I clear my throat and swallow. “I’d like your permission to ask for Skylar’s hand.”
He sets his coffee mug down, his eyebrows raised in a confused expression. He asks, “I thought you two weren’t seeing each other anymore?”
The man has a point. Technically Skylar and I are no longer together, but I want to change that. I want to bypass that and head straight to the lifetime commitment because I’m ready for forever with her.
I nod slowly. “Yes. This is true. But I want to change that today. With your permission, of course.”
He takes another sip of his coffee. And another, until I don’t think there is any more left to help him avoid this conversation. “Caleb, I can’t give my permission unless you make me a promise first.”
“What’s that?” I’ll do anything. I don’t say the last bit, but it’s true.
“Promise you will always love her. Never hurt her. Always protect her. And make sure she finishes what she started and doesn’t fall behind to go trailing after you. Can you promise me all that?”
I smile. “I certainly can. That’s why I left her in the first place, to keep from hurting her dreams. It’s not that I didn’t want her, because she’s all I’ll ever want. But I needed her to finish her studies. I thought that was at Duke, but it turns out she’s transferring to your school.”
He nods. “As long as your intentions are good, and you keep your promise, I’ll give you my blessing.”
I hug the man and rush out of the kitchen.
Chapter 37
Skylar
He left me again. I’d thought for sure my song would work on him. Turns out I was wrong. But it did help Lidia and Malcolm, so I’m not a complete and utter failure. Still, I wish it had worked for me too.
As I sit in my room wondering what else I can do, a knock comes at my door. I’m too deep in thought to get up and answer it so I bark, “It’s open.”
Caleb enters my room. My eyes go wide. I push aside the tissues surrounding me. Pulling a blanket tight over my chest, I ask, “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you. Are you sick?” His gaze lands on the tissues now littering the floor.
I shake my head. “No. I was reading something sad.” Total lie, by the way. I was crying over my failure, but he doesn’t need to know this. He already knows enough.
He nods and starts cleaning them up and tosses them in the wastebasket. “So, what if I was sick?” I ask.
He smiles. “I’d still pick them up. Then I’d ask you if I could get you anything.”
“You would?” I choke.
“Of course. So, are you willing to take a walk with me this morning?”
I nod. “I need to get dressed.”
“I’ll wait for you downstairs.” He leans in and kisses my forehead.
***
Caleb and I finally stop. We’ve been walking for a while. I look around where we’ve come to a halt and say, “This is where we …” I trail off when I notice he’s not beside me anymore. I look down and Caleb is on one knee.
“What are you doing?”
“Stop. I need to do this right.” I quit trying to help him up and take a step back. He laughs and reaches for one of my hands. “Skylar Olivia Fletcher, I solemnly swear to love and honor you for now and forever. Beyond death and beyond many lifetimes. You are the one person I can’t live without. Please say I may have you forever. Marry me?”
I stop breathing. My heart is pounding. I burst in tears, and shout, “Yes!” He smiles and lifts me off the ground. We kiss in exactly the same spot he kissed me for the first time in New York.
He sets me down and pulls out a ring. “It was my mom’s. Well, the diamonds were. I had the stones removed and set into a different band. And see this?” Inside the band is an engraving. My heart forever and always. Then he slips the band on my ring finger. It fits perfectly. It’s gorgeous and all mine. He’s really all mine!
Epilogue
Skylar
Three years later …
Thick satin wraps snugly across my chest and flows down to the floor. Small folds are bunched up and held together by rhinestone clips. I stare at myself in the full-length mirror and almost tear up at the sight of me.
“I’m a bride,” I whisper.
Kayla laughs. “Yes, you are. And a gorgeous one, at that.”
Lidia huffs as she stands on top a chair next to me. “Stop fidgeting. I’m trying to get this something blue stuck in your hair.”
My mom and Julie laugh as they enter the room. My mom stops and gushes, “Oh, Skylar, you look so lovely.”
I raise a brow. “Skylar? No Liv? Who are you and what have you done with my mom?” I muse.
She walks over and kisses my cheek. “You’ll always be my Liv. Today, though, you don’t look like my little girl. Today you look like a beautiful young woman, so it’s only fitting I call you by your first name.”
I smile and shake my head. “Oh, Mom. You’re so weird. But I love you.”
I kiss her cheek and step off the stool I’ve been standing on. Yards of fabric trail behind me as I make my way over to the small bar.
My mother hisses, “Now, not too much. Just a nip!”
Nip. Pip. I’ll take two small bottles of vodka down the hatch if I want. It’s my wedding day. Not that I need two bottles, but I kind of want this over with. I’ve waited three years for this moment. Well, longer if I’m really honest with myself.
Why did I wait so long? Stress, school, graduation, more school, take your pick. This wedding stuff is stressful enough. Planning a wedding while in school is not a great idea. Not at all. So we decided to wait until after I graduated from Columbia. Which I did. I also was captain of the swim team. Then I applied for medical school. Caleb was happy when I got into Columbia’s program. I’m excited too.
