Chapter 21
ELIJAH
“I promise, I’m okay.”
Both Kane and Sam have been fussing over me, and I know I need to rest, but I also want to give Sam the other half of her Valentine’s gift.
Kane stands next to the couch. “I hate to leave you like this. I’m happy to stay.”
I open one eye and peek through my lashes. “Oh yeah, you want to stay and give me a bubble bath?”
I fully expect him to give me some kind of smart-ass remark, but he shrugs. “I mean, it’s the least I can do. You saved my life today.”
I open both eyes and look at him. “You’re my brother, Kane. I got your back.”
He seems choked up. “I know. You too.”
Sam goes over and hugs him, and after a few goodbyes, Kane leaves.
As soon as he’s gone, Sam comes up to me. “You want something to drink? Want the lights off? Why don’t you just go lie down in bed? I’ll check on you every hour.”
I shake my head, and she sits down, handing me a box of chocolates. “Here’s your Valentine’s gift. I wrote you a letter, but I want you to wait until you’re clear-headed to read it.”
I watch her set the envelope on the coffee table. She opens the box of chocolates and holds the tray out to me. “Want one?”
I pop one into my mouth and chew. “I love you.”
She nods with a smile. “I love you too, and that’s why I want you to rest.”
I grab her hand. “I will… but first—”
She cuts me off and scoots back. “Oh no, none of that, mister. No more hanky-panky, not until you’re healed.”
I reach over and put my hand on her knee. “I have two more surprises for you.”
She looks over at the huge bouquet. “Elijah, the flowers… the love note… that’s more than enough.”
I shake my head. “Come on. I’ve been working on this all week, I want you to see it.”
I slowly stand up and pull her with me. I wrap an arm around her shoulders and tuck her against me.
She laughs. “I feel like this is a ploy to get us to the bedroom.”
I chuckle. “We will get there, but later. First, I want you to see this.”
I stop outside the guest bedroom. “I need you to know I didn’t break my promise. I did not buy any of this the day we went.”
Her mouth drops. “Elijah…”
I open the door, hoping I did the right thing, and as soon as I see the look on Sam’s face, I know I did.
She puts her hands to her mouth as she walks in.
I had someone come earlier this week and paint safari animals on one wall.
Everything is blue and yellow, and everything she said she wanted, even the things on her wish list, are in this room.
She walks around the room, looking at everything, and then turns back to me with her eyes shining.
“Elijah.” Her voice breaks, and I walk over to her.
She looks around the room. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
“I wanted to,” I tell her simply.
She crosses over to me in two steps. Her arms go around me, and she tucks her face into my chest. Her body shakes as she cries.
I kiss the top of her head. “Hey, it’s okay.”
She leans her head back to look up at me. “They’re happy tears. I love you so much, Eli. I tried so hard this week to protect myself, sure that you would change your mind about me.”
I gesture around the room. “Does this look like I’m going to change my mind? I’m planning our future, Sassy, and it’s a good one.”
She nods as I suck in a deep breath. Almost nervously, I go down to one knee. “There’s something else I got this week, and I want to give it to you.”
Her mouth drops in shock.
I pull the ring box from my pocket, open it, and take out the diamond ring. “Samantha, I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. You are the one for me. You. Him. Us.”
Her hands fly to her mouth. “Eli,” she whispers.
“I promise to love you. I promise to always be here for you. For him. For all our future babies.” I’m almost pleading with her, hoping that she says yes. “Marry me, Sassy. Marry me and build a future with me.” I shake my head. “Please say yes.”
She slowly goes to her knees. “Yes, yes, God, yes, I love you so much, Eli. Yes, a thousand times, yes.”
Relief hits me hard, and I finally take a steady breath.
I put the ring on her finger, and then we kiss. Our lips meet, and the kiss feels deep and almost desperate, as if we can’t get close enough.
When we pull back, my forehead rests against hers, and her hand is over my rapidly beating heart. Our forever starts now.