Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
I nod in silent agreement that I want that too. I want everything. To be his love, his wife, the mother of his kids. I want us.
“Autumn, my beautiful girl, will you marry me?”
I take that as permission to finally speak. “As if I could ever say no to you,” I say in a rush. “Of course, I’ll marry you, Aidan. Yes!”
Everyone around us erupts in a cheer, but I barely even notice. All I see, all I hear and feel and can focus on is Aidan.
“Give me your hand, sweetheart.”
I step forward, arm outstretched. Aidan’s warm hand takes my left one, and he slides the silver shiny ring onto my finger.
A perfect fit.
He stands quickly, and I practically climb him like a damn tree, desperate to kiss and hug and touch him, to show him just how much I love him. My love, my Aidan, my future husband. I’m crying but they’re all happy tears, and I taste the salt water on my lips when I kiss Aidan eagerly.
“Do you like the ring, sweetheart?” Aidan murmurs, adjusting me so I can actually look at my new ring.
I blink away the last of my tears and stare wide-eyed at it. A beautiful white gold band with a mind-bogglingly pretty princess-cut diamond. I’ve literally never seen anything so gorgeous, except Aidan of course.
“I love it,” I whisper in utter awe. “It’s perfect. This is perfect. You’re perfect.”
We laugh against each other, our teeth clattering together with our clumsy eagerness, in our own little bubble while our family and friends celebrate around us.
“I love you, sweetheart. I can’t wait for you to be my wife.”
I clutch him even closer, feeling the pounding of his heart against mine. “I can’t wait for you to be my husband,” I tell him brightly. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.”
“My girl,” he murmurs, burying his face in the crook of my neck and kissing me.
I arch into him, trying to remember that we’re still in the middle of a party and that I can get him naked later, giggling.
“Yours,” I agree. “Always.”
EPILOGUE
AUTUMN
“It’s an honor to see so many faces out in the crowd tonight to celebrate our city’s heroes,” the MC, a tanned man with so much gel in his hair it looks shiny under the stage lights, says into the microphone.
The excited crowd all takes their seats obediently, and I sigh happily as I get off my aching feet. My rounded belly bumps into the table when I try to pull my seat closer, making both Aidan and me laugh.
“Careful, sweetheart,” Aidan chastises lovingly, tugging his seat closer to me. He rests one arm on the back of my chair and the other on my stomach through the velvety red fabric of my dress. It took a hell of a lot of shopping with Janey to find a dress that was both pretty and flattering and would fit over the huge baby bump. But I refused to miss this event even at eight and a half months pregnant.
My husband is up for an award for his service as a firefighter, and I’ll be damned before I miss a chance to celebrate how incredible he is.
“Ssh, they’re starting!” I say, excitedly tapping his arm. My husband chuckles but keeps quiet as the MC continues.
“As you all know, we’re here tonight to celebrate our city’s heroes. The men and women who work tirelessly to keep us safe, night and day, every day of the year. I’m sure many of you here have been helped by these selfless souls, and it is important that we recognize them and give back in a show of gratitude,” the shiny-haired man says, sounding genuinely passionate.
Excitement fizzes in my chest as he keeps going. “So, let’s jump right into it, then! I hope you’ve all got a full glass because there’s going to be a lot to cheer to! Now, our first award tonight is a special recognition for a police officer who risked his life to save a family…”
I raise my glass of non-alcoholic fizz as Isaac’s name is announced, and he’s called to the stage to receive his award. Aidan stands, clapping and whooping for his friend, a huge, proud smile on his face. I cheer from where I sit, forever grateful for how he helped me a year ago when my stalker attacked. I don’t even want to imagine what would have happened if Aidan and Isaac hadn’t arrived.
The next award goes to a paramedic, and we cheer loudly again for them. Then, finally, the MC announces the next award. The one I’ve been waiting for.
“Now, this next award recognizes two decades of commitment and dedication to the Fire Brigade. The recipient has gone above and beyond, rising through the ranks in the Eastmont Fire Department to Captain. Well-loved and respected not only by his team, who have nothing but praise and kind words to say about him but also by the community. He has attended countless scenes and calls, from house fires to car wrecks to saving kittens from trees—” the crowd chuckles at that one, but I’m smiling so bright my face hurts “—and I know that the impact he has had on this community is beyond words. For his bravery, commitment, leadership, and determination to make the world a better place, it is my honor to present this award to the one and only…Aidan Allen!”