Page 72 of My Downfall

Hudson takes my hand as he pulls me over toward the picnic tables. He keeps walking, though and leads us to the edge of the bluff. We stand there together as the sky gradually changes from grey, to gold, to pink, and then blue. I don’t know if I’ve ever taken the time to watch a sunrise before. It’s majestic.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmur as my gaze stays glued to the sky in front of us.

“Yes, it is,” he rasps from beside me.

Hudson

She looks stunning in the light of the early morning sun. The soft gold highlighting her beautiful features. I need to do it now; I can’t wait any longer. I need to make her mine in every way because that’s how I think of her.

Mine.

“You’re going to marry me.”

“Excuse me?” She whips her head around to face me.

“You heard me, sweet pea.”

“I’m not marrying you. I don’t want to get married.”

“Well, I’m not done fucking you. I’m not done spending time with you. I willneverbe done with you and I’m not hiding it anymore. You’re not my dirty little secret and the only way this works is for you to become my wife.”

“That’s not happening.” Why does she have to fight me on everything, even when it’s what she wants, too.

“You don’t want to be my wife?” I pull her into my arms, my forehead pressing against hers. “You don’t want to be Mrs. Davenport? I think Mia Davenport has a nice ring to it.”

“There’s something wrong with you.”

“I’m not getting any younger, baby girl. I’m forty-six years old. You’ve made me realize I want marriage and kids. And I want it all with you.”

“Find someone else to marry.”

I can’t help but laugh at that. I don’t think there’ll be a time when my girl’s not acting like a brat.

“Yeah? You’d be okay with that? With me holding another woman in my arms? With me fucking someone else?” Her eyes darken at that; she hates the thought. “With them taking my name? Bearing my children?” Her teeth grind together. She wants me, wantsthis, just asmuch as I want her. “Because let me tell you, sweet pea, no part of me is okay with having anyone else in my life.”

“But why marriage?”

“For one, it’s the only way we can be together and the college be okay with it. Two, it’s what I want. What I desperately want with you. And despite your words, I know you want it, too.”

I lower myself to one knee in front of her and pull out the box I’ve been holding onto since London. I snap it open and see her eyes widen as she gets a look at the ring she’s already tried on. The ring I know she loved as much as I did.

“Hudson, that’s…” Her words trail off as I take the ring out and hold it to the tip of her finger.

“I knew then that I wanted to marry you. The minute I saw this on your finger my whole life clicked into place. You’re my forever, sweet pea.” I slide the ring that I already know is perfect for her, onto her finger, and stand up, pulling her into my arms.

“This is the ring from London,” she breathes.

“It was perfect for you, just like you’re perfect for me.”

“I can’t believe this is happening.”

“I’m not giving you a choice in the matter, baby girl. You’re marrying me because I refuse to do life without you.”

“So bossy,” she mutters, but she’s grinning up at me, and I know I’ve got her.

“This Saturday.”

“Yeah, maybe we can start telling people then. Gives me a week to get used to it.”