Speaking of Caleb, how is my future almost husband doing? He’s doing great. He took the Jets to the Super Bowl this year and won. Yes, there are the occasional fans that seem not to take the hint that he’s taken and throw themselves at him. Ladies, this is unattractive. Don’t embarrass yourselves. And he’s mine. Do you hear me?
I tip back the bottle of vodka and Julie asks, “May I?”
I hand over a tray. “Pick your poison.”
She snatches a tequila bottle and I laugh. “Oh, that’s a good choice.”
“You look lovely, Skylar.” She lifts her bottle to mine. We clink. “To many years of happiness.”
“Thanks, Julie.” We tip back our bottles and I shake my head as I swallow down the burn. “Whoa! That’s the stuff.”
The door to my suite opens once more and Sam and Mikia enter with squeals. “Oh my God! Look at you!” they say in unison. They hug me and Lidia snaps her fingers.
“Ladies! You’re late. Get your asses in these chairs this minute. We only have twenty minutes to get you girls in wedding shape.”
Sam pouts. “Damn, Liddy. Laying the slap down, aren’t you?”
“I am. Now park it. And zip it.”
I laugh at my sister. She’s been the best maid of honor anyone could ever ask for.
***
Music fills the room. The traditional wedding march. All my girls march ahead, while one of Caleb’s teammate’s daughters throws red and white rose petals down the aisle. My father faces me and whispers, “Are you ready?”
I smile. “Never been more ready.”
He kisses my forehead and links his arm with mine. I take a deep breath and we march down the aisle. While the room might have been full of smiling and possibly tear-stained faces, my focus was set on one face.
Caleb’s hair is a mess of sexiness. His eyes are bright and pouring with love. And his smile, oh jeez, my knees are weak. But knowing this is all for me and no one else, that’s what makes my heart really soar. From this moment forward he’ll be mine forever.
As I reach him I giggle.
He thanks my father who tells the pastor that he blesses this union as he hands me off to Caleb. Caleb tak
es my hand and pulls me up to him. “There’s my beautiful bride. I’ve been missing you.” I smile and hold back a laugh. “I’d kiss you right here but I don’t think we’ve gotten to that part yet,” he whispers.
I shake my head. “We’re supposed to be paying attention.”
“Yes, dearest.”
I glance over at him and he is staring at me. We’re both smiling and I almost giggle at how happy and perfect this moment is. Finally Pastor Paul says, “The rings, if you will.”
Caleb looks back at Derrick, whose palm holds my wedding band. Caleb reaches for it but Derrick pulls his hand back. “Are you sure?” he jokes.
Caleb growls, “Give it to me before I deck you in front of all these people.”
I shake my head and mutter, “Boys.”
Lidia hands me Caleb’s ring and points a finger at Derrick. “Watch it, buddy.”
Derrick takes a step back and stands in position. He swallows and whispers, “She scares me.”
Pastor Paul probably thinks we’re all loony. We hand off our rings and then we begin our vows. We didn’t do the traditional thing. We didn’t really write our own. I performed my vows in a song. And Caleb had his entire team come, each handing me a rose and saying one thing Caleb promised. I laugh. Cry. And love him so much more. But when he hands me the last rose himself, he says, “I vow to always love you for every lifetime and then some.”
I kiss him. Yeah. I know we aren’t supposed to yet, but screw it. He deserves a kiss.
The ceremony continues, and then Pastor Paul says, “Okay, now you two may kiss.”
And we do. With all our heart and soul.
I’m finally Mrs. Skylar Morgan, and I intend to stay this way forever.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To all my wonderful fans, thank you so much for being a part of this journey with me. Each one of you readers are so dear to my heart, and none of this would ever be possible without any of you. Thank you.
To all my amazing family and my two incredibly awesome children, you inspire me to be the very best version of myself I can be. You push me to do better, make me laugh, and are always there encouraging me each and every day. I love you so much.
My friends, fellow writers, and CP’s without you I don’t think I could have gotten through some days. You’re always in my corner listening to my frustrations or helping me make my work shine even more. Thank you for being my eyes and ears you all are truly the best!
Of course I can’t forget my wonderful and super amazing publisher, Georgia McBride, and the entire staff at Swoon Romance. Without you, this book wouldn’t be possible, so thank you for believing in this series.
Special thanks to: Jason, Ethan and Leeah. Josie Glauser, Brooks Remp, Tracey Chapman, Clarissa Grimes, Nikalete Fellows, Courtney Bivens, Angie Ball, Georgia McBride, Mandy Schoen, Sheri Larsen, Kelly Mooney, Annie Cosby, ELF, Barbara Van Denburgh, and Michelle Aker.
NATALIE DECKER
Natalie Decker loves ocean, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics, she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!
OTHER SWOON ROMANCE TITLES YOU MIGHT LIKE
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Other Swoon Romance Titles You Might Like
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Other Swoon Romance Titles You Might Like
Table of Contents
Rival Dreams (Rival Love #3) Page 17