I cannot lose you again

Chapter 56

Aria stretched her legs out across the couch and glanced at her phone for what had to be the tenth time in the last hour.

No new messages. No missed calls. Nothing.

She sighed and tossed it onto the cushion beside her before pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders.

The house was quiet. Too quiet. Which was ridiculous considering two weeks ago she would have killed for a little peace. Now she found herself missing Chase.

Again.

Not in the soul crushing, life altering way she had missed him before.

Just... normal missing. The kind where she wanted him home because dinner tasted better when he was sitting across from her, because the bed felt too big without him, and because she missed hearing him complain about absolutely everything while simultaneously fixing whatever he was complaining about.

A smile tugged at her lips. God, the man could not sit still.

She glanced toward the clock, almost noon.

He'd texted her first thing this morning.

Good morning beautiful. IMiss you. I LOVE YOU!

She had responded with a picture of Echo sitting on their couch looking offended.

Chase's response had simply been:

WTH, why is he judging me?

The smile lingered, then faded slightly because underneath all of that, she was worried.

Not about Chase. No, he was doing great...

she was worried about Parker. Two weeks home and something still wasn't right.

She'd noticed it immediately. The shadows beneath his eyes.

The way he stared off sometimes. The way his laughter ended too quickly.

Like he was only borrowing happiness for a few seconds before something dragged him back under.

Whatever happened overseas had been bad. Bad enough that Chase hadn't left his side for more than a few hours at a time since he'd come home.

Fishing trips.

Camping trips.

Late night drives.

Beer on the porch.

The kind of things men did when they loved each other but weren't quite ready to talk about their pain. And Chase loved Parker.More like a brother than a friend. Which meant he was determined to drag Parker through whatever darkness had followed him home.

Aria picked her phone back up. Maybe she'd text him.

Just a quick:

How's Parker?

Before she could unlock the screen, a knock sounded at the front door. Her brows furrowed. Nobody had said they were coming over. Setting her phone down, she crossed the living room and glanced through the peephole.

Parker.

The sight of him made her smile instantly. Until she realized he wasn't alone.

Standing on the porch with him was Emily.

Aria froze, her hand hovering inches from the lock.

What the hell?

The door was still closed when she heard Parker speak. His voice was calm even though he looked anything but.

"Emily, what are you doing here?"

There was a long pause.

When Emily answered, her voice sounded raspier than Aria remembered. She had obviously been crying recently.

"I know you don't want to talk to me Parker... and I promise I'm not here to make trouble I just want to see Will."

"No," Parker agreed quietly. "I really don't want to talk to you."

Silence followed. Aria remained frozen behind the door. Not wanting to interrupt. Not sure she should stay quiet either.

Then Emily spoke again. "I just needed somebody to tell me if he's okay."

Parker laughed once. The sound held absolutely no humor.

"That's why you're here?" Parker stood there with his back to the peephole preventing Aria from being able to see what was happening. "After everything you did to him... now... you want to know if he is okay?"

Emily didn't answer, and that felt like an answer all by itself. Parker looked away briefly.

Aria could see the profile of his face through the glass beside the door.

There was a new cut on his cheek, it was small and would probably not scar but it was fresh and angry. When he looked back at Emily, something in his expression had hardened.

"You wanna know if Chaseis okay?"

Emily nodded.

Parker's jaw flexed. "He's great... happy again."

The words seemed to hit Emily harder than anger would have. Her shoulders sagged slightly, but Parker wasn't finished.

"He's sleeping through the night." A pause. "He's laughing and he smiles all the time now."

Emily swallowed hard. Aria's chest tightened unexpectedly, because she knew exactly what Parker was seeing.

Parker was seeing the woman who manipulated Chase into taking care of her while keeping everyone else under the impression she was his hero.

A liar who could twist the truth like a professional.

"The nightmares don't own him anymore." His voice had gone quieter now, softer and sounding somewhat envious. "He got his life back now, so let's just leave him alone and move on, kay?"

Emily blinked rapidly as tears were gathering in her eyes.

"And Aria?"

The question barely made it out of her mouth and Parker's mouth twitched slightly. The closest thing to a real smile she'd seen from him lately.

"She's happy too. I mean, the man she loves is back with her where he belongs... safe and sound... so all is good. Anything else?"

That one seemed to break something inside Emily, because she looked down immediately as tears started flowing down her hollow cheeks past the dark circles under her eyes.

She fidgeted with a tissue in her hands but said nothing.

It was like she couldn't bear hearing it, the news of Chase's happiness, his healing.

For a second, nobody spoke.

Then Parker sighed. "You need to let him go."

Emily closed her eyes. "I know."

"No." His voice sharpened slightly. "You really don't. It's like you can't seem to understand at all."

And for the first time since she'd opened the peephole, Aria saw genuine emotion flash across Parker's face. Anger that was fueled by pain, raw and immediate but gone almost as fast as it appeared.

