Time Stops With You

Chapter 31

NARDI

THREE DAYS LATER

I roll over as a new day dawns. My hand extends to the other side of the mattress where Cullen should be.

I grab air instead of a person.

Panicked, my eyes fly open and I shoot to a sitting position.

“Cullen?” I yell. “Cullen?”

There’s no response.

I shrug into a robe and hurry to the adjoining suite. The penthouse holds a small kitchen, a fridge and a microwave. There’s a TV against the opposite wall, a coffee table, and a cream-colored sofa.

But no Cullen.

My heart speeds into overdrive and I scramble back to the bedroom for my phone. My hands shake as I dial his number.

It rings and rings.

Voicemail.

Desperately, I call again. At that moment, the door beeps and clicks open. I hurry outside, my eyes wide and my heart thumping at a million beats per second.

Cullen enters the hotel suite. He’s wearing a black beanie, a black jacket and jeans. He’s holding a bouquet of flowers and is grinning at it proudly.

“Cullen,” I whisper, my heart stopping.

He freezes when he sees me. The smile that had been growing on his face falls flat in an instant.

“Nardi, what’s wrong?”

A sob wrangles out of me and I fling myself at him, hugging him for dear life. “I thought you were gone,” I cry, wrapping around him even tighter. “Why did you leave me?”

“I’m here, Nardi. I’m here.” He rubs my back. “I’m sorry. You were sleeping soundly. I didn’t want to wake you until I made breakfast.”

The crinkling sound of the wrapping paper tells me I’m squashing the flowers, but I don’t care. All the horror and grief I’d felt when I’d lost him sweeps over me again. It’s like I’m there . In that moment. Thinking I would never see him again.

Cullen holds me without complaint, soothing me with his words and with his gentle touch. When I’ve composed myself, I lean away.

“You should have told me you were leaving,” I whisper hoarsely.

“I know. I’m sorry.” Cullen wipes away my tears.

The guilt stamped across his finely-chiseled face makes me remorseful. I shouldn’t have overreacted.

“It’s alright. I’m okay now.” I offer him a weak smile.

He doesn’t buy it. “I’m sorry,” he says again. “Next time, I’ll be sure to leave a note. I’ll use the little yellow sticky pads you like so much.”

I nod, breathing evenly again.

Cullen lifts the flowers toward me and I’m surprised that they still look fresh and beautiful after being squashed by us.

“Why did you buy flowers?”

“Because I’m in the dog house,” Cullen murmurs, still looking bothered. Little tufts of fog spread through the nasal tubes as he breathes out.

Hoping to make him smile, I run my hand down his chest and whisper. “Last night went a long way toward getting out.”

His distracted eyes find mine and a glimmer of a smile flashes across his face.

But it’s gone too soon.

So I press my chest against his. “You really are a great student.”

He coughs.

I rise to my tiptoes and breathe into his ear. “You know my body so well now.”

He smirks, his ears turning pink.

Seeing that I’m making a difference in uplifting his mood, I move easily into his arms. The hug melts what’s left of his unease and Cullen finally relaxes. I can sense it in his shoulders and his back muscles.

“I know what you’re doing,” Cullen mumbles against my neck.

“Do you?” I arch a brow.

“You don’t have to tiptoe around me, Nardi.”

“I’m not. I just think you’re taking this worse than I am. We’re together again. The past and the future aren’t as important to me.”

“I know. And I feel that way too. But I hate that I put you through so much,” Cullen admits, nuzzling his cheek against the top of my head. “And it scares me that my time is still so limited. The first time I left was so painful for you and now you’re going for a second round.”

“Sh.” I place a finger to his lips. “No more talk like that. You promised.”

He sighs. “I won’t break my promise. I just wish?—”

“Wishing things were different won’t make them different. This is the life we have. How about we make the most of it?”

He reluctantly nods.

“Hm?” I kiss his nose, right above the tubes.

The smile flickers on for longer this time.

I kiss his cheeks and then his jaw.

