Wished Away: A Broken Fairy Tale
Page 22
He leads me out of the room quickly and I hear “Home” by Phillip Phillips boom through the house. He scoops me up in his arms and I wrap my arms around his neck. “What the hell, Gage? What’s the rush?” I begin to giggle when he shushes me and bolts up the last flight of the stairs to the third level. He puts me down in front of large doors that open up to a deck looking out onto the ocean. As the song plays for us, I take a moment to appreciate the man I’m with, the man who has my heart and soul, and say a silent prayer of thanks. “This is all amazing, Gage. Every part of this house is everything I’ve ever dreamed of but never thought possible.”
He runs his hand through my hair. “I want this to be ours, together.”
I look up into those perfect eyes and smile. “I can’t believe you did all of this.” The loud booming that begins makes me jump into Gage’s arms, making him bust out laughing.
“Look,” he says pointing to the flashes of fireworks exploding into the sky as “All of Me” by John Legend now blasts through the night sky.
I had no idea there’d be fireworks tonight and only hope someone tells Charlotte so she can run out and see. Just then Gage points down to all the others gathered below watching the show before us. This really is like a dream. The best dream I could ever image. And when Gage pulls me in close moving our bodies along to the song, and I feel the stubble of his scruff on my cheek and smell the vanilla and cologne that is so him, I feel I’m home.
What happens next makes my heart stop completely. As the song picks up at the chorus, my name flies into the sky in a flash of red lights. When the word WILL follows all in gold, I begin to almost hyperventilate in shock. Gage is smiling down at me, watching my expression as the word MARRY flies up next, and the crowd below begins cheering and hooting wildly. When ME flies up all eyes are on me and I’m a blubbering mess. I look at Gage, and there he is, all six foot three of perfection, holding a ring up to me that’s sparkling in the moonlight. “Jessica, I want this to be a new beginning for us. We both have lost so much in our lives, I don’t want to spend another day without you. I don’t want to have another night without you by my side. I want more than anything in the world to make the three of us a family. Marry me, Jessica, and be mine forever.”
Time freezes and all I see is Gage. He is everything I have ever dreamed. He is companionate, but domineering, empathetic and strong, loyal and loving. We have never even talked about getting married, not once, and a look of concern begins to cross his face as he kneels there waiting for my answer.
I take his hand and pull him up so he is standing and take his face in my hands as he has done to me so many times before. “I love you so much,” I say smiling through my tears. His face fills with happiness and I can’t hold back anymore. He knows that my words hold so much more meaning that can be expressed. “I want nothing more than to be yours forever,” and with that his lips are on mine and it’s as if I’ve never been kissed before. I can hear the hoots and cheers below us but can think of nothing other than the fact that I’m happier than I ever thought I could be again.
When Gage pulls back, my hand instinctively goes up to my lips, missing the calm his kiss always brings. He slides the emerald cut diamond on my finger and places a kiss on my palm.
Just then “Summertime Sadness” comes on making us both laugh when everyone begins to dance around the pool, even Gage’s parents. “Mommy, Gage!” Charlotte comes running to us with Cam and Holden close behind. “Wasn’t it awesome? Are you surprised? I can’t wait until we move in!”
Before I can respond, he takes her hand in his and she giggles up at him lovingly. He gets down on his knee again, holding up yet another ring, making us all sigh in surprise. “Charlotte, you had the best dad any girl could have ever asked for. And you also have an amazingly exceptional mom. I know that I’ll never replace your dad, but I want more than anything to do my best to take care of you and love you the way he would’ve wanted. Will you do me the honor of also accepting me into your family?”
Tears are pouring from my eyes when I see the way Charlotte lights up, tears falling freely over her deep dimples. Everyone around us is sniffling at the sight, and the crowd quiets below. Charlotte leaps into Gage’s arms. “Thank you, Gage. Thank you so much! I love you, too.” She kisses him and wraps her arms around his shoulders snuggling in before looking back up at him. “Remember though, I want a brother or sister, ok?”
We all laugh and I walk over and wrap the two of them up in my arms. “We’ll have to see about that Char,” I say as loud applause erupts again all around us.
I look over to Gage. “You gave me my happily ever after.”
Read other books by S.P. Cerantes
The first people I have to thank is my family. You make every day special and fun. I love you all to the moon and back. To my kiddos; you inspire me every day with you creative minds and loving hearts. You are truly my ACE!
Brad, you’re my plaster.
Kate, thanks for listening to me endlessly talk to you about the gang from the series.
To my NJ family, I hope when you read this, you always remember that it is because of each and every one of you that I love everything Jersey. Cheers!
Thank you to Autumn from Wordsmith Publicity. You are my go- to- girl for everything and anything and I can’t thank you enough for all you do to support and guide me. You rock sister!
This whole writing world has been so kind and helpful to me since starting this crazy writing journey, from bloggers to authors. I’m so appreciative to all of you for being so supportive. There have been so many blogs and pages who have been supportive of my work, and I feel grateful for all the love! I have to give a special shout out to Dawn and Jenn from Read and Share Book Reviews, you ladies are not only ridiculously kind, funny, and have great taste in books, but you support authors and don’t promote drama. Everyone needs to go and follow these ladies if you don’t already! Go, Now!
I also want to thank Danielle at Short and Sassy Book Blurbs. Your enthusiasm for reading is contagious and I’m so glad to have gotten to know you. Thank you for supporting my writing!
To my Secret and Sassy Street team, readers who have been with me from the beginning, and those who are just learning about me, thank you! Thank you for reading my work, sharing your thoughts, and helping me grow as a writer. I feel blessed to do what I love and appreciate each and every one of you.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Other Books by S.P. Cervantes
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
> Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Acknowledgements
About the Book Designer
Copyright Notice