30. BECKETT
BECKETT
The sound of laughter, chatter, and music welcomes us into the most anticipated event of the year in Wrangler Creek—the long-awaited fundraiser.
My chest tightens in a mix of nerves and anticipation.
This is it—the moment I’ve been dreading and longing for all at once.
Every step I’ve taken over the past few days, every harsh truth Ryder forced me to face, it all comes down to this.
I glance at my family, who have all been part of my journey in their own way and are now here to back me up.
The doors to the hall swing open, and the crowd parts slightly as I approach.
I take a deep breath, letting my eyes adjust to the bright lights, and then.
.. I spot her. Standing near the center of the gathering, radiant and alive, unaware of the storm I’m bringing with me.
My heart clenches at the sight of her laughing with someone, completely unaware that everything is about to change.
Guilt floods me. I’ve been gone too long, hiding from my mistakes, letting fear dictate my actions.
I’ve been held back by damaging questions—what if she hates me?
What if she doesn’t want to see me again?
But all those were resolved by the voicemail she left me this morning.
The one with the declaration of love, the words she never had the courage to utter till now.
I love you. I’m so sorry. I never should have pushed you away. I want you back. Please come back. I miss you.
Those words cut through my panic, giving me the courage to be here tonight to try to win her back.
The crowd murmurs as we move closer, and I notice a few familiar faces stopping in surprise, whispering to each other. I don’t care. My focus is on her, on the way her eyes will widen when she sees me, on the chance to fix what I broke.
I square my shoulders, take a slow, steadying breath, and step forward. No more running. No more hiding.
This is the moment I’ve been waiting for—the chance to face her, face everyone, and finally put my heart where my mouth is.
Her laughter stops mid-sentence, and my chest tightens. Quinn’s head turns, and our eyes meet. I see it immediately—shock, disbelief, a flicker of fear, and then... something softer, something that makes my stomach tighten. Relief. Hope.
She takes a step back, her hand flying to her mouth, and my heart leaps. She didn’t think I’d come. She didn’t think I’d show up. But here I am, and nothing—no mistake, argument, or missed day—can change how I feel.
Love hits me like a wave, fierce and undeniable. The mistakes, the guilt, the fear—they’re still there, but they’re drowned out by the simple truth: I can’t live without her. I won’t.
Determination settles over me like armor. Every step I take now, every word I speak, every gesture I make, will be about fixing this. About showing her, in front of everyone, that I’m here, I’m ready, and I love her—completely, irrevocably.
She takes another step toward me, hesitant, trembling, and my chest tightens again. I’ve dreamed of this moment for days, imagined it in a hundred different ways, but nothing could prepare me for seeing her—real, alive, in front of me—after all the hurt and distance.
Awe. That’s what I feel. Awe at her courage, beauty, and the love that refuses to let either of us give up.
And now, it’s time to show her just how far I’ll go to prove it.
I step onto the raised platform near the center of the huge hall, clearing my throat as the murmurs of the crowd hush.
All eyes are on me now, and for a fleeting second, fear shoots through me.
But then I see Quinn, standing a few feet away, eyes wide, her hand pressed to her chest, and I remember why I’m here.
“Good evening, Wrangler Creek,” I begin, my voice steady but carrying the weight of everything I’ve felt over the past days.
“I know you’re all surprised to see me up here.
Believe me, I am too, but it’s about time I make things right once and for all.
I know I’ve made mistakes. Big ones. Mistakes that have hurt the people I care about, that have let down my family, friends, and this community.
I’m standing here today not to make excuses, but to take responsibility. ”
The crowd is quiet, listening, and I take a breath before continuing. “I’ve been reckless and made poor choices, but I’ve learned. I’ve grown. And I want to show you all that I am committed to being better—not just for myself, but for the people I love.”
I glance toward Quinn, feeling my heart tighten. “Miss Atwood has been my most incredible support through this. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and for that, I am forever grateful. She has my love, respect, and promise that I will never let her down again.”
From my jacket pocket, I pull out a folded check and hold it up for the crowd to see.
“And as promised, here’s a check for fifty million dollars from the Morgans to Quinn Atwood for her development project.
She deserves every opportunity to follow her dreams, and we are proud to support her in every way we can. ”
Whispers ripple through the crowd—some impressed, some still skeptical. But I don’t care. This isn’t for them. It’s for her. I lower my eyes to Quinn, letting the sincerity of my words reach her directly.
“I am sorry, Quinn,” I add, my voice low but audible, “for everything I’ve done to hurt you. I am ready to do better, be better, for you, for us, and for the future we can have together.”
I step down from the platform, my gaze locked on hers, and the hum of the crowd fades into the background. The apology has been said. Now it’s time to see if she’ll let me in.
I take a deep breath, my heart hammering in my chest as I walk toward her. The crowd parts slightly, sensing something is about to happen, but I don’t care about them. I only care about her.