He pulls his lips into his mouth, smirking secretly.

I notice his expression and stop. “What?”

“Nothing.”

I grip his collar and shake him lightly, moaning, “Tell me.”

Cullen’s smile breaks out in full force. “You’ve been extra frisky since I came back.”

“Have I?”

I reflect on our time together.

Our first night in the suite, we were so hungry for each other, we knocked into a lamp. It crashed loudly to the floor and we didn’t stop. I was up against the wall, moaning loudly when someone knocked on the door to check on us.

Cullen didn’t release me while he yelled an answer to the staff, so I was forced to be quiet. Biting back my screams during that entire exchange nearly split me in half.

“I don’t think so,” I argue. “If anything, you’re the one who’s on me twenty-four seven. We’ve barely left this hotel suite in the last three days.”

“Yeah, but nine times out of ten I’m not the one who starts it, babe.”

“What are you talking about?”

He arches a brow and then looks down pointedly. I follow the path of his gaze and realize my hand is on his belt buckle and I’ve already freed it out of three loops.

I drop his belt like it’s on fire.

Cullen swoops in and kisses me until I falter back a step. My fingers slide around his neck and desire stirs in the pit of my stomach. My skin buzzes, already anticipating his large, steady hands on my body. The nasal tubes that keep Cullen alive have not gotten in the way of us enjoying each other’s bodies.

Unfortunately, Cullen pulls back and gives me a mischievous look. “Want some breakfast? I bought pancake mix and strawberries.”

As he speaks, he tugs on the tie of my robe.

“You’re asking that while undressing me?” I breathe shakily.

Cullen kisses my neck in response.

I groan. “You might not start it, Mr. Cullen, but you sure do finish it.”

His kisses turn into laughter against my shoulder. I wait for his laughter to subside and for his lips to find mine again, but instead Cullen pulls away. His eyes are squeezed shut and his chest is heaving.

I recognize that pained expression.

Instantly, the mood changes.

“Cullen…”

“It’s alright.” He stops me before I can ask a million questions about his pain level. “Let’s eat first. I need to take my medication or the only thing I’ll be doing in bed is wheezing.”

I smile bravely and take the hand he offers.

Cullen makes breakfast while I hug him from behind, clinging to him as I have been for the past few days.

I know it must get annoying having me on him like a second skin. Big whup. I don’t want to share him with his clothes, with the bathroom, with the shower, or with the rest of the world yet.

I watch Cullen carefully as he takes his pills and then I log it in my phone where I have alarms set up for each medicine. Apart from the alarms, I also keep a record of how many doses he has left and what to do if he has adverse symptoms.

This go round, I plan on being way more informed. I’m keeping this man alive for as long as humanly possible.

After Cullen plates the food and slides it over to me, I plunge my fork into a strawberry.

“I think I have an answer for why I can’t keep my hands off you,” I tell him, munching happily.

He stops and watches me with his gorgeous silver eyes. The familiar black beanie sits securely on his head, hiding his baldness from me. I wish he’d feel comfortable enough to take it off more. I’ve never cared about superficial details like that.

“Maybe I have a thing for ghosts,” I say.

“What?” He laughs out loud.

I stare at him frankly. “I don’t know what it is, but you came back from the dead ten times hotter, Cullen.”

He stares at me, assessing my face.

And then suddenly, he drops his fork.

I squeal when he storms over to me, grabs me by the waist and sets me firmly on top of the table.

“W-what are you doing?” I clamor as he undoes my robe. “Cullen, your medicine hasn’t taken effect yet.”

“I’m fine. This won’t exhaust me.”

“B-but shouldn’t we finish our pancakes first?”

He pushes me back so I’m flat on the table. “Rather than breakfast…” he looks up with a wicked gleam in his eyes, “I’ll just have dessert.”

Our passion moves us from the table and to the bedroom. It’s where we stay until mid-afternoon when our growling stomachs force us to indulge in something other than each other.

