Page 152 of American Beauty

He draws in a breath, eyes locked on mine like I’m the only thing that exists in this entire city.

“I’ll never part from you again. No walls. No distance. No maybes. I don’t know where life will take us, where we’ll end up, but I know one thing without a doubt…” He lets go of one hand and lowers himself to one knee, pulling a ring from his jacket pocket. I gasp—quiet, breathless. “…wherever it is, we’ll be there together. Always.”

“Magnolia Elizabeth Steel. Favorite.” He looks up at me, eyes shining. “Will you marry me?”

For a second, the world blurs. The fountain, the music, the golden light—it all sways around me like a dream I don’t want to wake up from. One hand flies to my mouth, covering the tremble in my lips. My heart is thudding so loudly I can barely think.

Tears fill my eyes, and my voice shakes.

“Yes,” I whisper, then louder. “Yes. Yes, Alex. I want to be your wife more than anything.”

He exhales, a shaky breath that sounds like relief and joy all at once. He slides the ring onto my finger, and when he stands, I throw my arms around him like I’ll never let go again.

And then—I hear it. Applause.

I pull back, blinking, and turn to find people clapping. And not just people. Alex’s parents and all of his siblings.

And then my person. Violet.

They step out from the edges of the park where they’d been hiding in plain sight, beaming.

Violet rushes in, laughing, teary-eyed, and wraps me in a hug. “My bestie is getting married.”

I glance to the side and spot a man holding a video camera, a woman snapping photos—and it hits me. A videographer. A photographer.

I look back at Alex, shaking my head in disbelief. “I cannot believe you pulled this off.”

He smiles, that lazy, pleased-with-himself grin that always wrecks me. His arms slide around my waist again, pulling me in.

“Well, I had help from Violet.”

I laugh through the lingering tears. “Of course you did.”

He leans back enough to look me in the eye, his tone gentling. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about who was here tonight. Things with Robin and Charlene are… complicated. But I didn’t want you to have my whole family here and none of yours. I invited them. They said they had other plans.”

“Story of my life. So yeah. That sounds about right.”

“I’m sorry, babe.”

“I’m not.” I reach up, brushing my fingers along his jaw. “It’s okay because your family is now my family.”

As if on cue, the Sebrings make their way over—Elias leading the charge with that big, goofy grin of his. Malie crying, arms already open for a hug. His father gives me a smile that makes me feel safe. Like I belong.

And maybe for the first time in my life… I do.

They surround me in a bubble of laughter, warmth, and welcome—no performance, no show. Just love. The kind that doesn’t ask for anything in return.

I look over at Alex—my fiancé—and something in my chest settles. This isn’t just a special moment.

This is our beginning.