Page 53 of Salvation (Rising From the Ashes #3)

Campbell

One Year Later

“ C ampbell, we’re going to be late. We don’t have time for this.”

Turning my head over my shoulder, I give Ivy a mischievous grin as I pull her behind me toward the willow tree.

“We aren’t going to be late, sunshine. We have at least two hours before we have to be there.”

“Yeah, but even with two hours, you’ll still probably find a way to be late,” she argues, trying to blow away a curl that keeps falling into her eyes as we run.

It’s Hayes and MJ’s daughter’s first birthday party today.

The party is at their house, and all of Benton Falls will be there.

We will, too, but first I have something important to do.

Tugging Ivy to a stop, I wrap the curl around my finger, leaning in to steal a kiss from her lips.

When Ivy narrows her eyes, I let my lips linger over hers.

“You’re trying to distract me. Aren’t you?”

“Maybe. Now come on, or you’ll be the one who makes us late.”

I finish pulling her beneath the tree, and once the branches wrap us in their privacy, I drop to one knee, unable to wait another second.

I’ve always known where I would propose to Ivy, if ever given the chance.

Nowhere else would have done because here, beneath the branches of the willow tree, is where we fell in love.

It’s seen our greatest joy and our deepest heartbreaks, and I want to spend the rest of my life making memories with her here.

Ivy’s hand flies to her mouth as she looks down at me, tears filling her eyes.

“I’ve loved you for seven hundred and twenty-five million, three hundred and twenty-eight thousand seconds, sunshine, and I’m wondering if you would let me have the honor of loving you a lifetime more.”

She doesn’t answer at first. She drops to her knees in front of me and traces her fingers along my jaw. It’s not until her mouth is a breath from mine—and my heart feels like it might beat out of my chest—that she finally says, “Only if you’ll let me love you for the same.”