been off lately, clingier, a little quieter.

I know it’s not just the teething or the sleep regression. He misses Ric. Just like I do.

I smile tightly, feeling the heat of my friends’ kindness, and push away the feeling that thinking about Ric brings me. “Okay,” I say simply.

“Okay,” Zoe repeats with a huge smile on her face. She picks up the curling iron and begins sectioning my hair.

Eric

I’m nervous. Doubts are plaguing me. Not about her—never about her—but about Zoe.

What if she’s changed her mind?

What if all that talk of new beginnings and forgiveness was just that? Talk.

I hear them before I see them—giggling, the light kind that makes something ache in my chest—and then Zoe appears, leading Sofia by the hand.

Sofia stumbles a little, blindfolded, clutching Zoe’s arm. “I’m not sure what you’re up to, Miss Heart, but you’re making me nervous.”

“You said you wouldn’t question me.”

“I trust you. Just . . . you said we were going to a few bars, and now, I’m blindfolded like I’ve been kidnapped.”

Zoe laughs. “All will become clear.”

Then she catches my eye—brief but loaded—and gives me a small, knowing nod. My heart stutters.

They stop in front of me. Zoe steadies Sofia then turns her gently so her back is to me. “Okay,” she says, lifting the blindfold with care.

Sofia blinks, adjusting to the light, glancing around. Before she can turn, Zoe holds her lightly by the shoulders to keep her facing forward.

“I was wrong,” she says. Her voice is steady, but I can see the tension in her hands.

Sofia laughs, awkward and unsure. “Zoe, what are you talking about?”

Zoe draws in a breath. “Sofia, you’re the sweetest, kindest person I’ve ever met. And I don’t know if you’ll ever forgive me for the way I came between you and Ric.”

Sofia stiffens. “Zoe—”

“It wasn’t my place to stand in your way. You deserve happiness as much as anyone. And what I did, what I said, it was selfish. It’s something you’d never do. Not to anyone.”

“It’s me who was in the wrong,” says Sofia.

Zoe shakes her head, smiling. “It’s all in the past. I want to draw a line under everything, which is why I brought you here. The zoo was too far, and this was the next best thing.”

Sofia chuckles. “My back garden?”

Zoe nods, also smiling. “I asked Ric where your best memories were made, and apart from the zoo, he said he hopped the fence one time. It was your first kiss. And now, you should see for yourself how much he loves you.”

Sofia starts to turn. Slowly. Cautiously.

And then her eyes find mine.

I’m on one knee. The ring in my hand glints in the soft light, held up like a quiet offering. A diamond, yes, but it’s more than that. A promise. A plea. A surrender.

“I love you,” I say, my voice thick. “So, so much. When we’re apart, I can’t function.

These last few weeks without you? They've been . . . hell. I can’t do life without you, Sofia.

I don’t want to. And I don’t want to be the guy you talk about someday, the one who broke your heart.

I don’t want to be a sad chapter in your story.

I’m not here to rewrite our history. I just want to be your next chapter. ” I take a breath. “Will you marry me?”

For a second, everything is still. Sofia doesn’t move. Doesn’t speak. She just stares.

At me. At the ring. At everything this moment means.

Her hand flies to her mouth, eyes wide, glassy. “Oh my god,” she breathes. It’s not rejection—it’s disbelief.

I hold my breath. Waiting. Hoping.

Then she starts to shake her head, not in a no , but like she can’t believe what’s happening. Her voice trembles when she finally speaks. “Ric . . . are you serious?”

I nod slowly. “More serious than I’ve ever been.”

She glances back at Zoe, who also has her hands over her mouth as happy tears slip down her cheeks. She nods, maybe in approval, maybe in encouragement.

Sofia turns back me and laughs, a soft, tearful sound. “You idiot,” she whispers, dropping to her knees in front of me. “You beautiful, ridiculous idiot.”

And then she kisses me. Hard. Hands in my hair, ring forgotten between us, as her yes pours into my mouth.

She pulls back just far enough to murmur, “Of course, I’ll marry you.”

Sofia

I can’t stop my tears of happiness as I pull back and stare at the ring Ric’s clutching. I hold out my shaky hand, and he slides it onto my finger.

Cheers erupt, and I jump in fright as everyone appears from the kitchen. Ric’s family. My parents. Meg. And my gorgeous little boy, who’s kicking his legs in excitement, like he can sense how both our lives are about to change for the better.

Ric stands and holds out a hand for me to take. He kisses me again, every ounce of love poured from him to me as he runs his hands through my hair. “I love you,” he whispers.

“I love you too,” I reply, sniffling through my tears.

He heads to Harry, scooping him into his strong arms and peppering kisses over his cheeks. Then he presses his nose into his wispy hair and closes his eyes as he inhales deeply. My heart swells with even more love. He’s missed Harry just as much as we’ve missed him.

Meg and Zoe wrap me in a three-way hug. We’re all crying, which causes us to break out into a fit of giggles. “I love you two so much,” says Zoe. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a cow.”

“We love you just the way you are,” says Meg.

“I meant what I said,” Zoe says, looking me in the eyes. “He was always meant to be yours.”

I run a hand over her cheek, rubbing away her tears. “Thank you so much. Your blessing means everything.”

“I want front row seats at the wedding. And I get to approve the wedding planner,” she says firmly. I smile through watery tears, nodding.

We spend time hugging each and every person here. It’s all our most special people in the same room for the first time. And as I watch my parents chatting happily with Harry and Charlotte, I realise this is good for them too. We’re all going to be part of the same family.

Ric wraps his arm around me. “How did the interview go?”

I laugh, my recent interview forgotten in all the madness. “I got it. I start in a month.”

“Perfect, because we fly to Bali on Monday.”

I gasp, turning in his arms. “What?”

“I planned it ages ago, but then shit happened. I was going to propose there, but now seemed so perfect.”

“It was. I couldn’t have asked for a better proposal.”

And it really is perfect. Our family and all the people we love together. But most of all, my best friends.

I watch as Zoe laughs at something Meg is telling her. “How did you manage to convince her?”

Ric follows my gaze. “I didn’t. It was all her. She had me call everyone together while she sorted your makeover. I think she realised how happy we are together and how sad we are apart.”

I turn in his arms, smiling up at him. “I hated being away from you.”

“Good, because that will never happen again, Sofia. This is our fresh start, me, you, and Harry. Nothing and no one will ever come between us again.”

He presses his lips to mine, and the world around us fades—the past, the hurt, all of it. This kiss isn’t just a promise.

It’s a beginning.

For once, I believe it. I believe him . Because we deserve this. We deserve forever . And as he holds me closer, the future stretches out before us, bright, unwritten, and finally ours.

Our happily ever after.

Always.