by Ann, Natalie
He took a deep breath. “But, I love you. And I want to try. Try to be a better person, try to be the man you want and deserve.”
When the tears started to roll from her eyes, he gently brushed them aside and continued. “After you left last night, everything you said kept racing through my mind. You didn’t say anything that wasn’t true, anything I haven’t wished or wanted for a long time. But I told myself I couldn’t have it. I couldn’t live again. I shouldn’t be allowed to live my life when Tracy couldn’t. It’s wrong to feel that way. I know it, but I allowed myself to do it anyway.”
He took another deep breath. She was listening and softening, he could see. “I never thought I would feel the way I do about you. You make me want to strangle you, and laugh and kiss you at the same time. You were thoughtful enough to buy my dog a gift for Valentine’s Day, and tell me I’m a bad father for leaving Roxy alone, even though you were the reason for it.” He couldn’t help but smile when she did.
“Anyway. I want to give you all those things back. Laughter and kisses and the urge to strangle me when I move to slowly. I want you to have me for me, for all my flaws. Like I want to have you for you, for all your flaws.” He grinned at her, his own eyes getting a bit misty. “Well, aren’t you going to say anything?” he asked in desperation. It was the longest speech he ever made and she sat there staring at him, saying nothing back at all.
“Am I allowed to talk now?” she finally asked. “Because you told me I couldn’t.”
He let out a not so steady laugh. “Yes, you can speak now.”
She tried to reach up toward his face, but couldn’t quite make it. “Come here and kiss me first,” she ordered. “I love your slow awkward shyness, Jack. You’re my big boy, my boy toy.”
He grimaced, and she laughed all the more and then pulled his head down on her chest. “But most of all, I love you. Flaws and all.”
Epilogue
Jack watched Cori walk down the aisle toward the sunset while she held the white roses in front of her. He only had eyes for her, the woman he loved. The woman he wasn’t afraid to say it to or to anyone else who wanted to know. The woman who made him complete again. Made him a better man. Better than he ever thought he could be.
He could see she was concentrating on pacing her steps, trying to keep them slow rather than rushing toward the end. Like she did with everything else in life.
Then he saw the tears in her eyes as they met his, so he gave her a reassuring smile in return. She stood there, fighting those tears through the brief ceremony, through the exchange of the “I dos” and the kiss at the end when everyone was catcalling and whistling. Now it was time to make her way back down the aisle, only this time with a man on her arm.
When she passed by him with Ryan on her arm, he couldn’t fight his longing gaze directed at her. Just like Ryan couldn’t fight the urge to drop his arm around Cori’s shoulder and pull her closer to his side. He knew Ryan was only messing with him, but he couldn’t help the scowl. Ryan only laughed back at him and leaned down to kiss Cori’s cheek.
“You know, you can stop frowning at Ryan now. He’s your best friend. He’s only playing with you,” she said an hour later as she reached up and ran her fingers down his cheek.
He tightened his arms around her on the dance floor, causing her to lay her cheek on his chest. “Now that you’re done dancing with him I can stop frowning.”
***
The next day—the last day of their mini vacation in the Bahamas—Cori found herself standing on the balcony overlooking the ocean. A warm breeze caused her white sundress to float around her legs, her hot pink bikini clearly visible beneath. She was waiting for Jack to change into his swimsuit so they could make their way to the beach and spend their last day relaxing, enjoying their time together.
She turned with a start when she heard music coming from their suite. Walking back through the open glass doors she saw Jack standing there still dressed, only this time in khaki cargo shorts and a faded T-shirt.
She walked forward a few steps, then stopped, recognizing the song playing. The same song that was playing when she asked Jack to take her home at the first wedding they attended. The song that she said was the most romantic love song in the world. The song that brought them together so many months ago. “Amazed.”
Stopping in front of him, she started to speak, but he put a finger to her lips, reached down and pulled the white dress over her head. “The first time I saw you, you were wearing this bikini. For me it all started then, almost a year ago at Brooke’s house.”
He started the song over from the beginning. “Just listen to the words carefully. Each word coming from me, to you.” He took her arms and placed them around his neck, his hands on her hips, slowly dancing to the words.
After he gently wiped the tears from her eyes, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a ring, placing it on her left finger. “Marry me, Cori. Let’s spend the rest of our lives together.”
Never even looking at the ring, she only continued to stare into his eyes. She saw the love in them, and knew he was the one for her. She smiled and said, “Aren’t you going to get on one knee?”
He shook his head and laughed. “Don’t push it.”
“OK. Then, yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
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