38. Addison
38
ADDISON
five months later
“P iper, what are we doing here?” I asked as she walked me backstage of Black Silk Auction’s stage.
Piper’s hand was on my elbow, showing me quickly through the back until she finally pushed me through the thick curtain.
“Don’t move so fast in your condition?—”
“I’m pregnant, not sick. Shh, Addi; you’ll see in a sec. Good luck!”
“Good luck?”
She disappeared behind the curtain, and I was stuck in the empty auditorium.
Or at least I thought it was empty until the bright lights were shining on me.
What the hell is this about?
“Warren?” I called out.
“Addison Mercer, while we met before you came into Black Silk Auction, I consider our story really started here.”
His voice swirled around me, and I tried to find him, but the light was too bright.
Just then, they shifted to the aisle, where Warren was walking toward me, looking put together in a suit and tie, a single blue rose in his hand. He came up on stage, a rare smile spreading across his face.
“What is this?” I asked with a light laugh.
“Addi,” he said in a sigh. “You changed my life. You opened my eyes and my heart to a world I’ve never thought possible. Never thought I deserved.”
My heart stopped in my chest. He handed me the rose.
“Is this?—”
“You gave me love, Addi. Even when I didn’t deserve it. Now I have a pointer for you…” He got down on one knee, pulling out a small box from his pocket and opened it, showing me the glittering ring inside. “I love you, Addison Mercer. Will you do me the honor of becoming Addison Kin?—”
“Yes!”
I launched myself at him, sending us both flying to the floor. My lips met his with renewed passion.
My eyes were leaking, and both the ring and the flower fell to the stage, but none of that mattered—not when Warren King had just proposed to me.
Even when he took me back after our month together, I never expected us to go this far. It was my dream, but I never thought it’d become a reality.
Just as my hand started to wander down Warren’s chest, the light was shut down, and cheers came from the seats.
I shot up, my head swiveling to look at the noise.
Not only was Piper in the crowd, but so were Violet, Maxwell, Ares, and Tristian.
Piper was standing up, clapping along with Violet, while Warren’s friends stood politely. Ares gave another shout.
My skin heated, and I was quick to try and push Warren away, but he was grabbing me and twisting us so he was on top of me.
“Okay, everyone. Time to leave!”
“Wait—”
I was cut off by Warren’s lips coming to mine as I felt his hands already tearing at my clothes.
“I love you, Addi King.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his desperation. Oh, how the tables have turned.
“And I love you, Mr. King. Forever. Don’t regret this when I’m old and gray.”
“Sharing the rest of our lives together will be a gift, no matter what changes happen to us or the world around us. As long as I have you, I’m the happiest man in the world.”
I couldn’t keep the tears from falling. I brought him back to me where he belonged.
With me. Forever and always.