“Let’s order take out,” Cullen says, stretching his long, pale hand to the phone.

For a second, I’m dazed by the beautiful sight of his sinewy back muscles flexing. The man is a pure, lean machine. His surgery scars only add to his raw, masculine appeal.

But I come back to myself when Cullen says, “How about steak and wine?”

“Steak and… are you crazy?” I slap the phone out of his hand.

Cullen stares at me in surprise.

“We can’t afford steak and wine right now.”

Cullen frowns.

“You said you spent most of your capital on medical expenses.”

Looking back, it’s probably why Whitaker couldn’t hand over any of Cullen’s assets to me. He’d borrowed against them to get treatment.

“It was only sixty percent of my assets,” Cullen argues. “The forty percent left is still significant.”

“With that forty percent, you need to buy medication, keep up with your doctor’s visits, and invest in air purifiers.”

“The air purifiers were a suggestion,” he corrects me.

“You told me the doctors wanted you to move out of the city completely because the air is so bad for your lungs. It’s air purifiers or you die faster.”

He grumbles under his breath, but I pretend not to hear.

“I know you still have the assets that you put in our name, but we’ll go bankrupt if we continue living like we did before.”

“I understand, Nardi. But it’s just one meal. One meal isn’t going to empty my bank account.”

It’s impossible to look into his moonlight-silver eyes and say no. Grudgingly, I give in—though I place Cullen under budget.

As we eat our chicken pasta in bed, I bring up an idea that’s been rattling around in my brain since I heard the details of Cullen’s diagnosis and treatment plan.

“Cullen.”

“Taste this,” he says, offering me his fork.

I nibble on the pasta. “Mm,” I say with forced enthusiasm. “It’s good.”

“I really like what they did with the sauce. I wonder if I could get my pasta to taste the same way,” he says.

After chasing down the pasta with some water, I venture the topic. “There’s something I’ve been thinking about.”

“Whatever it is, I don’t agree,” Cullen says, not looking at me as he pushes his fork around the pasta.

“You haven’t even heard what I have to say yet!”

“I know it’s something that worries you. You’ve been chomping on your bottom lip for ten minutes now.”

Quickly, I free my bottom lip from my teeth and say, “At least hear me out.”

“Whatever it is, it’s either going to hurt or inconvenience you. I can already tell. My answer is no.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and blurt out anyway. “I think you and I should move to Belize.”

Thunder claps outside.

I open my eyes and see that rain is starting to fall on the window.

Cullen takes a deep, patient breath. I expect him to say something profound with all that deep breathing but all he ends up uttering is… “What?”

“Think about it.” I push to my knees and sit facing him. “The air in Belize is refreshingly clean. We have more trees than buildings in the country. And our food is so much better for you. The vegetables are fresh, the animals are raised on sustainable farms and everything isn’t laced with preservatives and sugars. Not to mention, all the healthy activities you can do. Like hiking in the jungle or swimming in the Belize river. And the lifestyle is way slower than here in America. The people are friendly and warm?—”

“Nardi. Nardi.” Cullen grips my shoulders and stops me. “I love you.”

“I love you,” I say sincerely.

“Belize sounds fantastic.”

“It’s a paradise, Cullen. I mean, yeah, every country has its ugly underbelly. It’s not perfect. But for our needs, the air and the food in Belize will allow you to live much longer. I’m sure of it.”

Without a word, Cullen gets up, takes away my plate and disappears outside. Moments later, he returns and climbs back into bed with me.

I immediately continue making my case. “This is a good idea. From every angle, Belize has what you need. You only have to check in with your doctors every three months. It’s close enough to the US that those visits won’t be too hard on you.”

My words stop as Cullen abruptly pulls me into his chest and adjusts my legs in between his. Our clothes are still on and he’s looking at me with pinched eyebrows, so I know we’re not about to go any further than cuddling.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re going to argue,” Cullen says definitively. “I thought it’d be better if we could argue like this.”

I laugh into his chest.

He says nothing more.

Neither do I.

