AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I want to throw up or pass out. I can’t tell. I cling tighter to the rail.
I could ask Lindy what it is I’m feeling, but she’s not here. Is she? She’s not here because I wasn’t man enough to face my fears, and just try to take the best care of her I could. I was scared I wouldn’t be good enough, so instead of trying, I just sent her away.
Not a moment, not a day goes by that I’m not hating myself for my decision. But it can all go away, the fear, the self-hatred, the sadness, if she will just come to dinner. My head lolls back, and I stare up at the sky.
Please, God, let her accept my invitation. I just need to see her, have her see me, and I know…
We will find our way back to one another.
I’ll grovel. I’ll beg. I’ll do whatever it takes to make her forgive me.
There—my heart stops beating—she is.
She’s just arrived at the top of the stairs, a staff member holding the door open for her. The light from the stairwell illuminates her from behind, shimmering off her gold dress, her light hair, making her look like an absolute angel.
There must be a god. How can someone so sweet come back to me? It’s a miracle she’s even here. I just stare at her, waiting for her to speak.
“You’ve come,” I say.
“I don’t need to know why you did what you did. I think I already do,” she says. She moves toward me, stopping when she’s a few feet away from me. Her steely gaze holds mine. “I am going to ask you one question. If you can’t give me an honest answer, I will leave. And you’ll never, ever see me again. I’ll make sure of it.”
I’ve never seen her pretty brown eyes with the hardness to them that they have now. Such determination etched on her beautiful face. I’m shaken. My knees go weak. My stomach roils.
God, I hope I haven’t already lost her.
“Yes.” I plead, hoping she can read the earnestness in my gaze. “Please. Anything. Ask me anything. I promise to be honest.”
She waits a moment. Turns over her shoulder. Looks out at the city skyline. Turns back to me.
She takes a deep breath. “Are you in love with me? Because despite my better judgment, my anger, the pain you caused me when you sent me away…” She shakes her head, brushing a tear from her eye before she looks back at me. “I’m in love with you.”
She loves me.
It’s all I need.
I fall to one knee.
“Yes. I’m in love with you. I love you, beautiful angel.” I slip the red box from my pocket and flip open the lid. Nestled in the black velvet is the ruby and diamond engagement ring she left behind. “Marry me. For real.”
She gives me a look like she thinks she should know better. Like she should turn and run and never come back to me. And maybe she should.
My knee digs into the concrete under my weight. “I love you, Lindy,” I say. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make you trust me. I promise.”
Her hands go to her face. Trembling as her fingers flutter over her mouth as she gasps. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. Anything.” I stare at her. “I love you so much. I invited you here tonight so I could beg your forgiveness. And to propose to you.” My voice falls, tight with emotion as I say, “And to apologize, of course, for sending you away. I got scared and I made a selfish decision to protect myself. You light my entire world. The whole thing went dark, the moment you left.”
She crosses the patio to where I am.
Thank God.
I can breathe again.
She cups my face in her hands. “I love you too.” Her eyes glitter with forgiveness.
“Will you join me for dinner for the rest of our lives?” I ask. “The good days, the bad ones, the ones where we’re sick and when we’re in good health. When we have things to celebrate, and when we don’t.”
I hold my breath, waiting for her answer.