"You need to let him go," Parker repeated quietly. "You need to go back to New Zealand. You need to get back into that clinic where the professionals can help you... and you need to do it before Chase or Aria sees you here."

Aria tilted her head as she listened to Parker's tone shift. This was a side of Parker she had heard about but had never really seen... it was the side of him that could be ruthless.

Chase had once told her that Parker was good at making people think he was fine, that he was a nice guy, that he was calm, but the truth was he was ruthless and, at times, narrow minded, driven by purpose... a man who had nothing but time to ensure he achieved his vengeance when crossed.

It made him a great sniper, but it could also make him a man you did not want to cross.

Parker folded his arms across his chest. "So all is good." The silence stretched. "Anything else?"

That seemed to break something inside her, because for the first time since she'd arrived, she looked genuinely lost. Like she'd finally run out of excuses and the energy to try and get her way.

"Parker..."

His expression hardened immediately. "No."

Emily flinched. "I just..."

"No." This time his voice came sharper, colder. The kind of voice Aria had never heard from him before. The kind that made her stomach tighten.

Emily swallowed hard. "I know you're angry."

Parker laughed and the sound wasn't pleasant. "I'm not angry."

His eyes lifted to hers, so that she could see the cold, controlled fury he was trying to bury.

"I'm done."

Emily's face fell. "Parker, please."

And there it was, the pleading, the desperation.

The thing she had always used when she wanted somebody to feel sorry for her.

Aria watched his shoulders tense. Watched something dark flicker behind his eyes.

For a few seconds she thought he might cave, that he might fall into her trap but that was not on Parker, it was all Aria's own insecurities flaring up, because Parker never wavered.

"You wanna know the truth?" he asked quietly.

Emily hesitated, then nodded. Parker looked away for a second. When he looked back, his voice had gone even calmer. Which somehow made his words terrifyingly hollow.

"The only reason I ever gave you the time of day was because for a little while..." He stopped as the muscle jumped in his jaw. "...you reminded me of my wife."

Emily went still, but Parker continued before she could speak.

"The woman I loved." The words came rough. "Somebody I would've done damn near anything for."

Aria's chest tightened. Demi.He was talking about Demi.

Emily's face softened slightly, like maybe she thought that meant something. Like maybe she thought she still had a chance to appeal to him.

Then Parker completely destroyed that hope. "The problem was..." He laughed once, it was a bitter sound. "It took me too damn long to realize you weren't anything like her."

Emily visibly recoiled.

"Demi was honest." He took a step closer to her. "Demi was kind." Another step, "Demi would've died before she manipulated somebody who trusted her."

The tears in Emily's eyes spilled over again.

Parker didn't seem to care. "Demi spent her life protecting people." His voice lowered. "You spent yours figuring out how to make people feel responsible for you in order to control them."

Emily looked like she'd been slapped.

Good.

Because Parker wasn't finished. "My heart kept tellin' me to help you." His eyes narrowed. "To protect you." A pause. "But my instincts kept tellin' me something wasn't right."

He shook his head. "I ignored it." The disappointment in his voice sounded directed at himself more than her. "I let my guard down." Another pause. "And Chase paid for it."

Finally Parker stood with his full intimidating height, right in front of Emily. He was now leaning down almost nose to nose with her. It would have scared Aria half to death to be on the receiving end of that glare, a look that would have caused most full grown men to back down.

Emily wiped at her face with. both hands. "We were friends."

The words barely made it out of her mouth before Parker smiled at them.

A terrifying smile that was small and humorless. The kind that did not reach his eyes.

"No."

Emily stared at him. "No?"

"We weren't friends." His voice never rose, it didn't need to. "I tolerated you... pitied you." The words landed like punches. "There's a difference."

Emily looked away.

Parker stepped back. Creating distance. Making it clear the conversation was ending.

"You need to leave."

She nodded weakly. "I know, I understand Parker."

"No." His voice sharpened instantly. "You don't so I am going to make this clear one time only."

Emily's head snapped back up.

Parker's eyes locked onto hers. Unmoving, steady, and dangerous.

"You need to leave Tennessee." He paused as he wiped a tear off her cheek and slung it to the ground like it burned him. "You need to leave Chase alone, no more calls or texts, and you need to leave Aria alone."

Emily looked shaken now, but her pride would not let this go. "And if I don't?"

The question came out small. Parker stared at her for several seconds. Long enough that Aria found herself holding her breath. When he finally answered, his voice was almost conversational. Which somehow made it worse.

"Then we're gonna have problems."

Emily swallowed, hard.

Parker took another step back. Hands sliding back into his pockets. Expression blank.

"I don't think you want problems with me, Emily."

The statement wasn't a threat. It wasn't bravado. It wasn't posturing. It was simply a fact.

And judging by the way Emily's face drained of color, she understood that too.

For a moment nobody spoke.

Then quietly, Parker said the final thing.

"Go home." A pause. "Get help, and stay fuck away from the people I love...

because if you don't then I will become your only problem Emily, not those sick and twisted little monsters in your mind that feed your delusions but me a real sick and twisted monster who can make your life a living hell. "

For several long seconds, nobody moved. Nobody spoke.

