32. XANDER
Chapter 32
XANDER
S tanding alone on the pier with the support of my crutches, I watched as the last rays of sunlight danced on the water, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
This is it. Lyca will be here any moment now.
Just then, I saw her, radiating with natural beauty. She looked absolutely stunning in a simple pink dress. Her lovely blonde locks cascaded gracefully down her back, and she approached me with confusion on her beautiful face.
“Uh, what’s going on, Xander?” she asked.
The empty, rather dark Santa Monica Pier lit up then, warm lights flickering to life and surrounding us with a romantic glow. I had arranged for this special evening, renting the entire place exclusively for us.
“I wanted tonight to be special,” I said, stepping closer to her. Or rather, semi-hopping in my crutches as I handed over a bouquet of roses. “You said you wanted to visit Santa Monica Pier, right?”
“Oh, my gosh! You remembered!” she cried out, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“Of course. I rented it for us.”
“You what?” She gave me a friendly slap as she grinned from ear to ear and then shook her head in disbelief. “You shouldn’t have done that!”
“I wanted to. What’s the point of being integrated into my dad’s billionaire family if I can’t use the money to make your dreams come true, right?” I joked.
Lyca's eyes sparkled with delight as she took in the scene around her. “It's so beautiful, Xander. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome. Anything for you…” I hesitated then, wanting to say something else.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “I knew there was a catch!”
“Yeah, sorry…” I admitted, grinning. “You’ll have to help me over to the Ferris Wheel because I want to show you the view from up there.”
“Oh!” she said in surprise, laughing. “No worries!”
As we walked hand in hand toward the Ferris wheel, the sound of the ocean filled the air. The rhythmic crashing of the waves against the shore seemed to synchronize with the beating of my heart, creating a peaceful ambiance.
Together we boarded the Ferris wheel and started to ascend.
“Whoa, this is amazing! So breathtaking!” Lyca exclaimed. The view from above was truly spectacular. The city's twinkling lights stretched out before us, merging with the stars above to craft a mesmerizing panorama. Lyca's eyes sparkled with wonder, her face aglow in the vibrant hues of the pier's lights.
Suddenly, live upbeat music blared from the speakers, and fireworks exploded in the sky. Lyca screamed with delight, her laughter ringing out joyously. I couldn't help but laugh along with her, caught up in the magical moment.
When she saw the expression on my face, she looked at me in awe. “You knew about this? Did you plan this, Xander?”
“Guilty as charged,” I quipped, laughing.
“I can’t believe you!” she cried out, but I could tell that she was very flattered and happy. Looking down, she saw that there was a real live band playing on the stage below us, adding to the festive atmosphere. “Oh, my god!”
We sang along then, laughing as we fumbled at the words and melodies. The colorful fireworks were finally over, but we were still moving in the ride. Slowly and gently.
I beamed at Lyca, my heart swelling with happiness at seeing her so delighted. This was what I had hoped for, to make her happy, and in that moment, it felt like we were the only two people existing in the world.
This was the perfect moment, and I knew I had to seize it.
“Lyca,” I began, taking her hands in mine, my heart pounding like crazy. “I've been wanting to ask you something.”
She looked at me, her eyes shining with happiness and curiosity.
“Will you be my girlfriend? Officially?”
A smile spread across her face, and she nodded eagerly. “Yes, Xander! We wouldn’t want all this to go to waste, would we?” Without hesitation, she threw her arms around me, and we hugged tightly, both of us laughing and feeling overjoyed.
Pulling back slightly, I looked into her eyes and leaned in to kiss her. It was a sweet, tender kiss, filled with the promise of many more to come. As we pulled away, I couldn't stop smiling, feeling like the luckiest man in the world to have her by my side.
Then she quipped, “You know I would have said yes even without all this.”
“I know, but I wanted to show you just how special you are to me. And I wanted to make you happy.”
“Thank you, Xander. It means a lot to me.”
“Oops, but we’re just beginning.” I grinned at her, and she gave me an excited look.
As the Ferris wheel continued its gentle spin, the lights of the pier danced below us. And as we descended, I had one more surprise in store for her. “Mommy!” Lucas was running toward us, followed by Jessie and Liam. The entire race team was behind them too, waving at us, while the music continued to play in the background.
I watched Lucas run into his mommy’s wide-open arms. They embraced each other, and then Lyca pointed an accusing finger at her best friend laughingly. “You knew about this, didn’t you?”
“Of course!” Jessie replied with a laugh.
“This is awesome, Xander! Let’s go have some fun!” the guys said.
“Yes, let’s celebrate, guys!” I agreed enthusiastically. “Because my girlfriend here just said yes!”
“Alright! Way to go!”
As another song played and the celebration continued around us, Lyca turned to me with a playful grin. “So, Xander, since we're officially together now, how about a little friendly competition?”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you have in mind?”
“There's a game over there,” she said, pointing to a nearby area with various carnival games. “Winner gets bragging rights. What do you say?”
“Bragging rights and a steamy night alone at my new beach house?”
Lyca looked at me in disbelief, then burst out laughing. “Okay, fine!”
I laughed too. “Then you’re on!” I said enthusiastically.
We shared another quick, joyful kiss before heading over to the game area, hand in hand.
The evening was brimming with laughter, spirited competition, and the embrace of dear friends and family. It was a jubilant celebration, marking the dawn of new beginnings and the blossoming of a heartfelt connection between us.
THE END