I glanced up at Sabrina and she fidgeted with her fingers.
“I found the pages, the ones that were ripped out.”
My chest tightened. The pages where Harry lost Sirus. The ones that had been next for me to read to my mom while she lay in the hospital bed in the room we’d converted to a bedroom for her when the stairs had gotten to be too much.
I flipped to the spot where there had been a gap, a missing chunk of the story that I couldn’t bring myself to read again after losing so much as a scared little kid.
“After some YouTube channel searches and a little trial and error, I thought I’d put them back.” She lurched forward. “I know I should’ve asked, but I—I wanted it to be a surprise.”
My chair scraped across the floor and I wrapped my arms around her and stood, holding her close. Tears burned in my eyes and my throat was vise-grip tight. I wasn’t sure if I was still breathing. “Thank you.” I squeezed her tightly.
Her arms were locked around my back. “You’re welcome. I know it was important to you and your mom, and I wanted to try to restore a little bit of that if I could.”
I buried my face in her hair and breathed deeply, trying to rein in the emotions that threatened to get away from me. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me.” Releasing her, I captured her face between my hands and kissed her. This woman had driven me absolutely crazy from day one and would keep my heart in the palm of her hand for as long as I lived.
There was a time that would’ve scared me, would’ve sent me running as far and as fast as I could, but now I wanted to let her know how true it was, and that I knew she’d keep my heart safe.
I gave her another peck. “I’ll be right back.” Sprinting down the hallway, I expected nerves or sweaty palms to creep up, but I didn’t feel a thing. I felt lighter than ever. Inside my closet, I grabbed the box I’d tucked away a month ago.
Back in the dining room, standing over our puzzle and slotting in a new piece, Sabrina turned to me. “There’s one more present I thought you might like.”
“Hunter, you already got me too much.”
“Maybe, but this is a gift for me and for you.”
Her eyes lit up with mischief. “I don’t know why you buy me that stuff, it doesn’t stay on for very long.” She stepped forward and dragged her finger down the center of my chest.
Ripples of desire flooded my veins, but not just for that. For more—for forever. “More can certainly be arranged, but this I’d want you to wear all the time.”
With my gaze locked onto hers, I lowered myself to the floor on one knee.
Her eyes widened and she gasped. “What—“
From behind my back, I palmed the black velvet ring box and flipped it open. The platinum band with inset pavé diamonds and a solitary diamond at the center that I’d had to have special ordered catching the light from the windows—it all paled in comparison to her.
Her hands flew to her mouth and her gaze darted from me back to the ring.
“I measured for it using a piece of string while you were sleeping. I chose it after that Say Yes to the Dress marathon we had a couple months ago. It was as close as I could get to the one you said you’d wear.”
She was stark still, like the cardboard One Direction cut out resting between the dining room windows.
“Without you, my life isn’t anywhere near as full of joy or love as it is when I’m with you. I need to know: will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
The fridge hummed in the kitchen, my heart shifted into overdrive, pounding in my ears, and Sabrina’s darting gaze felt louder than anything else in the apartment.
My smile dipped a little and the worries I’d put aside began to creep back in. Was this too soon? Had I read the signs wrong? “Sabrina?”
Instead of nodding or answering with the only word I needed, she flung herself at me in a full-body collision. “Are you serious?” Her voice was shrill and filled with wonder, the kind that opened my chest and injected that awe straight into my heart.
We were on the floor now, with Sabrina on top of me.
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.”
She unlocked her arms from beneath me and pressed her palms against my chest. “Really?”
“Really.” I nodded and laughed.
“But…but we’re…”
I tucked her hair behind her ear and rested my palm against her cheek. “In love. I love you, Sabrina, from here until forever. I love you and I’ll never stop loving you.”
Tears welled in her eyes and she sat up more. “I love you too, Hunter. Sometimes it scares me how much and how well things have been going. I just—” There was a flicker of doubt that hit me like a fist to the ribs, but it was quickly replaced by peace. Her face brightened, and I knew she could feel it too. The fear and apprehension melted away, and it was just us. “Yes.” She touched her own lips like she couldn’t believe she’d said it. “Yes.” Louder this time. Then she lifted her chin toward the ceiling and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Absolutely, one hundred percent yes!”
Grinning wide, she looked at me and kissed me. It was full of everything I loved about her and every single bit of love I shared with her.
I slipped the ring on her finger and she stared at it like I’d given her a star from the night sky. If I could have, I would. We sat at the table with our fingers laced together, our music playing in the background, working on a new puzzle. Sometimes life was messy and chaotic, and sometimes it felt like things would never slow down, but then there were these quiet moments alone together where I knew there was never any other place I’d rather be than here with the future Mrs. Hunter Saxton.
Thank you for spending some time with Hunter and Sabrina! It was so fun to revisit these guys and the wonderful world of SWANK once again. I do have an extra scene you as a treat! If you want to grab it, you can click here.
Next up will be Everest and Maddy! I do love a bit of enemies to lovers and a second chance, so I can’t wait for you to read their book in The Second Chance Set Up. I’ve had a few questions about the rest of the guys as well. They will all get their own books, hopefully early next year!
If you’re looking for your next book to escape into, you can check out my newest series, The Falling Trilogy. This is a spin off of the Fulton U series where there will be some surprises for you!
The Art of Falling for You
“Are you stalking me?”
“We live right next door to each other, New Girl.”
Bay Bishop aka The New Girl is my new neighbor. Glasses, stage crew black clothes and a knack for fading into the background.
I catch her singing with a voice unlike any I’ve heard before that taps into feelings I shouldn’t have for the girl who avoids me at all costs. I need to know why she hates me.
With three months until graduation, the final play is on. Only it’s not for more points. It’s for Bay.
Unlike my success on the field, this win is anything but assured. But I can’t stop myself from taking the risk.
The countdown clock is ticking. The only thing scarier than finding my first love will be losing her.
Grab your copy of The Art of Falling for You!