Emily simply stood there staring at him.

Maybe trying to find the version of Parker she remembered.

The one who'd listened. The one who'd checked on her.

The one who'd sat beside her when she cried.

The one who'd made excuses for her when nobody else would.

That man was gone.

Aria could see it. Hell, even Emily could see it, because whatever had followed Parker home from overseas had carved something out of him.

Emily finally nodded once, then she turned and walked away.

Parker didn't just watch her leave, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number, within minutes he was ordering someone to collect Emily and place her on a plane with first class tickets back to New Zealand.

He also ordered someone to be on babysitting detail.

He wanted her home and in that clinic no questions asked.

When the call was done, he put his phone back in his pants then took a few calming breaths. Each one seemed to push his "monster" back into hiding as his more full loving side returned to the surface.

Aria unlocked the door quietly and Parker turned to her with a question in his eyes, a question he did not ask out loud, so for his sake she pretended she had not overheard his conversation with Emily.

"Parker when did you get here?" she asked as she eyed the dress clothes he was wearing.

"Just arrived, fashionably late." he quipped, like it was an inside joke.

"Yeah I can see that... why are you wearing a suit by the way?"

Parker stood on the porch for another second not saying a word, before glancing down at the expensive suit he was wearing, then he sighed.

A long suffering sound. "Go get dressed."

Aria blinked. "What?"

"Get dressed."

She looked him up and down. The midnight navy suit fit him entirely too well.

The white dress shirt beneath it was open at the collar, exposing tanned skin and the edge of old scars.

His dark hair looked like somebody had actually convinced him to run a comb through it, though it was already trying to curl back into chaos.

Even standing there looking annoyed, he looked ridiculously handsome. Which only made the situation more suspicious.

"Parker why are you in dress clothes?" she asked, again. She had no idea what he was up to but she had a clue who was behind this... Chase. She tried very hard not to smile.

"Nope." He said, as he pointed towards the inside of the house. "Get dressed."

"Parker."

He pointed toward the house. "Yellow sundress."

Her brow furrowed. "The yellow one?"

"That's what I was told." Immediately excited she asked, just to be annoying. "By who?"

Parker stared at her and she stared back. Neither moved.

Finally he sighed again. "You know damn well Chase sent me here."

The words made her smile. "Chase sent you here to bring me to him in my yellow sundress?"

"Unfortunately."

A laugh escaped her.

Parker rolled his eyes. "He said yellow sundress. Hair down."

Aria narrowed her eyes. "Hair down?"

"That's what he said."

"What is he up to Parker?"

Parker immediately started walking toward the truck. "Nope."

"Oh come on." she joked, bouncing with prayer hands before him.

"Nope."

"Parker."

"Nope."

He moved down off the porch toward his truck. When he opened the driver's side door he yelled back to her. "Twenty minutes."

"What happens in twenty minutes?"

"I drag you outta this house and deliver you to him... however I find ya."

Her eyes widened. "You wouldn't."

Parker looked entirely too confident. "I absolutely would."

The sad thing? He probably would.

Laughing despite herself, Aria turned and headed back inside. The second she reached her bedroom she knew exactly which dress Chase had picked.

The yellow sundress was still his favorite.

The one that danced around her knees when the wind caught it.

The one he always stared at when he thought she wasn't paying attention.

The one he'd once claimed should be illegal because it made concentrating impossible.

The one she wore to the lake the day he first really started to remember.

A warmth spread through her chest.

God, what was that man up to now? Twenty minutes later she stepped out onto the porch.

Parker looked up from his phone, then froze. For half a second, just long enough for her to catch it.

"There she is."

Aria smiled. "What?"

Parker shook his head. "Nothin'."

Which was a lie, because something about his expression had softened.

He shoved his phone into his pocket and nodded toward the truck.

"Let's go."

The drive started in comfortable silence. Aria watched the Tennessee countryside roll past while Parker focused on the road. For several minutes neither spoke. Then she looked over at him, really looked at him.

The suit, the watch, the haircut, and the fact that he'd clearly shaved.

"Parker."

His hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. "What?"

"You still haven't explained why you're dressed like you're about to be on the cover of GQ."

A snort escaped him. "Business meetings."

She stared at him, her brows lifted in disbelief. "Business meetings."

"Yep."

"On a Saturday." She questioned.

"Yep."

"In a five thousand dollar suit."

Parker glanced over. "This suit cost what?"

Aria laughed, as his expression immediately darkened.

"That son of a bitch."

"Chase bought it?"

"No me made me buy it... he said I needed it." The irritation in his voice only made her laugh harder.

"Why would Chase con you into buying a five thousand dollar suit?"

"I may hate him a little right now but I also won't say shit my lips are sealed."

"No you don't."

Parker thought about that, then sighed. "No." He said softly and sighed, "I really don't hate the bastard, but he is going to have a lot of explaining to do... five thousand... are you kidding me."

