I turn around to look at him, and my hands fly up to cover my mouth. He’s down on one knee, holding a black velvet box in his hand. I stare at the exquisite diamond ring for a moment before my eyes dart to Enzo’s face.
“I took one look at you and couldn’t help falling in love. You put up with all my quirks and accept me for who I am, and that means more to me than you will ever know. I want you for the rest of my life,meu anjinho.” Enzo clears his throat and gives me a pleading look. “Without you, life will be hell. Wear my ring so everyone can see you belong to me. Please marry me, Jenna.”
For the second time today, a sob escapes me as I nod. Holding my left hand out to Enzo, I say, “A million times, yes.”
He climbs to his feet and pushes the ring onto my finger. “Thank you,meu amor.”
Lifting myself on my tiptoes, I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a tender kiss before saying, “I’m the thankful one that such an amazing man like you found me and decided I’m yours.”
Enzo presses his forehead to mine, all his love for me shining from his eyes. “Minha para sempre.”
Epilogue
JENNA
One year later…
“Wait, your dress isn’t right,” Mom says, and when I stop walking, she crouches behind me to straighten out the white silk train.
Enzo and I are getting married today, and the beach on the island has been decorated for the celebration.
“I still need to walk down the steps. Wait until I’m at the bottom before you fix it again,” I say, nerves spinning in my stomach.
The sun is busy setting, and we only have a limited amount of time, so I hurry along the path and take the steps down, which have green shrubs and trees on either side.
I’m wearing a shimmering silk gown and have sparkling wings extending from my back. Today I wanted to look like an angel for my soon-to-be husband.
“Oh my God,” Aunt Sherrie sniffles. “You shine like a star, kiddo. I’m going to cry my eyes out tonight.”
“That makes two of us,” Mom agrees, her voice quivering with emotion.
Cassia waits for me at the bottom, where the beach starts, and she gives me a loving smile. “Ready, sweetheart?”
I nod. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
She gestures to the man in charge of the music, and soon the opening notes ofCan’t Help Falling In Love With YoubyTatiana Manaoisbegin to fill the air.
Cassia leans in and gives me a quick hug, then whispers, “You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”
When she pulls away, my chin quivers, and I have to fight the urge to cry.
I wait for the right part of the song before I begin to walk with Mom and Aunt Sherrie on either side of me. I grip my bouquet of white and silver stargazers tightly as I walk down the white, sparkling carpet that runs all the way to where Enzo is standing.
The moment my eyes lock on the man who saved my life in more ways than one, the first tear falls. I knew I was going to cry, so I didn’t bother putting on a lot of makeup.
Reaching the chairs on either side of the aisle, I suck in a shuddering breath when I see tears rolling down Enzo’s face. His eyes are glued to me, the expression on his face one of pure awe.
I stop three steps away from him, and with trembling hands, I pass the flowers to Mom. She gives Enzo and me a loving look before she goes to sit with Aunt Sherrie in the front row.
Because I’m not comfortable talking in front of people, I asked for the ceremony to be short. Luckily for me, Cassia got herself ordained, so I try to focus on Enzo and her as I take the final steps to stand beside him.
When we turn to face each other, he looks at me as if I’m a miracle and murmurs, “I have no idea how I got it right to steal an angel like you from heaven, but I’m so thankful I did.” He takes hold of my hands and brushes his thumbs over my skinwhile he clears his throat. “You are responsible for all the good emotions I feel. You’ve reached into the pits of hell and pulled me out of darkness. You were the first person to love me, and the day I take my final breath, you will be the last person I love.”
A sob drifts over my lips, and I don’t even bother wiping away the tears.
I step closer because I don’t want Enzo to struggle to hear me as I whisper, “When I was seventeen, I had such big dreams.” I roll my eyes when I’m overcome with emotions, and breathe through them before I continue, “I thought I lost them all until you walked into that store at the gas station. I saw a handsome man wearing a suit, which was so out of place in Aurora, and thought, ‘Wow, someone like him will never look at a woman like me.’ But you did. You looked so deep and saw the parts I kept hidden from everyone, and you loved them all.” I pull one of my hands free and lift it to place my palm on his jaw, and staring deep into his eyes, I say, “You’ve made every dream that seventeen-year-old me had come true.”
Enzo’s eyes narrow slightly because he knows what my dreams are, and there’s only one that hasn’t come true. We were going to wait to have children, but accidents happen.