Rain patters outside the large windows, but I’m safe and warm, my legs tangled in Cullen’s and his arm banded around my waist.

He exhales shakily and speaks in a quiet voice. “Nardi, your life is here. You just leased that commercial kitchen. Your videos are taking off and your catering clients are in the US, not Belize.”

“I can feed people in Belize just as well as I can in the US. In fact, Belizeans will probably like my cooking more than Americans. And I can make videos from anywhere. My business podcasts all say that a personal brand is more important than a physical location anyway.”

“What about Josiah?” Cullen argues. “You once told me that Belize isn’t equipped to foster your brother’s academic abilities.”

He has me there. However, I’m a fighter and I refuse to give up, especially because I believe this is the right thing to do.

“Josiah can come with us to Belize and study online. Knowledge isn’t only found in a physical classroom. It can be a digital classroom too. When he’s eighteen, he can go to a college in the US. He’ll be fine.”

Cullen shakes his head. “You worked so hard to build a life here. Now you’re leaving it behind? I can’t let you do that.”

“You're not letting me do anything. Like I said, Belize is close by. Now that I have my citizenship, I can fly over any time I want.”

Cullen’s expression remains closed-off.

I realize it will only hurt my case to keep pushing so I kiss him instead. Breaking apart, I plead, “You don’t have to make up your mind. At least think about it.”

He nods gravely. “I will.”

Later that night, mom calls my phone and threatens to send a search party if I don’t come home.

She does not buy my excuse that I’m at a girls-only camping trip with Sunny and the other farmhouse ladies.

The lie would have worked…

If I told Sunny about the supposed trip we were taking together.

“Sunny called me earlier this evening, asking why she couldn’t get in touch with you. The jig is up, Nardi. Where on earth are you? All I got three days ago was a text saying you and Mike aren’t going to work out. Why not? What happened?”

I glance at Cullen and mouth. “How do I explain this? ”

He shrugs—the jerk—and leaves me floundering on my own.

“Uh, mom…” I realize with some dismay that I probably shouldn’t say this over the phone. “Can you wait until tomorrow?”

“Absolutely not. Tell me right now or I’m calling the police and filing a missing person’s report.”

“I told you. I’m fine.”

“The police won’t think you are when I’m done.”

At a loss for words, I stammer, “Well… I…”

Cullen kisses my cheek and then his strong fingers wrap around the phone, taking it from me. “Mrs. Davis? This is Cullen.”

“Oh my gosh!” Mom’s horrific scream echoes from the phone’s speakers. “Nardi, did you hire an impersonator? What is wrong with you? I’ve given you the utmost consideration, but this is extremely concerning behavior. You need counseling. Fire that actor and come home immediately!”

I take the phone back and put it on speaker. “Mom, it’s true. Cullen’s really back.”

Mom’s shocked silence rings out for so long that I worry she’s fallen.

“Mom? Mom!”

“Y-you can’t be serious. Cullen is alive?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Cullen clears his throat. “I’m sorry that I worried you.”

Mom’s voice trembles in a way that tells me she’s probably crying. “You didn’t worry me. I don’t care one way or another, but Nardi—she was losing her mind.” Mom sniffs. “Um… yes, well, come back tomorrow, Nardi. And Cullen!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I have a lot of questions.”

“I’ll answer them all,” Cullen promises.

The next day, when we return to the house, he keeps that promise and doesn’t flinch at any of the questions mom throws at him.

Mom pardons him for his lies, after asking everything to her heart’s content.

A little later, Josiah returns from an afternoon with Micheal and Bailey—Sunny’s two sons.

The moment my brother sees Cullen, his eyes double in size and he sprints forward yelling, “I knew it!”

A broad, joyous smile spreads on Cullen’s face. He braces himself as my brother collides with him, hugging him tight.

“I knew it! I knew it!” Josiah bounces up and down, grinning at Cullen. “I knew it was you in the PLP.”

“I was at the demo too,” Cullen admits. And then he does a ‘sh’ gesture, indicating that it’s a secret.