The truck rolled farther down the road. Trees giving way to open fields.

The late afternoon sunlight painted everything gold.

For the first time since he'd returned home, Parker actually seemed relaxed.

Like helping Chase with whatever secret operation he was currently running had pulled him out of his own head for a little while.

Aria studied him quietly. "You okay?"

Immediately his eyes returned to the road.

"Yep."

Lie, that was a complete lie and she knew it. He knew she knew it. Neither acknowledged it.

Instead Parker reached up and adjusted the rearview mirror.

"You know," he said casually, "for somebody who claims to be smart, you sure miss obvious clues."

Aria frowned. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing."

"Parker." she reached over and tugged on the sleeve of his expensive suit, "Tell me please."

"No."

She narrowed her eyes at him but the suddenly she saw it. The lake road was ahead, her stomach flipped.

Because she knew that road, she knew every curve, every tree, and every memory attached to it.

Slowly she turned toward Parker. His mouth twitched, just slightly. A smile threatening to appear.

"Parker."

"No, princess my lips are sealed."

"Parker." she whined, as she looked around for a single clue as to what Chase was up to.

"Nope."

The truck turned and then she saw it.

The lake.

The place where she and Chase had spent countless afternoons. The place where they'd fallen in love all over again. The place where she'd almost lost him to his own stupidity. The place where she'd found him again.

Her breath caught.

"Parker..."

The smile finally appeared on his face, it was small but genuine. The first real smile she'd seen from him in weeks.

"Yeah."

The truck rolled forward slowly toward the shoreline, toward the dock.

Toward something she couldn't quite make out yet.

And suddenly her heart began beating faster, because deep down, she already knew what he was up to.

She just hadn't let herself believe it yet.

"He has planned a romantic date out here for our anniversary!" she squealed in delight. She could not believe that he had remembered the date.

Parker was silent not saying a word and she bounced in her seat beside him.

Quietly he got out and walked around to open her door. When he reached for her hand to help her out she looked around and noticed in the distance near the water was a lone figure.

Chase, she could barely make him out in the dark.

Parker whispered down into her ear, "Careful princess, walk carefully to him."

He did not walk with her she noticed as she carefully made her way toward Chase.

Halfway there she turned back and noticed Parker was gone, nowhere in sight.

"What is going on?" she asked softly, when she reached Chase in the dark.

Chase smiled, not the cocky grin she was used to, not the teasing smile he wore when he was being impossible.

This one looked nervous, actually nervous.

Which immediately made her confused, why was he nervous?

"I got somethin' for you."

The lake stretched around them in darkness. The water barely visible beneath the moonlight.

No candles. No table. No picnic. No anniversary setup.

Just Chase standing at the end of the dock in his dress whites holding what looked like a small battery powered candle that's glow was being swallowed by the night.

Confusion furrowed her brow, behind her, the sound of Parker's truck disappeared into the distance. Leaving them completely alone.

"Close your eyes."

Her confusion deepened. "Chase..."

"Do you trust me."

She laughed softly. "I always trust you."

His expression softened at that, then he stepped closer.

"Close your eyes, sweetheart."

So she did, then she felt his hands settle gently on her shoulders, then she felt him turn her slowly. Felt his fingers tip her chin upward toward the sky, then he stepped away.

For a second there was only silence. The sound of water against the dock. The distant chirp of crickets. The familiar rhythm of her own heartbeat.

"Open your eyes."

Aria blinked the night sky stretched above her.

Dark, endless, beautiful, and then she turned her gaze as the distant thumping sound overhead drew near.

She frowned. "What..." The sound grew louder but she could see nothing in the night sky, nothing but endless stars.

Then suddenly she could make out a shape in the darkness as the sound became very loud over head, it was a helicopter.

Its silhouette appeared against the stars, flying low across the lake.

Confusion flooded through her. "What is happening?"

Chase didn't answer as the helicopter moved overhead.

Then something drifted downward from the darkness.

Something small. White. Floating lazily through the air.

Instinctively, she reached for it. The paper landed against her fingertips.

It was an origami butterfly.

Aria froze.

Her breath catching immediately.

Slowly she unfolded the paper but she could not make out the words written there, at least until Chase handed her the candle.

The familiar handwriting nearly broke her before she read a single word.

Chase's handwriting. Her eyes blurred instantly.

Day 17 of capture

I thought about you while it rained today.

I thought about you bringin' me water while I cut our grass.

It was only eighty five degrees but you made me drink the whole glass before rushin' back inside for a refill because you were convinced I was gonna die from dehydration.

It's hot here.

There ain't no water.

The rain is all I'll drink today.

I miss you.

A sound escaped her. Small and broken. She pressed her fingers against her lips. Unable to breathe, unable to look away, unable to process what she was holding.

A thought, his thought, one he'd carried while she wasn't there, one she'd never heard.

One she'd never known existed.

The helicopter continued hovering overhead and another butterfly drifted downward.

