Page 93 of Needing to Fall

“Hey, little sis.” Kyler came up then, holding his fist up for me to bump. I secretly loved him calling me that, but I felt the urge to give him shit about it.

“Little, my ass.” I bumped his fist as he chuckled.

“Hey, girl,” Colton said, staying in his seat around the table.

“Hi.” He and I hadn’t really talked much, but I kept in touch with him and cheered him on in one of his races. That was a fun experience.

“Let’s sit,” Lynx said, and everyone found their chairs.

I looked around at all the people who had come together for me. I had to be a little selfish in that moment because I had never thought I would have this. I had never thought I would experience people around me who loved me, cared for me, and would do everything in their power not to hurt me. I would do the same in return.

“May I have your attention please?” Lynx said, rising from the seat he had just sat in. “I want to thank each of you for coming. Reign has wanted this for some time, and we appreciate that you guys”—he nodded to Weston and the family—“were able to come. This is a very special night for my girl, and I know it means the world to her to have you all here. It does to me, too.”

Lynx turned to me, pushing out his chair. “Reign, I love you more than life itself. You’re my light, my partner, my everything. I want to wake up to you every morning and fall asleep with you in my arms at night. I want you to burn dinner so we have to go out.” Laughter came from the table. “And I want you to be a permanent fixture in Pepper’s and my life.”

I got confused for a moment, thinking I already was a permanent fixture. Then my pulse picked up.

That was when Lynx did something I had never believed possible for a kid who had never been wanted, who had never had anyone, who had done things she wasn’t proud of to survive, and then who had tried to take her own life.

He lowered down to one knee, and tears welled in my eyes. I wanted to pinch myself to see if I was sleeping or dreaming, something.

“Reign Owens, will you be my wife? Will you burn my food, take walks with me and Pepper, and spend the rest of your life with us?” He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a box as tears flowed over my cheeks and onto the floor. He opened the box to reveal a beautiful diamond, circle-cut ring.

I looked into his eyes where all the love he had given me shone so brightly. “Thank you,” I whispered.

“What?” he asked in shock, and I hurried up and spoke, thinking he thought I was saying no.

I placed my hand on his cheek. “Thank you for giving me a life I never thought possible, for being my rock and letting me grow into myself, for being the man I need in my life. I love you with everything I am and everything I have to give. I would love to marry you and burn your food.” Sobs racked my body as I heard the women in the room sniffling and the guys chuckling.

Lynx smiled his gorgeous smile and took the ring out of the box before he placed it on my finger.

I had never had anything in my life as beautiful as this except my love for Lynx.

He then scooped me up, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding on with all my strength.

Life was a journey of ups and downs. Unfortunately, I’d had way too many downs, but I dealt with them, grew from them, and learned from them. I wasn’t perfect, never claimed to be, but I was the perfect me.