The two talk shop for a minute while my mother tugs me into the kitchen.

“So,” mom rubs her hands against her sides, “what happens now? Is he moving in to the house? Is he taking over Cullen Tech again? What about everyone who thought he was dead? There was even an article published about it.”

I remember. That touching piece on Cullen’s contributions to technology had laid me out crying for a good week.

“Cullen doesn’t mind a few people knowing the truth,” I whisper. “We planned on inviting Sunny, Darrel, Dare, and the core Cullen Tech team over and telling them all at once.”

Mom blows out a breath. “That oughta be fun.”

‘Fun’ isn’t the word I’d use to describe the shock, horror, confusion and joy that crosses the faces of our friends when Cullen walks out to greet them as they arrive.

I’m pretty sure I see Darrel holding back tears.

Sunny immediately goes in for a hug.

Asad bursts out crying, sobbing and wailing in his lovably theatric way.

Sara cries too, though she’s more poised about it.

Dr. Young shakes Cullen’s hand steadily but, when it’s time for the handshake to end, he holds on and keeps pumping.

Sullivan is the last to arrive but, when he does, he gives Cullen a hug that speaks volumes.

Our friends are far more polite than my mother and they don’t ask any invasive questions about Cullen’s treatment or his reasons for getting it. However, I take the floor and share everything Cullen told me he was alright with them knowing.

He stands by my side, holding my hand and allowing me to be his mouthpiece.

When I’m done, no one asks for more details. It almost feels as if just having Cullen alive is enough for them.

And I totally resonate with that.

“Nothing will change with Cullen Tech or the PLP,” Cullen announces. “My health isn’t reliable enough for me to take on such a stressful role in the company. But,” he ducks his head with a grin, “I’ll be a willing technician whenever you hit a block.”

“Nice.” Asad pumps his fist. “I’ll be the one bossing you around now.”

Everyone laughs and the mood becomes festive as mom brings out snacks and refreshments.

The evening wears on, and Sunny and Darrel leave first. Sullivan is next. But the Cullen Tech team stay until late into the night, filling Cullen in on their struggles, their strategy with the lawsuit, the patent and much more.

I get bored halfway through and retire to my room to check out my video analytics. Cullen kept me so busy in the hotel that I haven’t been able to answer comments or respond to my video editor’s emails.

Later that night, there’s a knock on my door.

I expect Cullen, but it’s mom and Josiah who wander in. My brother’s smiling and he hops onto the bed with me.

Surprised, I set my laptop away. “What’s up?”

“Cullen’s back,” Josiah says as if it’s the best news he’s heard all year.

I nod. “Cullen’s back.”

Mom sits on the edge of the bed. “What are you guys going to do now? Are you going to get married?”

“Haven’t we already…” I stop, realizing that we haven’t. I signed the papers and I still have them in my personal files, but we haven’t actually registered.

“Maybe,” I hedge. “It depends on how his health is doing.”

“What happens after that?” Josiah asks.

“Um,” I pause, “I’m trying to take Cullen to Belize.”

Mom frowns.

My little brother takes a moment to think. Then he nods. “That’s a good idea.”

“Would you want to come with me?” I ask Josiah hesitantly.

Josiah frowns. “What about school?”

“There’s a STEM school in Belize. It’s not exactly programming-specific, but you can study science.”

Josiah shakes his head. “Is there any way for you to stay here instead?”

“I…” My heart tears in two. I want to take Cullen away, but I can’t abandon my brother.

“Both of you listen to me and listen good,” mom suddenly snaps. “Nardi, don’t worry about us. I’ll stay with Josiah. You go to Belize with Cullen.”

My eyes widen. “Mom.”

“I’ll do whatever I need to do, apply for whatever I need to apply for, so I can stay.”

“Mom…” My bottom lip starts trembling.