Landing near her feet, then another, and another.

Slowly. Silently. Like snow.

Tears spilled down her cheeks. She bent and picked up the next one.

Day 68 of capture

The prisoner in the cell next to me won't stop crying.

He wants his mother.

He's young.

Maybe eighteen.

I want to comfort him but I know that down here comfort is a lie.

So I stay quiet and think of you.

In the kitchen.

Singing our song as I watch.

I'm not there with you but I wish I was.

I wish I was holding you close as you sway to the words.

"Oh God." Her voice shattered as the paper trembled in her hands.

She could see it, could picture him. Picture the loneliness, she could see him sitting in darkness trying to survive by holding onto pieces of home.

Pieces of her.

The first string of lights blinked on. A soft golden glow, then another and another.

Tiny strands hidden among the trees surrounding the shoreline. The darkness retreated inch by inch. Not enough to illuminate everything.

Just enough for her to see.

Butterflies lay on the ground around her in the hundreds, maybe thousands.

Caught in branches. Resting along the dock. Suspended from invisible fishing line.

Covering the shoreline. The entire lake glittered with them.

Years and thousands of thoughts. Thousands of moments. Thousands of times he'd reached for her when she wasn't there.

Aria turned slowly, tears streaming freely now as the lights continued illuminating one section at a time.

More butterflies. More notes. More pieces of him.

She picked up another.

Day 110 of capture

I'm starting to forget things.

Losing time.

And I worry I won't remember you either soon.

I hear your voice but you no longer come visit me here.

I'm glad.

Because this place so filled with pain and death is no place for your light, babe.

I think of you and pray one day I will be back there with you.

The paper slipped slightly in her trembling hands as a sob escaped her.

Because she knew in her heart that he had eventually forgotten.

She knew how terrified he must have been, and somehow, even then he'd been thinking about her.

The lights spread farther, more strands glowing to life. The darkness revealing itself piece by piece. Thousands of butterflies. Thousands. Stretching across the shoreline. Across the dock. Across the trees. Across the years they lost. Across every day he spent trying to come home.

Aria wiped at her tears as she turned back around to him.

He was on one knee now, the ring trembled slightly in his hand.

Not because of the night air but because he was nervous.

The sight alone nearly broke her because her Chase Hale wasn't nervous.

His eyes lifted to hers his were already shining full of emotion.

For a second he couldn't speak.

His jaw worked and his throat moved but no words came, and Aria realized with sudden clarity that he was trying not to cry.

That realization shattered whatever was left of her composure.

A sob escaped her.

Immediately Chase laughed through his own tears.

"Well hell," he said, wiping at his face. "This is goin' about as well as I planned."

She laughed and cried at the same time.

The sound breaking apart halfway through.

His smile softened, then slowly he looked around them at the butterflies. At the lights. At the years scattered around the lake.

When he looked back at her, his voice was quiet.

"You know..." He swallowed hard. "I spent a long time thinkin' I was never gonna make it home."

Aria's hand covered her mouth as he glanced down briefly collecting himself.

Then looked back up. "There were days I thought I was gonna die." The words settled heavily between them. "There were days I wanted to."

His voice cracked.

"Days where everything hurt so damn bad that I started wonderin' if maybe givin' up would be easier."

A tear slipped down his cheek but he never looked away from her.

"But every time I got close..." His eyes drifted toward the butterflies. "Every damn time..." A shaky breath left him. "I thought about you."

Aria broke completely as fresh tears spilled down her face.

"You makin' me drink water cause it was hot, you yellin' at me for forgettin' sunscreen, you stealin' my fries." His eyes glistened.

"You singin' in the shower when you thought nobody could hear you, you sleepin' with your cold feet shoved under my legs for warmth."

The laugh that escaped her was completely ruined by tears.

Chase smiled up at her.

"I carried those moments everywhere." His hand tightened around the ring. "I carried you when I was scared, when I was angry scared and alone."

His voice dropped lower. "Then I forgot who I was." Chase swallowed hard but he still smiled up at her softly. "You wanna know somethin' funny?"

She nodded through tears.

His smile widened. "Even when I forgot everything else... I never forgot what it felt like to love you."

A sob escaped her.

The ring trembled in his hand now.

"I don't remember everything from the first time I asked you to marry me."

The confession came quietly.

"I don't remember what I said." His eyes searched hers. "I don't remember if it was romantic."

He laughed up her her softly as he admitted, "Honestly knowin' me it probably wasn't."

She laughed through tears, then Chase looked at her with so much love it physically hurt.

"I hate that I lost those words because they got you to say yes." His voice shook as another tear slid down his face. "I hate that you were lonely and I couldn't come home."

Aria shook her head immediately, but he continued because he needed to say it.

Needed her to know. "I hate all of it." His hand tightened around the ring.

"But if I could change one thing..." His voice softened. "It wouldn't be the scars or the nightmares. It wouldn't even be the pain." His eyes locked on hers. "It would be this... I would give anything to remember askin' you the first time... but I can't."

