by Kait Rose
“Yeah we’ll meet you back home.” Jude clapped me on the shoulder and headed towards Madison and Stella. I motioned to Stella I’ll be a minute and she nodded her head ok.
“It’s been a crazy year huh.” I said to Knox.
He wouldn’t look at me, but said, “You got that right.” We both stared off into the distance until he said, “I need time away from everyone.”
“I can understand that. Where are you going?”
“Every and anywhere.” Knox was cryptic, but I had a feeling he was going to take his motorcycle and ride until he could get his head on straight.
“Be safe and promise to call me when you get back in town. You know Stella will be a worried mess.” I stuck out my fist for a bump which Knox surprised me by pulling me into a hug.
“Take care of her and I’ll see you guys soon.” With that being said, Knox walked off and I had a feeling it would be awhile until I saw him again. I just hope he finds the peace he was looking for.
Chapter Thirty Two
Ezra
“Congratulations Mr. Graduate.” Stella said while walking over and giving me a kiss. She then stole my graduation cap and put it on her head.
“You look good in my cap.” I said while pulling her into a hug. Her arm was still in a cast, but the bruising on her face and arms were barely noticeable.
She got up on her tippy toes to whisper in my ear, “You know what would be better, if I wore it without anything else on.” Stella went from the innocent virgin to a siren, I was completely under her spell.
“Tonight. You, the cap, and those heels without anything else on.” Stella was beautiful inside and out. She could be without make up and sweats on and my heart would still beat crazy like it is now.
“If you’re a good boy. Now besides naked time, what else do you want to do tonight?” Stella asked.
“I have a few things I need to do alone before we hang out, but Madison and Jude are going out to eat and you are too.” I had a plan for tonight and I needed her away from the house for a bit.
“You’re not coming?” She arched an eyebrow up at me. I know she wanted to ask me what was going on, but she knew I wouldn’t tell.
“Nope, but I’ll see you at the house afterwards. Now get going because preggers over there looks like she is ready to come get you.” Across the auditorium was Madison tapping her foot impatiently while Jude tried to ease her with a pack of gum that she slapped out of his hands.
“Oh god how is he going to survive the next few months?” Stella asked, amused.
“He will be making the attic into a man cave with a lock. I will definitely have one when it’s our time.” I laughed and so did Stella, but as quickly as she started to laugh she went silent. “Stella?”
“You want to have a baby with me? I thought you said you didn’t want kids because of... you know.” She asked unsure if she should even say anything.
“I didn’t think I did either, but I want to have a family with you. It scares me that I can pass this disorder on, but what happens if they don’t end up like me?”
“Either way we love our babies and if they do, we help guide them out of the darkness.” She got up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on my lips.
“I love you. Now go before I’m next on Madison’s hit list.” I slapped her ass and she tried to give me a scolding look to behave, but we both knew she liked it.
~.~
She may not think I remember, but since high school when Stella would sit across from me in the library reading, she would always have a romance book. From the classics to the newer ones, she was always reading love stories. I remember when she would laugh at the swoony parts, cry when she got to a sad part, and mumble at the book whenever she was left on a cliffhanger. To be honest, I looked more forward to seeing her escape into her books than reading my own.
I wanted to give Stella tonight her own romance story. We have been through our ups and downs, but now it’s time to show her I can give her the happily ever after she deserves. I set up string lights across the backyard and under our tree a picnic filled with her favorite candles, food, drinks, and books. I wanted this night to blow any scene she read in her romance books out of the water.
It was close to seven and Jude shot me a text letting me know that they were on their way to drop Stella back here and then they would go out for ice cream giving us some alone time. Luckily with Madison’s cravings she wouldn’t expect anything. Only Jude knows what I have planned because if Madison found out there is no way she would have kept it a secret from Stella.