“Don’t make a fuss.” Mom rolls her eyes, but I can see right through her facade to the soft heart underneath. “You’ve been taking care of your brother for so long that it’s become a bad habit. I’m thrilled to push you forward and into your own life. It’s time you start living for yourself without worrying about us. We’ll be alright.”

“Yeah, we’ll be alright,” Josiah says.

Tears in my eyes, I give my beautiful, flawed, loving family a big hug.

The next few days are a blur of activity. I’m busy helping mom fill out applications, meeting with Whitaker to cancel the lease on the commercial kitchen, and filming content so I have a backlog of videos that I’ll automatically post while I’m settling in Belize.

Cullen hasn’t technically agreed to the move, but I’m determined. And, with mom and Josiah’s support, I’m certain that the next time I bring it up, he’ll say yes.

All I need to do is ensure that I don’t give him any reason he can use to deny me.

I’m working so hard that I barely have time to date Cullen; however, I’ve learned from my past mistakes and make an effort to spend at least three hours a day with my phone off and my entire focus on him.

Cullen does the same. Sometimes, he’s in the middle of a programming problem and I can tell he’d rather fix it than get distracted by me. However, he never complains and is always at my door on time for our dates.

Since we’re both so busy, I float the idea of moving in together, but Cullen denies me, claiming he’d be uncomfortable living together without being married to me. Especially since my mom and brother live under the same roof too.

It seems like a strange excuse to me. Mom and Cullen get along great now and Josiah loves spending time with him. However, I don’t push it.

I’m happy the way things are.

On Thursday, my necklace goes missing while I’m getting ready for my date with Cullen. I look everywhere for it and ask mom and Josiah if they’ve seen it. They shake their heads and join me in my search. I’m disappointed when I can’t find it and the disappointment doubles when Cullen suddenly calls and cancels our date.

Friday, he does the same thing.

On Saturday, I’m piping mad and I hang up in the middle of his stupid excuse as to why he can’t make it.

I know why.

Now that he feels he has more time, Cullen Tech is all he worries about.

That stupid PLP…

If he had a mistress that was human, I could drag her by her hair and beat her up in the street. But since the thing that has Cullen’s attention is a bunch of ones and zeros, I can’t vent at all.

Absently, I reach for my necklace and find nothing there. Was losing the necklace a sign? Now that Cullen is healthier, is he no longer interested in me?

On Sunday morning, I sleep in and wake to the smell of frying chicken. I brush my teeth and tiptoe down the stairs, wondering if mom is cooking.

We’ve been selling at the food stall all week and mom was so tired, she swore up and down that she didn’t want to eat another plate of rice and beans for a month.

To my surprise, I see Cullen in the kitchen. He’s wearing a soft T-shirt, jeans and a beanie. He stirs a pot of stewed chicken that’s bubbling on the stove and then checks on a pot of rice and beans.

“Cullen?” My eyebrows hike.

He whips around. “Nardi, you’re up already?” He checks his watch. “I was hoping you’d sleep longer.”

“W-what’s this?”

“This?” A handsome grin spreads on his face. “This is lunch.”

My jaw drops. “Did you make all this?”

“Yes.” He rubs his beanie shyly. “It took me three days to learn. I kept burning the rice and beans and your mom said the stewed chicken tasted like ketchup.”

“No wonder mom kept complaining about eating rice and beans lately. I thought she was being overdramatic,” I mumble.

“What was that?” Cullen asks.

“Nothing.” I prance over to him, my earlier irritation forgotten now that I know why he’s been canceling dates. Slipping my hands around his waist, I lean into him. “I never thought I’d find a frilly apron so sexy on a man.”

He smiles and kisses me, but we’re cut short by the beep of the stove. Cullen jerks out of the kiss, murmuring, “My potatoes.”

I laugh and watch him peel the potatoes and create an impressive Belizean-style potato salad.

Mom and Josiah join us for lunch. The food is surprisingly good and even mom gives Cullen two thumbs up.

We eat together, chatting and enjoying each other’s company. As laughter rings around the table, I take a second to soak in how magical this moment is.