A tear slipped down his cheek. "So I'm askin' again." His smile trembled. "This time with all of me."

Releasing a deep breath he lifted the ring up to her like an offering as he spoke.

"Aria, you're my favorite hello and the only goodbye I ever regretted."

The lake disappeared, the butterflies disappeared, the world disappeared.

There was only him, only them as he spoke.

"Will you be my wife again?" His voice cracked. "Will you except this broken man and make him whole once more?"

Before he could say another word, before he could take another breath, before he could panic.

Aria launched herself at him.

The ring nearly flew into the lake.

Neither of them cared.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" she shouted through laughter and tears.

Chase barely had time to catch her before she collided with him.

His arms wrapped around her automatically, pulling her tight against his chest as she buried her face against his neck.

For a moment neither of them could do anything except hold on.

Years, they had lost years and somehow they were still here.

Still standing. Still choosing each other. Again, and again, and again.

Chase laughed into her hair, the sound breaking apart from emotion.

"Sweetheart," he managed.

She immediately grabbed his face and kissed him.

The ring box was still trapped awkwardly in one of his hands, neither of them cared about that either.

"Yes," she whispered against his mouth. "A thousand times yes."

His forehead fell against hers as his eyes squeezed shut.

Suddenly applause erupted around them. Cheers, whistles, and laughter.

The sound shattered the intimate little world they'd disappeared into.

Aria froze. "What?"

Chase groaned immediately. "Oh boy."

She pulled back just enough to look around and gasped.

Lights began illuminating farther down the shoreline.

Revealing people, dozens of people.

Friends, family, the men from Chase's unit, even people from town.

Neighbors stood next to coworkers. People she loved and had chosen to make her family all standing among the trees smiling and clapping.

"Oh my God." Fresh tears immediately filled her eyes. "Oh my God."

Lila was crying, actually crying. Which was impressive considering she was simultaneously recording everything on her phone. Naomi stood nearby smiling proudly.

Ethan looked entirely too pleased with himself. Sergeant Hayes stood with his arms folded, pretending he wasn't emotional and failing miserably.

Then there was Parker. Standing slightly apart from everyone else, hands shoved into the pockets of his expensive suit.

Smiling, really smiling for the first time in what felt like forever.

The sight hit Aria harder than she expected, because beneath the smile she could still see the sadness. Still see the ghosts but for one night they weren't winning.

Chase finally remembered the ring.

"Oh." He looked down then back up, then down again. "Probably should finish this part."

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

Aria laughed too, tears streaming freely down her cheeks.

"Probably."

Chase shook his head. "You distracted me."

The crowd laughed again. Still smiling, Chase carefully slid the ring onto her finger.

The diamond caught the light immediately.

It was a beautiful perfect butterfly shaped diamond ring, but nowhere near as beautiful as the look on Chase's face, because he was staring at her like she'd hung every star in the sky.

A whistle sounded from somewhere behind them.

"About damn time!" Ethan said, causing Aria to jerk her head around to see him now standing next to Parker.

Chase didn't even turn around. "Shut up, Ethan."

The crowd erupted into more laughter.

Ethan looked delighted. "You're welcome by the way for hanging up all these damn lights."

"Nobody invited you."

"You literally invited me."

"I regret it." Chase said, as he pulled Aria's face back to him so he could gently kiss her lips once more. Aria leaned against Chase's side as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

Then her eyes landed on Parker again. He lifted his chin slightly. A silent question.

You happy?

Aria smiled through tears and nodded.

His shoulders relaxed but before she could think about it, Chase leaned closer.

Close enough that only she could hear him, his hand tightened around hers and suddenly he looked nervous again.

Really nervous, more nervous than he'd been while proposing.

"Sweetheart?"

She laughed softly. "What?"

His smile faltered, then he glanced toward the crowd toward Hayes, Ethan, and Parker.

Toward everybody waiting nearby then back to her.

"One more question."

Her brow furrowed. "Okay..."

The nervousness somehow got worse.

Which made absolutely no sense. He'd already proposed. She'd already said yes.

What else could he possibly be worried about?

"You don't have to say yes."

Now she was concerned. "Chase."

"I'm serious." His thumb brushed across her knuckles. "If you don't want to, that's completely fine."

"Want to what?"

His smile returned slightly it was small, hopeful, and terrified.

"How do you feel about a wedding?"

Aria blinked. "A wedding?"

"Yeah."

A laugh escaped her. "Well, I mean... we'll have to plan one."

His smile widened. "Do we?"

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

Chase looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Which should have been her first clue.

"Well." He rubbed the back of his neck.

A gesture that immediately made Parker roll his eyes from somewhere behind him.

"Oh God," Parker muttered.

Ethan started laughing.

Aria looked between all of them.

Confused. Very confused.

"Chase?"

He reached into the inside pocket of his dress whites, then pulled out a folded piece of paper.

Her confusion deepened as he handed it to her.

