Chapter 21 #2
Alex shook his head. “Uh-uh, you can’t know until we’re there. And we have a little car ride first.” He grabbed a blindfold from the seat pocket.
She wrinkled her nose, her lips parting. “Seriously?”
“Uh-huh,” he answered with a playful grin.
She groaned, but dutifully slid her eyes closed as he pressed the mask over her eyes and pulled the stretchy strap over her hair. “You’d better not be messing up my hair.”
“Your hair is super perfect, Sparky. As always.”
“My hair is not always perfect. Sometimes I wear the messy bun thing, and that’s just a hot mess.”
Alex swept her off her feet, cradling her close to him. “I love your messy bun thing, Avs.”
“Ohh, you sure know how to sweep me off my feet.”
He grinned even though she couldn’t see him, though a part of him doubted that he could pull this off.
After carefully placing her in the back of the stretch limo he’d arranged, he raced around the back of the car to slide into the seat next to her.
She pawed at the mask.
“Uh-uh,” he said, grabbing her hands as the car whisked them toward their destination.
She groaned, letting her head smack against the headrest behind her. “Ace! Come on! I think it’s time to let me know.”
“All in good time, Sparky,” he teased.
She reached for him, and he grabbed her hand, pressing his lips against it. Her lips curved on the edges before she slid closer and snuggled into him.
He wrapped her in his arms, kissing the top of her head. It was moments just like this that he’d fought against The Board–and Chris, Sebastian, and any other man who was after Ava–so hard for.
A few years ago, he would’ve kept his nerves and fears locked up tight, maybe even canceled the trip last minute.
But here he was, holding a diamond ring in his pocket, Ava right beside him.
He squeezed her hand and let himself savor the moment.
He wanted to show her his whole heart—no walls, no reservations.
The car rolled to a stop, and he glanced out the window, the lights sparkling through the window as the sun started to set, bringing dusk across the horizon.
“We’re here.”
She pushed away from him. “Can I finally take this mask off?”
“No, not until we’re out for the full effect.” He pushed open his door and helped her out of the car.
The warm evening air ruffled his hair, the scent of fried foods and popcorn floating on the breeze. He positioned her in front of the brightly lit sign. “Ready?”
His heart thumped hard against his ribs as he waited for her answer.
“I have been ready since you told me.”
“Okay,” he answered, sliding off her eye mask.
He stared at her, gauging her reaction. She stared up at the glowing, yellow words, the crease between her eyebrows deepening.
His breathing turned shaky, afraid his surprise was falling flat. She probably didn’t remember the reason he’d selected this space. “It’s–”
“WonderCrest,” she said, a smile spreading across her features. “I wanted to ride the WonderCoaster, but I got sick before I could. You remembered.”
She twisted to eye him, her eyes filled with wonder and glistening with tears. “After all this time, you remembered.”
Her voice shook as she stared at him in amazement and disbelief.
“Of course, I remembered,” he said softly as he slid his arms around her.
“You were so excited about the WonderCoaster, and you kept talking about riding it at night, with all the lights and the stars. I hated that you got sick before we could do it. You had this little pout that night—so cute, like you’d just missed out on something huge.
I knew one day we’d come back and make it happen. ”
She threw her arms around his neck. “You carried me from the park, and then you took such good care of me.”
He offered her a soft smile. “Uh-huh.”
“Alex,” she whispered, her eyes glistening, “I can’t believe this.”
“Can’t believe it in a good way or a bad way?”
She pressed her lips against his. “A totally good way. I love you, Alex.”
“I love you, too. And…” He waved a hand toward the park. “No lines. I rented the entire park just for us. You can ride all the rides you want.”
She bounced on her toes, kissing him again before she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the park. “Let’s go!”
They spent hours riding the rides, eating popcorn, corn dogs, and cotton candy. As they climbed aboard the Ferris wheel, Alex slid his hand into his pocket, his fingers finding the velvet box.
As their car crested the top, the ride slowed to a stop.
“Uh-oh,” Ava said as she popped a chunk of cotton candy into her mouth.
She peered over the edge of the car in search of a problem. When she turned back, he held the ring out to her. “I wanted to give you a real ring.”
Her eyes widened, her jaw gaping open. “Alex!”
“Do you like it?”
She rubbed a finger against the velvet next to the ring. “I love it. But what do you mean a real ring?”
She wiggled her ring finger at him. “I already have a giant rock. You gave it to me–”
“When you came out as a fake ring to pretend to be my wife. But now…you need a real ring. We started this on a falsehood, and now…I want you to have something honest, something that means forever.”
She smiled down at the ring before she raised her eyes to his. “You have a point. And on that note, I have a question.”
“Shoot,” he said, wondering what she needed to know before she accepted his gift.
“I know we did this once, but…I think we need a redo. So…Alex Stone…will you marry me again?”
He couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face as he bobbed his head, pulling her into his arms. “Yes. Yes, I will, Ava. I will marry you again, and again, and again and again and again from now until forever.”
He pressed his lips against hers, wrapped tightly in the warm moment and all the promise it held. Ava was finally his—with no strings, no fakeness, nothing to ruin it. Ava was his.