My family is safe and healthy.

Cullen is… well, he’s not healthy but he’s here. At least for now.

That’s all I’ve wanted.

My New Year’s wish come true.

“Anyone want dessert?” Cullen asks, pushing his chair back and looking over at my mom with a little nod.

“Me!” Josiah raises a hand.

I frown at my brother’s exuberance. He seems a little too excited for someone who doesn’t like sweets.

Mom clears her throat. “Did you make lemon pie, Cullen?”

“No. I tried, but I haven’t mastered that Belizean dessert yet. I got key lime pie from the store.” He returns with a plate for mom and Josiah.

“Where’s mine?” I ask.

Cullen slips a slice in front of me and hovers around my chair.

Mom and Josiah both stop eating and stare at me while I pick up my fork.

I squirm, uneasy. “Why are you guys being weird?”

Mom looks up at the ceiling. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“No idea,” Josiah says at the same time, his mouth trembling.

I push the treat away and I feel Cullen cringe beside me.

“What’s going on?” I demand.

“Just eat the darn pie, Nardi.” Mom shoves the plate at me.

“I won’t. Not until someone starts talking.” I push it back.

Josiah scowls. “Eat it!”

“No!” I argue.

Mom smacks her hands on the table. “You were hard-headed since you were a child, Nardi. Why can’t you just follow instructions?—”

A squelching sound shuts everyone up.

I stare in horror as Cullen sticks his hand into my key lime pie.

“Hey!” I squeal. “Why’d you do that?”

“Because, Nardi Davis, I want to ask you a very important question.” As Cullen speaks, he pulls his hand out of my pie and I see the glittering diamond ring that I’d lost.

My jaw slackens and I cover my mouth in shock.

Cullen turns my chair around and gets down on one knee while Josiah films and mom grins from ear to ear.

“Nardi,” he says, his silver eyes fixed on my face, “I love you.”

“I love you,” I whisper automatically, tears rushing to my eyes.

Cullen smiles and his fingers tremble, hinting at his nerves. “I didn’t realize I was dying until I met you. Until I kissed you. Until I loved you. And then I discovered what it meant to be alive.”

My heart is thudding so fast in my chest I’m sure mom, Josiah and Cullen can hear it.

“I won’t promise you forever. For me, that’s not realistic.” He clears his throat, getting emotional. “But I do promise to make every day we spend together worth more than a year. I promise to give you Christmas presents wrapped in actual gift paper.”

Emotions make it hard to swallow.

“I promise to take you on a cruise around the Caribbean and we can tell everyone it’s for our thirtieth anniversary.”

Shaky laughter pours from my mouth.

Cullen smiles, caressing my knuckles. “I promise to build you a house in the islands where you can swim during the day, cook food in the evenings, and look up at the stars at night.”

I’m openly weeping now, tears running hot and strong down my face.

Mom whispers to Josiah. “What does he mean by that?”

“It’s Cullen’s New Year’s wish,” I tell her. Except this time, he’s not wishing for me to do these things with another person.

But with him.

Mom still looks confused, but I don’t care. My entire heart is beating in Cullen’s hands. And the best part is, I know he’ll take good care of it.

“I don’t want to live in a world where we never met, Nardi. I want to live in a world where you’re my wife. Will you marry me?”

I look into the face of the man who has such little time to live, a man who’s chosen to spend that precious time with me, and I whisper the word ringing through my heart.

“Yes.”

Mom and Josiah cheer while Cullen wiggles the ring on my finger. I admire the sparkling diamond for a bit until it hits me.

“Wait, did you just say Belize? Are you moving to Belize?”

Cullen nods. “As long as I’m with you, I’d go anywhere.”

He draws me to my feet, guides my hands around his neck and kisses me.

I kiss him back for all I’m worth, relishing in his love.

Life isn’t fair. I firmly believe that, but it can be beautiful. And I choose to make a beautiful life with Ronan Cullen until his dying breath.

Thank you for reading Time Stops With You.