Page 125 of Strings

I put the box down and lean my forehead against his. “Did you put these together for me?”

“I’ve been working on it for months. I had to wait until I had enough.”

“Sebastian!” I stand and stare at him.

“Are you mad? I wasn’t trying to remind you of what you lost. I just wanted you to have some new memories and these mean a lot to me.”

“How could I be mad at you? Why are you so good to me?”

He stands next to me. “Because it’s easy. Oh, and I have two more pens, but I can only give them to you if you make them come true.”

“Okay…” I say scratching my head. “How do I do that?”

“Do you know where we are?”

“Our bench.”

“And where is our bench?”

I glance around. “In. A. Park?” I ask because I don’t know where his questions are leading.

He smirks. “And what is that great big building behind us?”

I lift my hand to block the sun as I stare at it. “I have no idea. I’ve never paid attention to it before.”

“It’s the courthouse.”

He hands me a pen and I read it out loud. “The day I legally became Talia.”

“What?”

“It’s done. I filled out all the forms. All you have to do is walk in there and change your name. You’ll have your name, free and clear. Summer will be gone forever.”

“Really?” I smile and gaze down at the pen. “How come you didn’t include my last name? Did you run out of room?”

“God, I love you. You’re too smart for your own good. That’s what the second pen is for. He hands me another pen. “Read it out loud.”

“I was going to.” I roll my eyes at him and he smiles. “The day I legally became Talia Corronov. What?”

I glance over to him and he’s down on one knee. “Sebastian!”

The music begins and I swing my head toward the sound. Cherese is playing the clarinet and Bella is on her flute. Orchestra members surround us as they play “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Where were they hiding?

Sebastian reaches for my hand. “You came into my life when I needed you the most. I told you the day we met that my fate was in your hands. I didn’t realize then how true those words would be. You changed me. You made me want more. You made me want you. And now, my beautiful Talia, I can’t imagine my life without you. Please give me the chance to love you forever. Be tied to me in every way possible. Will you marry me?”

He reaches into his pocket and opens a box. I can barely see through my tears. I cry all the fricking time now. I fall to my knees next to him and he removes the ring and places it on my finger. I stare at it. It’s huge. A large brilliant diamond cut surrounded by leaves of silver sits on my finger. It’s perfect.

“I don’t know what to say.”

He laughs. “I’d settle for a yes. If you’ll have me?”

“Yes!” I shout “A million times yes!”

The orchestra finishes playing, and then one by one, they come to congratulate us. It’s amazing to see them all again. After everyone is gone and it’s just the two of us, Sebastian gently kisses me once more. This man… He is everything. He’s given me new memories of a past with him, a present full of him, and a future to look forward to with him.

I’ve been tied to him from the start and now, I’ll be strung to him for the rest of my life. My forever has a name. His name is Bash, he has an ass-chin, and he is my string. I’m finally home where I belong.

The real end.