Tears stream down her cheeks as she nods, and then, to my surprise, she kicks off her shoes and then pulls her hoodie up and over her head, only to drop it to the floor.
Confused, I take in her appearance, and that’s when I see it.
My Save the Queen shirt.
Every nerve in my body goes numb as I receive the symbolism behind wearing that shirt.
She’s mine.
All fucking mine.
“Cora,” I choke out as she closes the distance between us. She pushes me back on the couch and gently climbs onto my lap, settling herself. She smooths her hand up my chest and to my face, taking my chin in her hand.
Looking me in the eyes, she says, “It’s hard for me to accept the truth when there’s an easy out for me, an out that prevents me from getting hurt. The out was leaving you, not doing the work to make this happen. I told myself you didn’t really love me, care for me, and your words to the contrary fell on deaf ears.”
“I’m telling the truth.”
She silences me with her hand.
“I wish I’d known about the foundation, Pike. It was a huge part of you, and you left that out. But I do understand now why you did. I can forgive the omission, because I now have the bigger picture. Thank you.”
“I—”
“I haven’t finished.”
I smile. My beautiful goddess.
“It wasn’t until I stumbled across the ring that I realized, despite how we started, we ended up falling for each other over the course of time, and there’s no denying it. Keiko said something that has finally penetrated that wall I was trying to build up to block you out. She told me you can always learn to trust, but you can’t always mend a broken heart, especially without the right person. Well, in her words it sounded much different.” She pats my chest. “You’re the only one who can mend my heart, Pike.” She presses her forehead to mine and whispers, “Please, help me mend it.”
“Baby.” I reach up with my good hand and cup her cheek. “Open up and let me mend it, because I will. I’ll spend every minute until my dying breath making sure I mend this beautiful, loving heart.”
“Promise?” she asks.
“Promise,” I answer.
I wipe at her tears just before she closes the last few inches between us and presses her mouth to mine.
A combination of relief and joy hits me. I curl my hand around the back of her neck and hold her in place as I part my lips and grow our kiss.
Here I was, ready to throw in the towel, move back to England, change everything in my life, because I knew I couldn’t live near her and not live in pain, so to have her sitting on my lap, kissing me, tangling her hands in my hair? Fuck . . . I will never take this feeling for granted.
Ever.
When she pulls away, she whispers, “I love you, Pike.”
“You have no idea how desperately I wanted to hear you say that again.” I smooth my hand across her neck. “I thought I lost you forever.”
“You have me, Pike. You’ve had me from the day I saw you at the teachers’ barbeque.”
“If only I knew the kind of beautiful hellion you’d end up being, I would’ve asked you out that night.”
“But marrying in Vegas, via drive-thru, in an Uber, while drunk off our asses, is just so much more romantic.”
I chuckle. “A story for the books, that’s for sure.” I glance toward the engagement ring box and ask, “Do you want an elaborate proposal, or can I finally claim you properly, in this moment?”
She smirks. “I don’t think I could think of a more perfect moment than me in your shirt, promising to be yours forever.”
I nod at the ring. “Hand that thing over to me.”
She leans back, grabs it, and hands it to me. I hold it in front of her and say, “Coraline, my heart has been captured since you said I do, hanging out the back of a Cadillac.”
She laughs.
“I fell in love with your charred chicken, your microwaved tea . . . and even your hairy legs. There is nothing you can do that will push me away from you, because you’re the counterpoint to my heart, and we’ll forever be in each other’s souls. Please, do me the honor, and marry me again?” I pop open the ring box, and she gasps.
She nods and says, “I’m all yours, Pike.”
I grip the back of her head and bring her to my lips, never wanting to let go.
I came to the States to find myself, to find freedom, but instead, I found a woman who challenges me, who makes me laugh, who fills my heart with so much life, that I know, until the day I die, I’ll forever be fulfilled.