Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
My jaw hinged open. “What?”
“I’m not proud of it. But when I met her, I knew. I just… knew she was it for me. It wasn’t clean. It wasn’t easy. But love rarely is.”
I sat down slowly on the edge of a barstool, the world shifting under my feet.
“I’m not saying what I did was right,” he finished. “Or that what you and Finn did was, either. But what I am saying is that I’m sorry for not taking you or your career choice seriously. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you at a time when you needed to know that I’m on your side — always. Me and your mother, both.”
My eyes welled. “That means a lot to me.”
“I see you now, and I get it. I understand. What you did in the yachting world, what you did on that show, and what you’ve done now, with Pygo?” There was a long pause. “I’m damn proud of you.”
I pressed my palm to my chest, squeezing my eyes shut against the emotion threatening to strangle me just as Finn crept back into the room. He wordlessly took me into his embrace, holding me as the tears stained my cheeks.
“You don’t need my approval,” Dad said. “You never did. But damn if you haven’t earned my respect, Ember.”
I tried to think of something to say, but I was breaking, the emotion too strong. Finally, I managed, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” my father echoed.
There were a few more pleasantries exchanged, as well as a promise that we’d come over for a dinner soon on one of Finn’s off nights to celebrate, and then the call ended.
I was still blinking through the tears when Finn swept my hair from my face, a knowing smile on his. “Can you help me with something in the back?”
I followed him through the kitchen, wiping my face and shaking out my shoulders so I could get right for the evening. My father’s words still sang in my head as we pushed through the doors into the kitchen.
I slid to a stop then, my eyes on a beautiful scene on the middle island.
One perfect stack of banana pancakes was framed like a centerpiece, candles flickering around it. Flower petals were scattered across the stainless steel and one simple fork and knife lay on a perfectly folded linen napkin.
I laughed, breath catching in my chest. “Well, if I’d known you were doing all this, I wouldn’t have eaten lunch.”
I turned back to Finn — and promptly froze.
He was on one knee.
In his trembling hand was a ring — delicate, stunning, the marquise-cut diamond resting in a setting made of two entwined bands of yellow gold.
“I used Gran’s ring,” he said, voice a little hoarse. “Melted the gold down. You know how I clung to that ring after Gran passed.” He swallowed. “But I’ve found me peace in you, Firefly. You’re my home. And that’s what I want you to wear — something with history. Something that has my heart — just like you always will.”
“Damn it, I really didn’t want to cry more before service,” I whispered, and then we both laughed as tears spilled over the apples of my cheeks.
I shook my head, staring at where he was on his knee like it was all a dream.
“You made a comment to Tobias last week that you were my wife in all but paperwork, but I think it’s time we changed that.” Finn reached for my hand, holding the ring an inch from my finger. “Let me make you banana pancakes ‘til me hands are mangled and useless. Give me the chance to love you with everything that I am until I cease to exist.” He grazed my finger with the gold, waiting. “Allow me the pleasure of being your husband, Ember Reed, and I promise I will cherish every second we have. Until the lights go out. Until the doors are locked for good. Until we climb into bed old and gray and hold each other close and let the night take us, I will cherish you.”
My throat was impossibly tight as he slid the ring just over my nail.
“Marry me, Firefly.”
“Yes,” I whispered.
It was the only word I could find, the only word that mattered as Finn grinned and slid the ring the rest of the way on. I didn’t even stop to admire it. I just yanked him up off the floor and kissed him with my heart bursting out of my chest.
He held me like he never wanted to let go — and I clung to him knowing I never would again.
How had we gotten here?
How had one crew placement, one unexpected reunion, one chaotic, cameras-everywhere summer unraveled and rewoven our entire lives?
We met on a boat. Lost each other. Broke and bled and clawed our way through heartbreak and hell, only to crash right back into each other. It was like we’d been in a boxing ring with the universe, and it had tapped out, sweating and exhausted from our fight as it whispered, “Fine. You win.”