30. Reyna
CHAPTER 30
Wearing a green dress and date night heels for the first time since my accident six months ago, I make my way into the school. I have maybe fifteen minutes to deal with the vandalism before I need to be out the door and waiting for Michael to pick me up for our date.
Date.
Michael and I have seen each other every single day since the accident, with him bringing me food or helping with stuff around my house. Our dates recently have consisted of flats and leggings, while going to the diner or vegging out on my couch. They’ve been amazing, but the opportunity to see Michael in a suit has me desperate to get the night going.
I am beyond giddy with excitement as I turn a corner and hear soft music coming from the gymnasium, which is what Sheriff Vick said had been vandalized.
Someone actually broke into the school. And according to him, he’s never seen the gym look like it does now.
But music? Why would there be music?
I’m prepared for the worst, but then I step inside and find myself immersed in a memory.
A disco ball spins slowly overhead, casting lights all around the gymnasium. Silver and gold streamers hang from the ceiling, and white linen cloths cover five tables that have been placed around the edges of the gym.
And then Michael steps into view, wearing a tuxedo and a smile brighter than anything I’ve ever seen. Tears spring into my vision and my heart soars.
“Michael.”
“Do you recognize this?” he asks, holding his arms out.
“Our senior prom,” I admit. “I’ll never forget it.” It was the night he’d asked me to marry him. We were lying out in my backyard after dancing the night away, and he’d asked me to run away with him.
I hadn’t known then that he was struggling with his life at home, and if I had I might’ve taken him up on the offer and fled together the moment we graduated. Then again, if I had, we wouldn’t be here right now.
Michael crosses over to me, and I reach out to take his offered hand. “Every single moment I was away, I thought about this night. About how beautiful you’d looked in your gown, and how absolutely lucky I was to have captivated the attention of someone like you.” He pulls me against him, one hand going to my lower back, the other taking mine in his.
We begin to sway, and I rest my head against his chest, letting myself be fully lost in the movement of his body against mine. Every moment we spent together over the years, every memory—bad and good—surfaces in a stunning reel of emotion playing through my heart.
I love this man. With everything that I am.
“We’ve been through a lot together,” Michael says.
“Yes, we have.”
“Even with the years apart, I feel like I’ve been with you forever.”
I tilt my face up to his, and he leans down, capturing my lips. The kiss is tender. Loving. A gentle caress.
But it ignites a fire in my soul.
Michael pulls away. “I asked you to marry me the night of our senior prom.”
“And I said yes.”
“And then I left you.” His expression darkens. “I don’t know that I will ever forgive myself for leaving you.”
“But you came back.” I reach up and cup his face.
“I don’t deserve you.”
“You do, though. Michael Anderson, you deserve so many blessings.”
“You’re the greatest of them.” He rests his forehead against mine. “Which is why—” He trails off and pulls away, then drops down on one knee and withdraws a velvet box. “I want to marry you, Reyna Acker. I want to spend every single moment of my life with you, so that we’re never apart again. I will love you. Cherish you. Show you just how important you are to me each and every single day of our lives.”
My eyes fill, emotion warming my chest as I stare down at the man I love on one knee. “I already answered you,” I tell him.
“But I needed to ask again. I blew it the last time, Reyna. I won’t this time. I’ll marry you here and now if you’ll let me. Or we can plan something. I don’t care as long as you’ll spend the rest of your life with me. Please say you will.”
“Yes. Yes, I will marry you.” Tears stream down my cheeks as he reaches down and lifts me, spinning me in a light circle before setting me back down and sliding the ring onto my finger. The diamonds dance beneath the disco ball above, and all at once, my family and friends come rushing out onto the dance floor, all of them dressed to impress in beautiful gowns and tuxedos.
My parents are dressed up. My mother in a glittery gold gown while my father’s tie is a near match to the color. They’re both smiling widely, looking happier than I can remember seeing them in recent years.
Michael’s parents are wearing date night attire.
Even Eliza, as pregnant as she is, stuns in a violet gown, Lance at her side.
They rush forward, offering us congratulations and taking a closer look at my ring.
Someone clears his throat behind me, so I turn and see an older man standing behind me, clean-shaven and wearing a grey suit. I start to introduce myself, and then I see his eyes. Recognition slams into me. “Caleb!”
He laughs and accepts my hug.
“You’re here!”
“I am. And I’m glad you recognized me.” He runs his hands down the front of his suit.
“I’m so glad you’re here! How are you here?”
“You said to visit,” he replies. “And after you left, I realized that I missed people.”
Hope floods me. “Are you here permanently?”
He nods. “If it’s okay.”
“Of course it is.” Michael wraps an arm around my shoulders. “We wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for you, Caleb. We owe you our lives.”
“Nah. You owe me nothing.” His cheeks turn pink. “But I am happy to be here. I thought I’d miss my solitude.”
I smile so hard my cheeks hurt, and I wrap my arms around him again. “Thank you for saving us. And thank you for coming.”
“Caleb, I would like a dance.” Mrs. McGinley reaches out and offers her hand.
Caleb’s face flushes again, but he takes her outstretched hand. They’re nearly the same age, and watching him draw her out onto the dance floor makes my heart soar. It’s adorable.
“Reyna!”
I turn just in time to catch Emily as she wraps her arms around me. “Hey! What are you doing all the way out here?”
She pulls back, holding me at arm’s length. “Um, girl, you disappeared from the banquet. Nearly died. Went missing for two weeks. Showed back up. And were abducted before nearly dying again. Be surprised it took me this long to get out here.” She pulls me in again. “How are you feeling?”
I laugh. “I told you on the phone last night that I was fine.” Ever since the accident, she calls me at least three times a week to check in.
“Still okay?”
I glance up at Michael. “Better than.”
“Aww, love. Man, I want love.” Emily glances around the room. “Any single men here interested in dating a fiery personality?”
Laughing, I shake my head. “Talk to them. Find out yourself.”
“You’re no fun.” She pulls Michael down and kisses him on the cheek. “Thank you for making my friend happy.”
“It’s my mission in life,” he replies, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “And now, I’m afraid I want to steal her away for a dance.”
I turn and face Michael. “If you think you can keep up.”
“Always.” He smiles and pulls me against him. “Caleb showed up a week ago, but I asked him to keep it a secret for tonight.”
“You always manage to surprise me.”
“I’ll do my best to never stop surprising you.”
Tilting my face up, I stare into the eyes of my future.
My Michael.
“Thank you for giving me a second chance,” he says, then kisses me softly.
“I wish it hadn’t taken me so long. We lost so much time.”
“We’ll make up for it.”
He spins me in a circle, then dips me and kisses my lips. The ceiling opens the moment he pulls away, dumping thousands and thousands of silver stars on top of us. “There are one hundred thousand stars.” He grins at me.
I tip my face up to look at him. Silver stars land in his hair, sparkling beneath the light. “You counted them?”
“I told you I would,” he replies with a grin, then leans in and presses his lips to mine.
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