Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
The expression is wiped off my face by shock when Jared drops to one knee. The stage lights illuminate us like a golden halo, and in that moment, I feel as ethereal as Jared tells me I am.
Now that I’ve taken the flowers, I can see the ring box in his hand. He opens it, holds my gaze, and reveals a sparkling silver band holding three square-cut diamonds, the middle bigger than the ones nestled on either side of it. It’s stunning, and my eyes blur with the sting of tears.
“Juliet, from the second I saw you dance across this stage like you had stepped out of a fairy tale book, I knew you were it for me,” Jared says, staring up at me with utter adoration in his gaze. My knees are so weak I think I might join him on the floor. “I love you, little fairy. Will you marry me?”
“Oh my God, yes!” I shriek, doing just as my knees threatened and falling to them in front of him. The bouquet hits the stage beside me as Jared takes my hand and slips the beautiful ring on. A perfect fit.
The second it’s on my finger, Jared pulls me to him, kissing the breath out of me. I cling to him, happy tears making our kiss taste of salt, so in love I don’t even have the words to describe it. I hope he can sense it in the way I clutch him and kiss him like he’s all I need to survive.
Laura cheers and whoops from the audience, but when Jared and I don’t pull apart, she calls out, “Alright, that’s about as much PDA as I can take, Dad!”
With a laugh, Jared and I break apart, and I turn to find my best friend grinning wildly at us. I hop off the stage and rush to hug her, realizing she must’ve had something to do with setting this up.
“You can get married as long as you don’t ever call yourself my stepmother,” Laura warns teasingly, making me laugh and smack her playfully on the arm.
“Shut up!” I laugh, grinning as she pulls me into a hug.
“I’m so happy for you both.” She embraces me, and I hug her tighter until she complains that I’m crushing her.
“You know you’re the maid of honor, right?” I say to her immediately, and she cheers again.
I turn back to Jared, happier than I’ve ever been, and so damn excited about the life we’re going to have together.
EPILOGUE
JARED
Two Years Later
Iwill never get tired of watching my wife dance.
Juliet takes to the stage with the enthralling grace she always has, wrapping up the entire audience in her movements as she begins to perform.
This is her last performance on this stage, the stage I first saw her on, the stage we got engaged on. She and Laura graduated from their course a week ago, and I know how much this final showcase means to both of them. It’s a goodbye to their college and a hello to their future now that they’ve got their qualifications.
Proud is a goddamn understatement for how I feel.
Every time I see Juliet dance, I’m entranced, but tonight, she shines even more than usual. Her talent has only bloomed and grown in the last two years, and I have to pinch myself every damn day to make sure I’m not dreaming her up. I’m the luckiest fucker in the world to have her as my wife.
Juliet slows with the music and then dips gracefully into a bow. I launch to my feet, cheering wildly as Ryan, Laura’s boyfriend, does the same beside me. I make sure I’m the loudest in the audience for both Laura and my wife, needing them and everyone else to know how incredible they are.
Juliet’s eyes find mine, and she straightens, grinning at me before she skips off the stage.
The second the performances are done, I grab the flowers I brought and shoulder to the front of the line of people filing out of the theater to the reception room. I spot Juliet and Laura immediately. My daughter holds a glass of champagne in her hand, but Juliet shakes her head when offered. I frown, making a mental note to check that she’s okay.
I hand them both their bouquets, hugging and congratulating Laura before wrapping my wife in a hug and kissing her the way I’ve been dying to since I saw her take the stage.
“I love you,” she murmurs against my mouth, smiling.
“I love you, little fairy,” I tell her before reluctantly pulling away so we don’t cause a scene. I’ll have my fill of her later.
We stay a little while so Juliet can accept the congratulations and praises from her teachers and classmates, but when she whispers at me to take her home, I take the first opportunity to get out of there and show her just how amazing I think she is.