I grab his hand across the table, putting my finger on his lip and sshing him. “Mason, stop it. You’re a good man. No matter what you did before, that was exactly that - before. It doesn’t change who you are now. Who you are to me. Does it make you imperfect? Yes, but show me a person in the world who is perfect; who doesn’t have flaws. You’re human, Mason. I don’t expect you to be superman.”
“You don’t look at me differently?” he asks warily.
“Mason, I love you. Good and bad. All of you. I always knew there was something; I’m not an idiot. No one transfers high school in their last year without a reason. And you cruising in with your leather and crusade attitude – well, it wasn’t exactly subtle. I’m just thankful you trust me enough to be honest with me. I’m not going anywhere – always and forever, remember?” I say with a smile, kissing his knuckles.
“I don’t deserve you, Erin Michaels. You are all that is good about this world.”
“Enough of that. Now then, I believe I was on my way to see the big lady!”
He laughs at me and standing pulls me close.“I mean it, I don’t ever want to lose you, Erin.”
“Well then it’s a good thing I’m not going anywhere,” I say, rising on my tiptoes to kiss him. “Now, take me to the big lady!”
The Statue of Liberty was amazing; being up so high, acting like a goon with Mason, especially after what he told me before we went, was therapeutic. We got back to being us. I’m shattered, this whole day has been a rollercoaster. I’m in the back of a cab, snuggled into Mason, content and happy.
“You can’t sleep yet, tiger,” he tells me and I open my eyes to see that we’re pulling into what looks like an air field.
“What else could you possibly have planned for us?” I ask, surprised. I thought we were going back to the hotel.
“Well, you see, you told me once, that you felt small, like the whole world was closing in on you. When I was lying there on the floor that day, bleeding all over you, as you tried to save me, I swore that you would never feel that way again. So tonight, I’m making the world yours. We’re going to fly above this beautiful city, and make it look so small that you could cup it in your hands.”
“Mason… I don’t even know what to say,” I say as we climb out of the car.
I walk towards the helicopter in front of us.
“You could say, yes.”
I turn to see him down on one knee with a small black box in hand. “You could make me the happiest man on earth. On that day, in that moment, I knew there was nobody else in the world for me. You are my world. My one. My forever and always. You are everything, Erin Michaels, and I would love nothing more than for you to be my wife.”
My brain is having a hard time accepting the events unfolding. I never expected this from him. I love him and I know he loves me, but…
He sees my moment of hesitation and says, “I know we’re young, and I know you have college – and I’m so excited and proud of you. I want you to stretch your wings and fulfil your dreams, but I want you to make me your home.”
It’s crazy. We’re barely out of high school; I was never going to be one of those girls, the kind that got married and threw away their dreams, their potential – but with Mason, it’s not like that; I hear his words and I believe them. I know I can do everything in the world I ever dreamt of, and he would simply be by my side, giving me strength, shoring me up. Home? The word sounds so beautiful falling from his lips. So right. tear runs down my cheek as I try to say yes, but the words don’t come – instead, I nod and run to him. He stands and catches me in his arms, kissing me like I’m the only air he needs.
“Yes,” I murmur as he pulls back.
“You’re sure?” He whispers into my hair.
“Never more sure of anything.”
He slips the ring onto my finger, and it’s as beautiful as he is. The band is woven vine of leaves, which sparkle with the diamonds knotted into them.
“Mason… how?”
“Monica,” he says with a smile. “We have a plan; don’t you worry about it.”
“She knew about this?”
“Of course she did; I did it all properly. I asked her permission the day I got out of the hospital.”
“Of course, you did, but this must have cost so much money,” I laugh, nervous about the crazy cost.
“You’d think so, right. Erin, let me introduce you to Rico’s dad,” he says as he waves over to our pilot. “We all just call him Papa J.”
“No way!” I squeal. “What? How?”
“Mason, hijo, you were right, this chica is beautiful,” Papa J laughs, hugging him tight before looking me over again.