"Before you answer."

She unfolded it looked down, then froze.

The world stopped. Her eyes moved across the page.

Once. Twice. Three times.

Because surely she was reading it wrong.

"What?"

Chase's smile became impossibly soft. The paper trembled in her hands.

A marriage license. A Tennessee marriage license. Already completed. Already approved.

Already filed. Everything filled out. Everything ready.

Everything except for her signature.

Her eyes dropped to the bottom, to the empty line waiting beside Chase's name.

"Chase."

"What?"

Aria stared at the document again, then back at him.

"Are you serious?"

"I've never been more serious in my life."

The crowd went silent. Waiting. Chase stepped closer just enough to take her free hand.

"I already lost five years." His voice was quiet now. "I don't wanna lose another day if I don't have to."

Fresh tears filled her eyes.

"I know we could wait and plan something bigger, something fancier."

His smile returned. "But sweetheart..." His forehead rested lightly against hers. "I've already got everything I want." A tear escaped down her cheek. Chase wiped it away immediately. "You, I have you back."

His thumb brushed softly across her hand. "You don't have to." A pause. "But if you're willing..." His smile trembled. "We can get married tonight."

Aria stared at him, then at the paper, at all the people gathered around them.

People dressed up, people smiling... people waiting.

Suddenly everything made sense. The suit Parker was wearing.

The secrecy. The phone calls. The disappearing acts.

He had been planning all of this for her.

Her eyes found Parker again, he simply nodded once.

As if to say:It's your choice.Whatever you want.

Then she looked at everyone gathered around them... for them.

A laugh escaped her wet and shaky through her tears. She laughed until she was laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

Chase looked terrified. "Sweetheart?"

She grabbed his face with both hands. "Let's do it."

The cheers were still echoing across the lake when Parker stepped forward.

"Alright." His voice cut through the chaos. "Everybody calm down."

Parker sighed, then he pointed toward Aria.

"You."

She blinked. "Me?"

"Yeah, follow me."

His gaze shifted toward Chase. "You stay."

Chase frowned immediately. "What?"

Parker pointed harder. "You stay because it's bad luck."

Chase looked personally satisfied as if this was all a joke between him and Parker.

The crowd laughed. Aria laughed too.

Parker walked over and offered her his arm.

"Come on."

Still smiling, still crying a little, Aria slipped her hand through his arm.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"Okay."

They left the shoreline behind. The sounds of laughter fading slightly as Parker led her down a softly lit path winding through the trees.

The farther they walked, the quieter everything became.

String lights hung from branches overhead.

Soft golden lanterns illuminated the ground.

The entire path felt magical. Like something from a dream.

Like something Chase would have spent weeks obsessing over.

"You helped plan all this?"

Parker snorted. "No."

"No?"

"No." A pause. "I mostly stopped Chase from having a nervous breakdown."

That earned a laugh. "Fair enough thanks for your help anyway."

The trees finally opened and Aria stopped walking.

"Oh." The word escaped before she could stop it.

A glamping tent sat nestled among the trees. It was beautiful and elegant.

White canvas illuminated by warm golden light from within. Flowers surrounded the entrance.

Lanterns glowed softly nearby. The entire thing looked like it belonged in a magazine.

"What is this?"

Parker's smile softened. "A very expensive panic attack."

Aria laughed.

Parker guided her toward the entrance then stopped.

For a moment neither spoke. The night breeze moved gently through the trees.

Finally Parker looked down at her, really looked at her. The way an older brother might.

"You deserve this."

The words came quietly.

Unexpectedly.

Aria's chest tightened.

"Parker..."

He shook his head.

"No."

His eyes drifted briefly toward the lake and before she could say anything, Parker reached forward and squeezed her shoulder.

Then he stepped aside. "Go look."

Aria turned toward the tent, heart pounding. Slowly she pulled the canvas flap open and immediately forgot how to breathe.

The interior glowed beneath soft chandelier light. Cream colored rugs covered the floor.

Candles flickered everywhere. Wildflowers filled crystal vases. The scent of roses and eucalyptus lingered softly in the air.

But none of that mattered, because directly in the center of the tent, waiting for her was the dress.

Aria stopped moving entirely.

The gown stood on a mannequin surrounded by flowers. Layers of soft ivory fabric cascaded toward the floor. The fitted bodice looked delicate without being fragile. The skirt flowed like something from a fairytale. The kind of dress women dreamed about when they were little girls.

The kind of dress she had never allowed herself to imagine wearing.

Her hand lifted to her mouth.

Tears immediately filling her eyes again.

"Oh my God."

A small note rested against the mannequin. Hands trembling, she crossed the room and picked it up. The familiar handwriting hit her instantly.

Sweetheart,

You deserved a wedding. You deserved a dress. You deserved flowers.

You deserved all the things I wasn't able to give you the first time.

I can't give you back the years we lost.

But I can give you tonight.

Love,

Your husband

A sob escaped her. The note shook in her hands because that idiot, that beautiful, stubborn idiot had remembered her confession about her dream wedding.

