by Bria Leigh
I watched him head the opposite direction then I was going and I slipped inside the main hall heading to the office.
Wilder
I LEANED OVER THE GLASS case, looking at all the rings. So many choices, so many to choose. It was enough to send a guy right back out the door. How did someone even know what worked? How did you cram all the love you had for someone into a ring?
I wanted to ask Violet to marry me. I wanted to make it the best moment of her entire life like she did for me since we were kids. But staring at the rings, I was overwhelmed and unsure.
Fuck.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” The gentleman behind the counter asked in his flawless suit. He didn’t know the first thing about Violet.
“I’m not sure what I’m looking for,” I said. I pulled my phone out of my jacket pocket and dialed Lorna.
“Could you meet me somewhere?”
“Um. Yes. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine. I just need your help.”
“Then, I’ll be right there.”
When I hung up, I texted her the address, and I went outside to wait for her to show up.
LORNA DIDN’T TAKE LONG to get there. She stared at the Jewelry store with a grin on her face. “Wilder. Are you about to make me the happiest mom in the world?”
That was relieving to hear. That made the next part even easier. “That’s the plan. But I have no idea what I am doing.”
She clasped her hands together excitedly. “Whatever you do, she is going to love.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Nothing in there reminds me of Violet.”
“What reminds you of Violet?”
“That’s the thing. I don’t think there’s anything in there that does justice. She’s everything.”
She touched my arm. “You are such a sweet guy. My daughter is lucky to have you.” She pulled her purse off of her shoulder and pulled something out of it—a small red box.
She took a seat on the bench in front of the store, and I sat down next to her waiting for her to open the box.
“When I had Violet, her real dad gave me a gift. He wasn’t around a lot. But he meant well. The circumstances were a mess. Anyways, he gave me this.”
I took the ring. I’d never seen a diamond that color.
“That’s why I named her Violet.” She smiled. “It was a part of his family for a long time. And I held onto it. I always knew the day would come when you wanted to marry her, Wilder. And I knew this would come in handy because it’s not just some stupid diamond. It’s more than that.”
“Holy shit. I don’t even know what to say, Lorna.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I know what my daughter means to you. You can do whatever you want with it. Use the diamond on another band; add more diamonds. It’s up to you. But I think this stone needs to be a part of it.”
“I know it does,” I said, agreeing with her. I kissed her on the cheek and hugged the shit out of her. “Thank you. I swear I will take care of your daughter for the rest of my life if she says yes.”
“I know you will. You’ve been doing that since you were kids. This is meant to be, honey.”
She was right. Violet was meant to be with me, and I was meant to be with Violet—forever.
Violet
I SAID MY GOODBYES to everyone at school except Kat. She was the last and final goodbye. And as I unlocked the door, a little part of me wished it was different. I wanted to kidnap her and take her back home with me because we were friends. I actually liked Kat. She was a good person once I gave her a chance. She helped me belong far away from home. She took care of me and was there for me. She was my first real friend—besides Wilder of course.
“Hey, you,” she said, smiling when I came into the apartment.
“Hey.” I set my keys on the counter.
“How is everything? How is Wilder?” She finished scrubbing the pan and put it in the other side of the sink and picked up a glass.
“Wilder is okay. He’s making it through. Bing left, and he’s handling it better than I imagined.” I took a seat at the counter. “I’m proud of him.”
“Good.” She smiled, drying her hands on the dishtowel. She leaned against the counter. “You’re not staying, are you?”
I shook my head, bursting into tears. “I have to go back. I need him, and he needs me.”
She yanked me to her, wrapping her arms around me. “Girl. It’s okay. I understand. Wilder loves you like something I’ve never seen before. You deserve to have that.”
“Thank you. But I’m going to miss you.” I pulled away, wiping my eyes. “Kat, I never had any friends in school besides Wilder. You gave me that, and it means a lot.”
“I’ll still be your friend even if you’re hours away,” she insisted, hugging me again. “Now, you’re making my makeup smear!” She was just as emotional as me.
“I love you. And I promise to keep in touch and come see you.”
“You better,” she said with a smile. “And I am the godmother of the first baby you two pop out.”
We both laughed. The idea of Wilder and I having kids, it was all there written in the stars. We were going to do everything together. I loved Wilder with every ounce of my being; every part of me was meant to love him.
I MADE IT HOME.
And I was both excited and nervous to tell Wilder and Mom about my choice in dropping out. I came inside looking for Mom. I needed to get it over fast like a bandage you rip off. The quicker the better.
“Mom?” She wasn’t in the kitchen or the living room. Good god, I hoped she wasn’t upstairs banging Garrett Urban. That was not what I wanted to see today or any day.
Halfway up the steps, she appeared at the top of the stairs. Her eyes wide, she was not expecting to see me.
“You’re here,” she said.
“Yeah.”
“Awesome. Um. We need milk.” She ran a hand over her shirt, staring me down.
