Savannah had been taking our pictures non-stop. Pops and Gran had shed a few tears.
A year ago, our lives changed. For the better, I’d like to add. Maddox and I worked on strengthening our relationship, while Savannah and her son grew even closer.
Bianca was officially out of our lives, when she cashed out her trust fund, packed up her newborn baby and boyfriend turned fiancé, and left her father’s ironclad hold. She left the state, and we never heard from her again.
Except, every now and then, I took a peek at her social media. She was thriving and… happy.
And Christian Carmichael?
Half a year ago, we re-opened the case. With all the proof Maddox and Grayson had been able to gather, the trial was quick. This time, we had the law and the judge on our side.
Christian was found guilty of felony – driving under the influence which resulted in the death of the victims of the accident – and was sentenced to six years in prison.
After almost eight years, my parents finally got the justice they deserved. I finally found peace.
I always joked that I didn’t need a knight. But Maddox? Even though I wasn’t looking for one, he turned out to be mine.
My Maddox.
My best friend.
My first love.
My last love.
My knight.
Maddox and I officially moved back into our apartment six months ago. Life went back to normal, as we attended our last semester at Harvard.
And here we were…
Graduating. At last!
We took a few more pictures, until Maddox was done. Surrounded by our family and friends, Maddox cupped my face and smashed his lips down on mine. Tongue and all, as his mom clicked a last picture of us.
He pulled away, long enough to grin devilishly at me, before he bent down and shoved his shoulders into my stomach. I gasped and then giggled, as he threw me over his shoulder and marched away.
“Maddox! What are you doing?”
He gave my ass a love tap. “Stealing you away. You promised me a graduation fuck.”
Oh God. Maddox and his insatiable needs.
“Anyway, you have a wedding to plan.”
Wait… what.
Hold up.
WHAT?
I struggled, thumping his back with my chest. “Put me down. Now! Coulter!”
Maddox chuckled and brought me down to my feet. I stabbed a finger into his chest, glowering. He just… smirked. Ugh, typical Maddox. “What was that?”
“A wedding,” he said.
“Maddox Coulter!”
He grasped my left hand in his and brought it to his lips, placing a tender kiss on the back of my knuckles. And that was when I saw it.
“Oh,” I breathed.
“Oh,” he mouthed.
“Holy shit.”
Maddox Coulter, aka my best friend, aka my boyfriend, grinned. “I dare you to be my wife, Lila.”
I couldn’t even formulate an answer. My eyes went back to my left hand. When did he slip a ring onto my finger?
“When I kissed you,” he said, without me having to ask the question out loud.
“You didn’t ask!”
“I just did.”
“Oh my God! Maddox!”
He winked. “I dare you.”
The ring was a simple, princess-cut diamond. Nothing too heavy, nothing too fancy. Just… perfect.
“Say yes, little dragon,” Maddox rasped.
I stuck my tongue out at him. “You didn’t ask, so I can’t say yes.”
“You want me on my knees for you, Babe?”
I raised an eyebrow, waiting. Maddox chuckled and slowly lowered himself to one knee. He spread out his arms. “Lila Garcia… I dare you to be my wife. I dare you to spend the rest of your life with me. I dare you to make me the happiest man by saying yes.”
I was laughing… and crying, at his proposal – Maddox style.
“Yes,” I screeched. “You silly, silly man.”
“You love me,” he said.
“I do,” I murmured, falling to my knees in front of him.
The world ceased to exist, as we fell into each other, kissing and gasping into each other’s mouths.
My heart kept missing beats.
My stomach twisted and tugged as those butterflies went wild.
My lips were swollen and burning from his kisses.
Forever, baby. Forever.
“So, where do you want to go first?” I settled next to him on the hood of his car and opened the map on my lap.
Maddox and I decided to take a trip around the world, before we both settled down for a busy life.
Now that we were done with school, I had to start applying for jobs. Last month, Maddox had ‘officially’ taken over his father’s position. Brad Coulter left a huge legacy behind, and Maddox was responsible for continuing it.
But first… we needed a little vacation.
“I’m thinking Bali, you?” I asked, swiping through my phone to look at the bookmark, where I had saved all the places I wanted to visit.
“Nah, little dragon. I’m not taking your ass anywhere with me until you’re Mrs. Coulter.”
I rolled my eyes. He just proposed yesterday. “You wanna wife me up? Now?” I joked.
His blue eyes lit with mischief, and he licked his lips slowly. “Now.”