The canvas flap behind her opened.

Aria turned. Lila stepped inside first already crying followed by Naomi and several of her friends.

Lila took one look at her and immediately burst into tears again.

"Oh thank God."

Aria laughed through her own tears. "What?"

"We have been keeping this secret for weeks." The woman pointed dramatically. "We almost died trying to keep this from you."

The tent erupted into laughter.

Naomi walked forward smiling warmly. "Ready?"

"Yeah." She wiped at her tears then looked at the dress one more time.

"Let's get me remarried."

Aria stared at her reflection. For a moment she couldn't breathe. The dress fit perfectly. Like it had been made specifically for her.

The ivory fabric flowed softly around her body, the delicate details catching the warm glow from the lights scattered throughout the tent.

Her hair had been curled and pinned back just enough to leave soft strands framing her face.

The makeup was subtle. Natural. Enough to make her feel beautiful without making her feel like someone else.

For the first time in a very long time, she felt like a bride.

Her smile faltered then and the room around her suddenly feeling sad.

Because everyone had someone be it their father or brother to walk them down the aisle.

Someone to give them away. Her father had never really been a father and there wasn't a brother waiting outside.

No one standing there ready to walk beside her. The realization settled heavily in her chest. Enough that she looked away from the mirror. Enough that tears immediately threatened again.

The canvas flap behind her opened softly. Aria quickly wiped beneath her eyes. Trying to save what remained of her makeup.

"Don't." The familiar voice stopped her instantly. She looked up and completely froze.

Parker stood in the entrance, the midnight navy suit somehow looked even better beneath the soft lights.

His dark hair was still slightly unruly despite somebody's obvious attempts to tame it. His hands were shoved into his pockets. His expression calm.

But his eyes... his eyes were softer than she'd seen them in years.

He looked at her for a long moment.

Then shook his head. "Don't."

Aria laughed weakly. "What?"

Parker nodded toward her face. "You ruin that makeup and every woman outside this tent is gonna murder me."

A surprised laugh escaped her, the tension immediately breaking.

"Parker."

"I'm serious." He stepped farther inside. "The amount of effort that went into gettin' you ready is honestly terrifying."

She laughed again, a tear slipping free anyway.

Parker sighed dramatically. "There it is."

"What?"

"The cryin'."

"I'm not crying."

"You literally are."

She wiped at her cheek and the traitorous tear.

Parker walked closer then stopped directly beside her.

For a second neither spoke. The music from outside drifted faintly through the canvas walls. Something soft. Something beautiful. The beginning of a song.

Aria looked down. Trying to regain control. Trying not to let herself think about what she didn't have. Trying not to let herself think about who wasn't here.

Then Parker cleared his throat. When she looked up, he was holding out his arm.

Just standing there like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Aria blinked. "Parker..."

He rolled his eyes immediately. "Oh for the love of God." A smile tugged at his mouth. "You thought I was gonna let you walk out there alone?"

Fresh tears instantly filled her eyes.

"Stop."

"No." she shook her head "Parker."

His expression softened just slightly the way it always did when it came to her or Chase.

The people he considered his.

"Aria." His voice lowered. "You've been my family for a long time." That one almost broke her.

"You don't have a father." A pause. "You don't have a brother." Another. "But you got me."

The tears finally spilled over.

Parker pointed immediately. "Knock it off."

She laughed through them. "You knock it off."

"Nope." His arm remained extended waiting, steady, and reliable.

Just like he always had been. Then his mouth twitched slightly.

"If it helps, Chase is one nervous breakdown away from throwin' up."

The laugh that escaped her echoed through the tent.

Parker nodded once, satisfied, then he wiggled his fingers impatiently.

"Come on."

Still smiling through tears, Aria slipped her hand through his arm.

Immediately his posture straightened. Protective and steady.

This was the same way he'd stood beside Chase for years, the same way he'd stood beside her through some of the worst moments of her life.

Together they turned toward the entrance. Outside, the song had started.

Something in the Heavens, Lewis Capaldi.

Soft and beautiful.

A voice carrying across the water as their friend Clint stood singing the words beneath the glow of thousands of lights.

Parker paused at the entrance, taking a slow breath. Then he looked down at her.

His smile was small, proud, and brotherly.

"You ready, princess?"

Aria looked toward the lake. Toward the lights. Toward the dock. Toward the man waiting at the end of it.

Chase.

Standing in his dress whites and looking like he hadn't taken a single breath since she'd disappeared into the tent.

Even from here she could see the emotion on his face.

The disbelief, the love and the absolute devastation of seeing her in that dress.

His eyes never left her not for a second.

Aria's heart swelled.

Home.

The word echoed through her chest.

Home.

She tightened her grip on Parker's arm then smiled.

A real smile.

The kind that reached all the way into her soul.

"Yeah."

Her voice trembled, but only a little.

"I'm ready."

And together they stepped out onto the floral red and gold carpet.