“Okay. But I wanted to talk to you.” The milk could wait. She was weird—pretty sure she’s up there fucking Garrett Urban.
“Can it wait just a few minutes?”
“Okay. I guess I will call Wilder,” I said with a sigh going back down the stairs, so I didn’t see whatever she was hiding up there.
I turned back. “If Garrett is here, he didn’t drive here. I don’t see his car outside. What is going on?” I started up the steps again.
Mom came back into the hallway quickly. “Nothing is going on. Other than I wasn’t expecting you home.”
Was she...masturbating? I clapped a hand against my forehead. Oh god. “I’m going to Wilder’s. I’ll grab milk on the way back. Put your sex toys away. That is so gross, Mom.”
Wilder
IN MY HAND WAS THE ring I was going to use to propose to Violet. Sitting in the car at the gas station, minutes away from getting on the highway and heading to Violet. My life was going to change, and I couldn’t wait.
I snapped the ring box shut when my phone rang and answered. “Yeah?”
“She’s here!” Lorna screeched, panic lacing her words.
“What do you mean she’s here?” I was ten minutes away from home, on the way to her. And now Violet was home? What the hell was going on? Violet showing up was not the way I planned this to go.
“She just walked in the door. I told her we needed milk. And I don’t think she bought it. She went across the street to you.”
Shit. “Okay. I have an idea.”
“Good because I don’t.” Lorna sighed. “This wasn’t the plan.”
“Just tell her I’m broke down at the school. If she questions why say transfer paperwork for Bing or something.”
“Okay. I can do that. Good luck.”
I started up the car and headed toward home. Plans changed, but this was even better. I could work with it.
Violet
I KNOCKED AGAIN. NO answer from Wilder. I peeked through the windows, the house was empty, and his car was not in the driveway.
Maybe he had to go into work. It wasn’t like him not to tell me these things. So far, my homecoming sucked. My boyfriend was missing, and my mother was masturbating.
I headed down the steps. I guessed I would hang out at home until one of them got their shit together, so I could explain that I wanted to be here and not in school anymore.
I climbed the porch steps, and mom met me in the doorway.
“Wilder is broke down at the school,” she told me.
I made a face. “Why is Wilder at the school?”
“He said something about Bing and transcripts.” She shook her head back and forth, showing her palms. “Since you’re here. You can run and give him a jump or whatever.”
I nodded. “I need the car keys.”
She let me inside. “Why did you come back?” She pulled the keys out of her purse and handed them over.
“I came home because this is where I belong. And I know that you’re probably angry to hear that. But I don’t want to be far away anymore.” Finally, I could release the stress. It was out there now.
Mom didn’t look upset. She smiled and tugged me to her. Hugging me and kissing me on the forehead. “I’m glad to have you back.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
I pushed my hair back and sighed. “Let’s hope Wilder feels the same way. I’ll be back.”
Mom nodded, giving me a wave.
I climbed in her car and backed out of the driveway. Taking the same route, I took as a kid to get to school. It was a short drive. And when I pulled up, I saw Wilder in the parking lot, looking into his car.
I pulled up beside him and parked, getting out. “Is it the battery? Do you need a jump?”
He looked up at me. “Yeah, maybe. Get your cables.” Well, thanks for the hello. No nice to see you.
I opened the trunk and pulled the case out. “What were you doing here again?” I handed them over.
He unzipped the case and pulled the jumper cables out. “Just some shit with Bing and paperwork for the new school. Look, I’m going to need your help.”
“Okay. What do I need to do?”
“Just stand there.” He leaned in, reaching down into the engine, nothing I knew anything about.
“How am I helping just standing here?”
“Just stand there.” He dropped on his knee, running his hand under the car. What the hell was he trying to do? “I think I got it.” He pulled something out.
If he was trying to jump the car, I was pretty sure this was not how it happened.
“Okay. I’m going to need your help. You ready?”
I sighed, growing a little annoyed. “Yes. I’ve been standing here waiting.”
“Alright. I need you to do one thing. And I hope you can do it, or I don’t think we are going to figure this out.”
“What is that?” He was holding something. Something resembling a small box. Who was I kidding? It was a small box. “Did someone plant the world's tiniest bomb under your car?”
Wilder grinned and took my hand. “Violet. I knew we were made for each other since first grade. And I cannot live another day of my life without you right next to me. Ever since the day we meant, I knew I was meant to be yours until the day I died. Will you marry me?”
I covered my mouth, so shocked, so blown away.
“I can’t promise you that nothing will go wrong. But I can promise you that I will stand by your side and fight through it all with you. Nobody has ever made me feel the way that you do. I know what happiness is because of you. Marry me, please.”
Nothing was ever going to be easier than saying yes to Wilder. “Yes!” I jumped into his arms, knocking him backward onto the ground. “I fall in love every time I look into your eyes. Of course, I want to marry you.”