“Nice to meet you,” I say shyly, holding out my hand.
“Oh now then, none of that! It seems like you’re family now if I just saw right,” he says before wrapping me in a huge hug.
“The bird is ready as soon as you guys are,” he tells Mason before leaving us alone again.
“I can see the resemblance,” I laugh.
“Yeah, Rico’s dad is a good guy.”
“You’re sure this is okay?”
“I promise. This is our wedding gift from their family,” he tells me with a smile. “I can’t honestly say this was all my idea. Rico has always been one smooth bastard.”
“Takes after his papa!” Papa J shouts out over the sound of the blades.
I laugh. “Yeah, tell Charli about it; I think it’s love.”
The knot in my stomach begins to ease.
“Now let’s go make this world yours,” he says, before whisking me away.
And that’s exactly what he did. Last night was more than anything I could have ever imagined. It wasn’t perfect, but it was perfect for us and that is what counts. I wait as my phone video calls Monica, trying not to grin like an idiot.
“Hey sweet girl!” She answers, a smile on her face. “You okay?”
“I am, are you? You look a little pale.”
“Oh, I’m fine honey. Just got some stupid sickness thing. I’ll be fine. How is New York?”
“Oh, it’s amazing, Monica. It’s everything I hope it would be. It’s also the place I agree to be Mrs. Mason Knight,” I say, and show her my ring.
“Oh, Erin. I am so, so happy for you, congratulations,” she says, wiping away a tear as she laughs.
“Thank you, but I mean, you kind of already knew anyway,” I tease.
“I did, but I didn’t know when. I can’t believe my little girl is all grown up, is going to get married. You are going to have such a beautiful life, Erin. I hope he makes you happier than you’ve ever been.”
“He really does,” I say with a sigh. “I know we’ll be home tomorrow, but I wanted to tell you first. Thank you, for everything, Monica.”
“I’d do anything for you my sweet girl. Now go, go enjoy your last day away with that incredible fiancé of yours.”
“My fiancé…” I laugh. “Well shit. That makes me sound like a grown up,”
“You’re young yet my love, you have your whole world ahead of you. I’ll see you soon, okay? I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
“Oh, Erin…”
“It seems right, ya know. If it wasn’t for you, this wouldn’t be my life. You’ve been my mom in every sense of the word my entire life. I want my kids to call you Nana, not Monica. So, if it’s okay with you, I think it’s going to stick.”
“I would be so honored, Erin. You have no idea what this means to me. I love you.”
“I love you too. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I blow her a kiss through the screen and end the call, laughing as I wipe away the tears running down my cheeks. My emotions are running riot, but they’re all happy tears.
“You okay darlin’?” Mason asks as he comes out from the bathroom, wrapped in nothing but a towel.
“I am the happiest I could possibly be. Monica said congratulations.” I smile. He walks towards me, beads of water running down his torso, and all other thoughts ar
e forgotten as he kisses me.
“I was thinking…” he tells me quietly, in between kisses.
“Oh no,” I laugh.
“Don’t you sass me woman,” he says, pushing me backwards on the bed, crawling on top on me.
“Anyway, as I was saying. I was thinking. What about if we don’t go home just yet? I don’t want to wait to make you Mrs. Erin Knight. We could hop on a plane, get my car shipped home, and get married in Vegas before we even go home. We were meant to be gone all summer anyway. What’s a few more days?”
“Yes,” I breathe, kissing him again. “I can’t think of anything I want more.”
“Anything?” He asks as he pushes my robe open.
“I’ll always want you, Mason Knight.”
“I love you, Erin Michaels.”
Chapter Fifteen
“We loved a love,
that was more than love.”
~ Edgar Allan Poe
Vegas is crazier than I ever imagined. When people say this city doesn’t sleep, they aren’t lying. I thought New York was busy, but compared to here, New York is a sleepy little city!
