"Will you marry me?" Jack finally asks the words I was afraid of the most.
I open my mouth and close it again, unable to say a word. And then I take a look at Sky as if looking for her approval. She's crying as well and nods silently, encouraging me to agree.
"I don't need a marriage contract, Crystal," Jack says, because I can’t find the words to respond. "I don't want you to be afraid that I don't trust you or worry that I’ll test you again one day."
He takes my left hand in his palm and squeezes it a little.
"I want you to trust me, and I'm offering everything I have, and I'll wait as long as it takes for you to start trusting me again."
When he finishes his speech, I whisper, "You're crazy."
I bite my lip, still unable to believe that everything is real.
"Maybe I am," he agrees with a smile, "but I'm asking you to be my wife so we can become normal together."
I laugh at how ridiculous that sounds, but at the same time, how romantic.
"I don't want to be normal, Jack." I shake my head again, harder this time. "All I want is to be with you."
And then I lean down to him again, place my palms on his cheeks, and press my lips to his, softly, tenderly, barely touching, until I feel like I'm melting, dissolving, and nothing in the world can stay the same from now on.
"I will," I whisper between kisses, and before he can say something more, maybe ask me another stupid question about whether I'm serious, I give him another kiss.
Epilogue
Jack
Six Months Later
"Let's go home; it's late," I whisper into my wife's ear, hugging her from behind.
She's sitting at her desk, working on some documents as always, refusing to go home before she finishes the task.
When I press my lips to the tender skin of her neck, she arches, giving me better access.
I know it's her favorite spot to be kissed, especially when we're at work. She always gets goose bumps when I give her those kisses.
"You're right," she agrees, finally turning off her computer and facing me.
"I have a surprise for you," I say and delve into the inner pocket of my jacket.
"Jack, stop giving me so many presents, especially in the evening! It’s like you're paying me for sex," she laughs, biting her lower lip.
She’s teasing. I know she loves when I give her presents, especially if it's lingerie, which she gets alotof, because of how much I love to tear it off her gorgeous body.
But it's not beautiful underwear this time. It's something better. Something I’ve never given to her before.
"Tickets to the Caribbean Islands?" she exclaims, surprised, and her eyes widen when she takes a second look.
"We can finally have our honeymoon, baby," I say proudly and lean in to give her a kiss.
"But what about our kids?" she asks, not giving me a chance to taste her lips.
I laugh at how ridiculous that sounds, as if we're leaving toddlers unattended to go to Antarctica for a year.
"Honey, they've both turned eighteen already," I say with a smile. "We're going for a two-week vacation, leaving them in Beverly Hills with a driver, a cleaning lady, and a chef. I don't think it's such a crazy idea."
She laughs and punches me lightly in the shoulder.