I ran out to the front door to spread a trail of her books that she thought someone picked up from the curb. Hopefully she wouldn’t get mad that I had these for so long. If any of the guys, especially Declan, knew I read most of these I would never hear the end of it. I was curious to see what made Stella love them so much and I finally understood. Reading how two characters struggled to come together in the beginning, but ultimately fall in love after they got over their obstacles gives the readers hope. It gave me hope that Stella and I would have a happy ending too.
After I laid the last book down, I leaned against the tree holding a bouquet of daffodils while I waited for Stella. I could hear the front door shut, but it took Stella a little bit longer to find me. Once she did, she came running out the patio doors and wrapped herself around me in a hug.
“You had my books all this time?” She looked up at me.
“I knew you would regret it especially when you needed something to throw at Knox.” At the memory of her throwing them at Knox when she found out he kept hooking up with Madison last summer had her laughing.
“He’ll never piss me off again while I’m by my books I bet. Are those for me?” She looked down at the flowers I was holding.
“Yes.” I handed her the flowers while I kissed her cheek.
She started to blush and said, “They are beautiful. I love daffodils.”
“They represent new beginnings.” One of the other reasons I decided to get them for her.
“I like that. Everything honestly looks so beautiful, but shouldn’t I be surprising you Mr. Graduate.” She looked around at the twinkling lights strung from the tree and then over at the picnic I had set up on the blanket with her favorite desserts.
“You can tonight.” I gave her a smirk and her cheeks grew redder.
“Ok.” She smiled at me and I hope I will forever get to see that smile.
I walked over to the stereo and put on a song that reminded me of us. When I walked back I reached out my hand for her to take to dance with me. She gave me a bashful smile and took my hand. I spun her in a circle before pulling her close to me. “Adore you by Harry Styles. I never took you as a Harry Styles’ fan.” She said with a huge smile plastered on her face.
“I heard it on the radio and it reminded me of you.” With that being said, she rested her head on my chest while listening to the lyrics.
“That’s beautiful.” She said when the song was over.
“As are you. Stella, did you ever feel like you need to do something, but you're afraid of the timing?” I asked.
She took a step back to look at me and said, “Honestly, no. We are all on our own clocks with only so many hours, minutes, and seconds left so why wait, if that makes sense.” She was right and I knew in my heart this was the right thing to do.
“Makes perfect sense. Stella since the moment I saw you sitting across the table from me in the library reading, you had my heart. I wasted so much time with you already and I don’t want to waste another second. I want your yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows. I want to be there when you laugh, hold you when you cry, and to kiss you when you need to be reminded how much love I have for you. I want to be your Mr. Darcy, Noah, or even your Christian. I want everything with you. I know this is crazy, especially how much I’ve been back and forth, but I want you to know how serious I am. Stella Louise Ryan, will you be my forever? ” My heart was beating a million miles per hour while I held o
ut the first book I saw her with, The Notebook, and had it open with the diamond ring sitting in the middle.
“You remembered this was the book I first read when I sat across from you?” She said looking at me with tears in her eyes.
“Of course. I even remember the hair ribbons you would tie your ponytail with since they would always match your shoes.”
“I remember that.” She gave me a small smile and my heart couldn’t take waiting any longer.
“Stella?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t want you to be my Mr. Darcy, Noah, Christian, or any other man. I just want you and only you. I don’t want to just read romance, I want to live through it with you because our story is the best one I know, so of course I will.” Hearing her words had me feeling a type of happiness I never thought I could feel. I slipped the ring on her finger and showed her how much I love her through our kiss.
Life is full of uncertainties. We can’t change the past and we can never predict what our future holds, but what I do know is that Stella Ryan would forever own my heart.
The end.
About The Author
Kait Rose
Kait Rose is the wife to the boy she met when she was twelve years old and a mama of two boys and two chihuahuas. She was born and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania where pizza and Middlesworth bbq chips are a necessity. She graduated college with a degree in accounting, but reading and writing romance books are her true passions. Her first book is Little Bird that was published in May 2020.