“Quinn,” I say softly, stopping in front of her, my hands slightly trembling.
Her eyes search mine, wide and shining, and I see a mixture of hope, fear, and longing.
“I’ve spent every day since I left thinking about how I could fix this, how I could show you that I mean everything I said, everything I promised. ”
I drop to one knee, the world around us blurring, leaving only her. I reach into my pocket and pull out the small, velvet box, holding it up for her to see. The crowd murmurs softly behind us, but I can’t hear them; all I hear is the thudding of my own heart.
“Quinn Atwood,” I say, my voice thick with emotion, “I love you. I’ve loved you through every fight, every misunderstanding, every mistake. You’re my heart, my home, my future. Will you marry me? Will you be my partner for life, the mother of our children, the love I’ll never let go of?”
Her breath catches, and her hand flies to her mouth. Tears shimmer in her eyes, and I see the walls she’s built around herself crumble. “Yes,” she whispers, her voice trembling but filled with absolute certainty. “Yes, Beckett Gideon Morgan, I’ll marry you.”
Relief, joy, and overwhelming love surge through me as I slide the ring onto her finger. She leans down, pressing her lips to mine. We’re wrapped up in each other, the past forgiven, the future wide open, and every mistake, struggle, and fear that brought us here suddenly feels worth it.
Around us, the crowd erupts into cheers and applause, but I barely notice. All I feel is Quinn in my arms, her heartbeat against mine, the promise of a lifetime together in every glance, every smile, every touch.
I hold her close, whispering into her hair, “I promise to love you forever, and no matter what comes, we’ll face it together.”
Her arms tighten around me, and I know, finally, completely, that this is only the beginning.
The music drifts through the air, soft and melodic, as I guide Quinn to a quieter corner of the celebration.
Her hand in mine feels like home, grounding me after the whirlwind of emotions, the crowd, and the public display.
I pull her close, our bodies almost perfectly aligned, and she rests her head against my chest.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur again, though this time it’s for her to hear, for her alone. “For everything before today, for every time I hurt you, for every stupid thing I’ve done that made you doubt us.”
Her fingers tighten around mine, and she lifts her head, her eyes searching mine. “I know, Beck,” she whispers. “I was scared too, but hearing you today, seeing you here—I know you mean it. I believe in us.”
I tilt my forehead against hers, breathing in the scent of her hair, the warmth of her skin.
“I love you, Quinn. Completely. I want to build everything with you—a life, family, and our future. I’ve spent too long running from who I am and who I want to be, but with you, I know I can be better. I will be better.”
She smiles, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes, and I feel that aching, sweet relief that only comes when two people truly forgive each other.
“And I love you. We’ll do it together,” she says softly.
“We’ll support each other, grow together, face everything, including this pregnancy. We can do this.”
I lift her hand and press a kiss to it. “You and me, always. I promise to never take this for granted again.”
The music swells slightly, and we sway gently in each other’s arms, letting the world fade away. Around us, the celebration continues—laughter, the clinking of glasses—but none of it matters. Right here, right now, I have Quinn, and she has me.
As we dance, I let myself reflect on the journey that brought me here: the mistakes, the redemption, the lessons learned, and the unwavering love that refused to let go. This is my future, our future, and I wouldn’t trade a single moment for anything.
I hold her tighter and she presses her cheek against mine, smiling, and I know, without a doubt, that we’ve crossed the final hurdle.
The crowd erupts into cheers as we step back from the dance, Quinn’s hand still in mine. Faces light up around us—family, friends, the whole town—all sharing in the joy, all witnesses to the love that refused to break under pressure.
My father claps me on the shoulder, his proud smile hidden behind his usual gruff demeanor. “About time, son,” he mutters, but I catch the sparkle of approval in his eyes.
Quinn’s brothers grin at us, nudging each other like conspirators, and I can’t help but laugh. Landon winks, giving me the silent nod of a friend who’s always had my back.
And then my eyes find Quinn’s mother, her hand lightly squeezing Quinn’s shoulder. “I told you, honey,” she says softly, smiling. “What is meant to be yours will always find its way.”
Quinn laughs, a sound of pure relief and happiness. “We did it,” she whispers, her voice trembling with emotion. “We’re really here. Together.”
I pull her close, lifting her into a gentle twirl, feeling the warmth of her body, the steady beat of her heart, the life we’re about to bring into the world together.
I press a kiss to her temple, murmuring, “This is just the beginning, Quinn. Our family, dreams, and love—it all starts now. And nothing can touch us when we face it together.”
She smiles, tears spilling freely, and I know we’ve finally crossed the finish line. Every struggle, heartache, and misstep has led us here, to this moment of pure, unshakable joy.
The cheering crowd blurs into the background as I hold her in my arms, promising silently and fiercely that I will never let go.
THE END.