“Why are you so good to me? After everything I have done… you could have left me.”
“You are right. I could have left you, but I didn’t. Chase, what we have might not make sense to a lot of people. But it is right for us,” I said.
Reaching up, Chase kissed my lips sweetly. After a while, we managed to get up off of the ground. I was sure Avery and Jax were worried sick about us. I had locked them out and they deserved to know what was going on. As I opened the hotel room door, I was astonished to see Avery and Jax sleeping next to one another right outside the door. They must have camped out there all night, waiting to see if we were safe.
Stepping over them, I grabbed Chase’s hands. “Let’s give them some privacy,” I giggled.
“Did they sleep out here all night?” Chase asked.
“I guess they did. They were really worried about you. Chase, we have great friends,” I admitted as I turned to look at my best friend.
“Jax really likes Avery,” Chase said.
“She likes him too,” I giggled.
Squeezing me tight, Chase snuggled his nose against my hair. “Thank you for coming back and saving me,” he sighed.
Looking up, I smiled. “Chase, you saved me first. I just showed up at the right time.”
And with that, we made our way up to my room where we slept for over twelve hours.
CHAPTER 27
Six months had passed since the night that I almost lost Chase forever. We had talked several times and after my pleading, Chase finally agreed to go to therapy for his anger management and to deal with all of the shit that happened to him in his life. Knowing I too had baggage I needed to address, I agreed also to go see a separate therapist.
So far so good. We were both keeping up with our work schedules, I was doing great at school, Jax and Avery were really hitting it off and had started going on a few dates, and Chase and I were working through our personal issues. More importantly, I noticed how calm Chase had become in the last few weeks.
He no longer was tense and angry all the time. Instead, he was reminded daily that I loved him and wasn’t going anywhere. I had even finally moved into our house; with Avery too of course.
I hadn’t heard from Allan anymore and I was eternally grateful for him keeping my secret. My life was becoming my own and I couldn’t have been happier.
“Hurry up, Lizzie, the guys are waiting,” Avery chimed, as I got out of her car.
With money from working and not having to worry about rent, Avery was able to purchase a black, Toyota Camry. I was sitting in the passenger seat admiring my new home. I loved the gray cobblestone entrance and the black front door. The house was lit up by beautiful lights and I felt like it was a showpiece for everyone to see just how magical my relationship with Chase was.
“I’m coming,” I said, as I stepped out of the car and led the way up to our cement pathway. We walked through the house but I didn’t see the guys anywhere.
Walking behind me, Avery looked around, too. “I wonder where they are. Maybe they are on the back patio,” she suggested, as she pointed to the back doors.
Making my way through the living room and into the kitchen, I opened the glass doors and was immediately struck by brightness. White, twinkling lights hung from the patio cover and candles lined the exterior of the patio. Standing in the middle of the spotlight was Chase. Only, he was wearing a black tuxedo and holding a small, black bag.
My mouth dropped open as I gasped at how magical the moment was. Slipping back behind me, Avery kissed my cheek before closing the door behind her. Turning, I saw her wink with a naughty smile that told me she knew exactly where the guys were.
Focusing back on Chase, I felt a tear slip through my eyes. “Hi, baby,” Chase said, as he stepped forward and reached for my hand.
I was struck speechless and in complete awe by the moment. “Hi,” I managed to say, as I fought the urge to jump into his arms. Chase looked absolutely delicious and the fact that he had created this glowing masterpiece made me want him even more.
Kneeling down on one knee, my heart leaped from my chest. My legs began to shake and my hands trembled as Chase kept hold of me. His eyes never left mine as a small smile formed across his luscious lips.
“Lizzie, from the moment I first saw you, I knew I had to have you forever. I love you more than anything in this world and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I cannot live without you. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?” he asked, as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
I was floored by his words. I had so many words screaming through my mind, but only one escaped past my lips. “Yes,” I shouted, as I jumped up and down.
Standing, Chase grabbed me and lifted me off the ground. Crushing his lips to mine, he hugged me tightly. “Thank you,” he whispered through kisses.
Breaking our embrace to catch my breath, I noticed the small bag still in his hands. Looking down, too, Chase laughed as he wiped away the tears now streaming down his face. “Shit, I almost forgot the ring.”
Laughing, too, I smiled and leaned in and began to kiss the tears off his face. The salty flavor absorbed onto my tongue and I loved it. Reaching into the bag, Chase pulled out a small, velvet box. Opening the lid, Chase revealed a square diamond on a platinum band. Tiny black diamonds lined the band below making the clear diamond sparkle and shine brightly.