Darkness Before Dawn

as his mouth pops open when he takes out the folded ivory card stock with a half-moon on it. He looks at me and smiles before continuing to open it by pulling the moon up and unfolding it flat. My eyes are on his as they scan it and his smile broadens when he gets to the bottom. He shakes his head, placing it beside him and looking at me in awe.
    "Come here," he says gruffly.
    I walk over to him, letting him pull me into his arms and hold me in silence as he places occasional kisses on my forehead as his chest rises and lowers against me.
    "I've been waiting my entire life to make you my wife," he whispers against me. "I wouldn't miss it for the world...besides, you haven't given me many options," he adds with a laugh, making me laugh along.
    "Do you like where we're getting married?" I ask equally as quiet.
    He backs away to look at me with a huge grin on his face, his eyes glowing. "I couldn't have picked a more perfect place."
    I smile and run my hands over his invitation, flattening it to look at it again.
     

     
    "I figured I should reply to all of those notes you've written me," I say with a smile as I look at it.
    "I think I'll live with you not writing back. I don't think you can top this one anyway," he replies as he stands and scoops me into his arms and begins to walk to our room.
    "I haven't shown you the real invitations yet!" I squeal.
    "You can show me later, we have unfinished business to take care of." He dips me, biting my neck and making me yelp.

 

    Walking hand in hand with Cole, enjoying a gorgeous Chicago day as we head to a high-end jewelry store on Michigan Avenue, I feel like my life can't get any better. I think we're both slowly getting to a good place in our lives as individuals and growing stronger as a couple. I lean into his arm and swing my free hand into somebody, straightening my body to apologize. My heart drops when I see Liam looking back at me, apologizing at the same time. We both freeze in place, getting pushed by all sides because of our sudden stops. I'm thankful that Cole's arms hold me from being flung with the traffic of bustle of people around us.
    "Hey." He looks at me with serious chocolate eyes.
    "Hey," I respond quietly.
    "Let's go, babe," Cole urges, pulling my hand.
    "I've tried calling you," Liam says, ignoring him. "I would really love to talk to you. I know you don't want anything to do with me, with any of us, but just one chance to explain—that's all I want."
    I swallow the knot in my throat as I look into his solemn eyes. "Is it true? About Alex being my dad?"
    Liam exhales sharply and Cole pulls on my hand again. "Yes, but to me, you were mine, Blake. I was the one who was there for your mom through her pregnancy, in the hospital. I was the one changing your diapers, cleaning your cuts and kissing your bruises."
    "You were also the one who willingly gave her up!" Cole bites, standing in front of me to block me from Liam's view.
    "For her safety! She was living with her grandmother! An amazing woman, I might add! I fucked up not being able to find her after that, I know I did! I've been paying for that for twenty-five years, dammit!" Liam shouts.
    "So have I," I whisper, mostly to myself.
    "So has she!" Cole yells back at the same time. "We both have. But you were an adult! You and Camden were adults! We were FOUR!"
    I move off to the side closer to the building, yanking on Cole's arm so he can move with me, and Liam follows.
    "I can't speak for Camden, his decisions are his. But I'm sorry, I really am. Like you said, you were four. And you were being taken care of by lovely people. I was an adult, I had to...have to live with my decisions every day knowing that I could've done things differently. Knowing I was dealing with a...look what's done is done. I know I can't change that. I know you may never forgive me, but know that I am truly sorry. Truly," he says, looking directly into my eyes so I can feel the weight of his apology.
    "Okay," I reply, cutting Cole off before he starts again. "I think I'm finally at a place in my life that I can take your apology and maybe even Alex's and move on."
    "Maybe one day we can get together," Liam suggests, making Cole mutter curses under his breath.
    I look at him one last time—his smooth skin, brown eyes, dark hair, the lines around his mouth—and steady myself when a gust of wind flows through us, allowing me to smell him...rain. I look down at myself, my still flat but promising stomach and smile sadly.