I walk down the strip, hand in hand with Mason. We’ve just picked up our marriage license from the county clerk. I can’t believe we’re actually getting married! We arranged it all with the hotel where we’re staying; we’re using their chapel. I know that not everybody is going to be pleased about the way we’ve gone about it, but we’ll throw a wedding party to celebrate when we get back home.
“Are you happy?” Mason asks, looking down at me pensively.
“How could I be anything but happy? I am about to marry the love of my life.”
“I meant because Monica isn’t going to be there. Jamie, Scottie, Charli…”
“I’ll have you there, that’s what counts. We’ll see everyone else once we get home – but this is our moment. Ours. Nobody else’s. As long as it’s you and me, that’s all I really care about.”
“You, Erin Michaels, are one of a kind.”
“Takes one to know one.” I rise on tip-toes and press a kiss onto his neck. He stops walking and pulls me into him, holding my waist tightly with his hands as he lowers his head until his lips are so close to mine I can almost taste them.
“You are everything, Erin Michaels. Never forget that. Always.”
“Forever,” I whisper as he crushes his lips against mine. I forget we’re in the street with people brushing past us, because nothing exists but him and me.
“Let’s get back to the hotel, and let me show you just how much I love you.”
***
I’m getting married today. In exactly one hour – and I’m not freaking out. In fact, I am calmer than I’ve ever felt in my life, and happier, too. I’ve not seen Mason all day; he left at about eight this morning, to do whatever it is he’s been doing, but he told me this was my time, to find a dress, to go to the spa, do, “all of the girly things.” His exact words. I couldn’t help but laugh at how clueless he looked before he left.
I pull my hair back from my face. It’s in soft curls, which cascade down my back. The salon I went to have done my makeup, too. My eyes look so bright against the shimmer she’s put on them, but she told me that was the effect of love, not eyeshadow.
I take a deep breath before staring at my dress hanging in its bag on the door of the wardrobe. It’s so different to what I thought it would be, but as soon as I put it on, I knew it was right. I take a step towards the mirror to check my eyeliner, when there is a knock at the door. I open it to find Charli stood in front of me.
“Holy shit!” She goes to give me one of her infamous Charli hugs but stops just before she reaches me and grabs my hands.
“Don’t want to mess you up,” she says by way of greeting.
“What…?”
“I cannot believe you were going to get married without me!” She squeals. There are tears in my eyes but I will not cry, dammit!
“I am so glad you are here, but how?”
“Well, your husbott to be is sneaky, that’s how. He called me as soon as you guys decided on Vegas – right after you phoned me to tell me this life-changing news,” she says, giving me the eye, because I didn’t call but just sent her a picture of my hand.
“Hey, you must have forgiven me because you’re here.” I smile, sticking my tongue out at her.
“Of course I do; now let’s get you married!”
“Does this mean you’ll be my maid of honor?” I ask.
“You’re damn straight it does! I packed a dress. We’ve been talking about us getting married since we were three. I am fully prepared,” she says, clapping her hands. I squeeze her one last time and then wave over to my dress.
“Oh my God, Erin. Is that it?” She asks.
I nod.
“Let’s get this bad boy on you!” she says unzipping the garment bag. “Oh my…. I literally have no words. This is just… stunning,” she says, her voice breaking a little.
She swipes away her tears as she takes in the lace, trumpet-style dress.
“Where are your shoes?” She asks, and I point to the white, sparkly chucks on the floor. She barks out a laugh.
“Of course you’re getting married in chucks! Why aren’t I surprised!” She laughs as she pulls the dress from the bag. She undoes the corset back, and helps me step into it, and get the lace neck piece over my hair as I slip my hands through the lace arms and popping the lace rings over my middle fingers as she re-ties the corset.
“You look beautiful, Erin,” she says, taking a step back, looking me over. I watch as her eyes fill.
“Don’t you dare start crying, do you have any idea how long it took them to perfect this face?” I laugh, and she hugs me.