I knew the moment he saved me and continued to save me that he was the one for me. His goodness, his need to make me happy; it was all I ever wanted.
He taught me how to love. I hadn’t even realized that I loved him when I was fighting to stay away from loving anyone. I had already fallen in love. And maybe it took me a little while to realize that love could be good. Love didn’t always hurt. But I was there now and nothing about loving Wilder hurt. It was all just right.
He kissed me right there in the middle of the blacktop. And when we finally stopped, he said. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you for always being that person I needed.”
Epilogue
WILDER
One year later
I walked inside and immediately wrapped my arms around my fiancé.
Violet smiled at me in the mirror. She was elegant and beautiful, and all dressed up for our wedding rehearsal — a long form-fitting white dress. Her hair pulled up in a sleek bun, her face glowing. She was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. Even more so every day. I inhaled her coconut perfume, enjoying the way she smelled.
“You have to hurry, we only have fifteen minutes before we have to leave,” she said, letting me kiss her neck. I watched how she closed her eyes enjoying the feel of my lips against her skin.
My hands slid down her arms and met up with a perfect baby bump. She was carrying my child. We created a life, and I was so happy about it.
She raised her head, and I pecked her on the lips. “I’m gonna hop in the shower, and I’ll be ready. Want to join me?”
She groaned. “I do, but we will never make it on time.”
She stood up, pressing her lips against mine again. The idea of ditching rehearsal and making love to my fiance sounded better and better.
“Go. Please. Mom will kill us.” She spun me around and nudged me toward the bathroom.
I took my work clothes off and turned on the shower. Violet watched proudly. She wanted me. She wanted to jump in that shower. If she weren’t careful, I would let her, and we could just run off and elope somewhere.
Her engagement ring caught the light, sparkling on her hand. She was in love with that ring—the one her father gifted her mother on the day she was born. She was so proud of the story behind it, and she appreciated that Lorna had gifted it to us. And how it was now another piece to our amazing love story. I engraved I love you in the band and our initials, but besides that, I left it just the way it was. Because like Violet, it was perfect.
Our life together was off to a perfect start. We bought a house away from the old neighborhood. No more memories of my mom. We were closer to Bing but not too far away from Lorna.
We woke up every day with purpose and happiness. We were together, and we could get through anything. I knew that no matter what happened next with Violet beside me, it would be okay.
She gave me that strength. She made me want to live every day full of hope and life. I didn’t feel broken or busted when I was with her. I was Wilder, the kid who pushed through all of it and came out on the right side.
Violet finally decided what she wanted to do with her life. She enrolled in school to become a teacher—so she could help kids like herself, kids like me, who never felt accepted. And I knew she would flourish in it. She could do anything.
Tomorrow she would walk down the aisle and become my wife. I couldn’t wait. I couldn’t wait to be the father of her kids. I couldn’t wait to see her hold our child for the first time.
I couldn’t wait for every bit of it.
VIOLET
I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t scared about being a mother or getting married. I was frightened. But that fear was worth it because I was marrying the love of my life.
I learned that no matter how awful things were, you had to push through. You had to survive. You couldn’t give up because that meant you failed. It kept you right in the place you needed out of most.
When Wilder and I met, we didn’t know it, but we were getting put back together. We were becoming whole again. Both of us had our share of shit slung at us, but we learned how to survive.
As I sat on the bed waiting for Wilder so we could go to our wedding rehearsal, I knew
I made the right choice. I was exactly where I needed to be.
And when we walked into the church where we would be married, I could feel the happiness all around us.
Kat was gushing. Mom was ready to cry all over again. Bing and his family were happy to attend. And the amount of love Garrett had for my mother it showed wherever they went—he was head over heels for her. And I was so glad I reunited them. My mom deserved to be loved the right way too.
Kat was my maid of honor. And Bing was Wilder’s best man. It was a small wedding party, but it didn’t matter the size because the love in the room made it feel like it was bursting at the seams.
It doesn’t matter how many people you have in your corner. You just need the right ones. And we had that. Oh, we have the right ones.
I was going to love this man until I took my last breath. I was going to have his babies and hold his hand through all the challenges life brought us. We would watch the sunsets together and cry together when we sprouted grey hairs.
It would be a beautiful ride, and I was so happy to have Wilder to go on the journey with me. He was everything to me. And I would live the rest of my life being everything to him because he deserved it.
We deserved it.
The End
Acknowledgment
THANK YOU TO ALL MY betas for giving me another pleasant journey with my story. Andrea, Krystin, Ash, Jenn, Mary Ward, Adele, Cristina Sifuentes (girl, I don’t know why but I was so nervous sending you the book!) Karelle. You guys are the shit!
I went for something new, a new journey, and a fresh start in my career as an author. I’ll probably never be where I want to be. But I will keep going because hard work pays off.
I might not be the best author out there, but I know I have the heart. And I hope everyone reading it sees that and enjoys it.
Thank you to all the readers. The best part of creating a story is sharing it with the world.