“Fine, no tears. Now let me go and slip into something a little more glamorous and we can go get you married to the most perfect guy on earth. I’d ask if he has any friends… but I already met Rico,” she says with a wink before grabbing her suitcase and ducking into the bathroom. She comes back out about ten minutes later in a pastel lavender dress, her hair in loose curls like mine, and muted makeup. How she did all then in ten minutes is beyond me.
“You look beautiful!” I say, hugging her tight.
“Something old,” she says placing her nana’s antique hair comb into my hair. It’s beautiful, sparkling in the light, making me feel like a fifties silver screen starlet.
“Something new,” she takes my wrist and fastens a beautiful woven silver bracelet, fastened with an infinity sign. “From Mason.”
“Something borrowed,” she takes off her necklace, the friendship one I sent her for her birthday the year she left.
“And finally, something blue,” she pulls out a white garter with a blue ribbon running through the middle.
“You literally think of everything,” I tell her with a smile on my face. I’m beyond happy that she’s here.
“And… you need to slip your engagement ring over to the other hand so he can put the wedding ring on. Right, come on, otherwise he’ll think you’ve stood him up!”
I follow her out of the room, still hardly daring to believe that this is all happening. She runs ahead of me down the corridor towards the chapel. Music starts up and the doors open. Charli walks down the aisle, blocking my view but then I see him, and the sight takes my breath away. Mason Knight should always wear a tux. It’s not just the tux, it’s everything; the way he looks at me, like nothing else is important.
I walk down the aisle towards him, and I realize, nothing else is important. Not right now. He looks at me like I’m the center of his universe, and I know that regardless of what some people might think or say, this right here is my path in life.
“Hi,” I whisper as I reach him.
“Hi,” he says with a smile.
He takes my hand and we turn to the minister, who asks if we’re ready. We’re as ready as we’re ever going to be.
His words pass by in a bit of a blur; I’m transfixed by the sight of Mason, until I h
ear him say we’re saying our own vows. Oh shit. I didn’t know that.
“Erin,” Mason starts, pulling me from my daydream. My stomach flips with excitement and nerves.
Mason smiles and I see that he’s blushing. “Erin, I knew I loved you the moment I sat next to you, with that snarky little look on your face, and your get-the-hell-away from me attitude. I loved that girl, and I love the woman you are becoming. With this ring, I promise to keep loving you, through the big and the small, the good and the bad. You are my partner, my best friend, my one true love. I promise to inspire you, to laugh with you. To pick you up when you are down, and to keep you grounded when the world gets too much. Always.” He slips the ring onto my finger and I hold out his ring.
My hand trembles, giving away my nerves. “Mason, I was so not prepared for this; this speech, or for you to come into my life. Our time has been a whirlwind; good, bad, and damn right terrifying.”
My breath snags in my chest but I will not cry. “But we made it through. We balanced on the precipice and came through the other side stronger. The day you came into my life was the day my life truly began. You showed me what love was, what happiness meant, and I will spend my entire life showing you just how much that means to me – and just how much I love you.”
We both turn to the minister who nods at us, as if seeing the perfection of our union. “Go now in peace and live in love, sharing the most precious gifts you have the gifts of your lives united. And may your days be long on this earth. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Charli squeals as Mason kisses me. Charli has been videoing the whole thing for Monica, and so that we can play it at our wedding party when we get back.
“Now then, Mrs. Knight. How about that honeymoon?” Mason whispers low in my ear.
Chapter Sixteen
“Love is an irresistible desire,
to be irresistibly desired.”
~ Robert Frost
We land at London Heathrow, and it’s raining. You’d think I’d be disappointed by this, by the huge grin on my faces says otherwise. It’s just how I pictured it would be. London wouldn’t be right if it wasn’t raining. I mean, it’s just a light rain, and I can see the sun fighting through, but part of the joy of England is how predictably unpredictable the weather is, and I love it.
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