Page 40 of She is Mine

“Alright. Okay. I understand. Look, maybe it’s best if you give me a bit of space to deal with this. Perhaps you can stay with Wade tonight. We’ll talk in a few days.”

My eyes fill with tears. “Don’t be mad with me, Dad.”

He offers me a sad smile. “I’m not mad. I’m just...I’m processing. I love you, darling. Just give me some time. I’ll make sure I’m okay with this.”

I reach out to hug my dad and he hugs me back, kissing me on the cheek. As we pull apart, he looks at Wade pointedly. “Look after her.”

“I will,” Wade growls, putting a protective arm around my waist. My dad nods and then he leaves without another word. I feel like I’m letting out all the tension in my body as I fall into Wade’s arms. He kisses the top of my head.

“It’s going to be okay. It’s all going to be okay.”

Wade

Waking up this morning, I feel a sense of anxiety. I feel as though I’ve dreamed everything that happened yesterday, reuniting with Harmony, falling in love, making love in my office, it all seems too good to be true.

But she’s here. She’s lying asleep beside me, her gentle breathing filling my heart with love. She’s so damn perfect. I can’t believe she’s mine.

But I also can’t believe that she put her relationship with her father in jeopardy in order to be with me. She took so many risks, and I can never thank her enough for that. Except maybe by showing her how much I care. I need to let her know how much I love her. I need her to know that those sacrifices weren’t in vain. I’m going to make her mine forever.

I find the engagement ring in my bedside drawer. I bought it years ago, knowing someday I’d give it to the love of my life, and knowing it would fit her perfectly. This ring was always for Harmony, I just didn’t know it. I didn’t know that she’d feel the same things I’ve felt for the past three years. But now that I know she loves me too, it’s time to give her this. I’ve been falling and falling for three years. She might only have loved me for a day, but I’ve loved her for a long time. I want to show her just how much.

When she stirs in her sleep and opens her eyes, she sees me holding out the ring to her. She sits up with a gasp, staring at the ring in shock. I look deep into her eyes.

“Harmony. I know this might seem quick but I knew from the moment I saw you three years ago that I’d marry you someday if I could. I knew that if by chance you ever loved me back, I’d make sure to put a ring on your finger. I know this love we share is going to be eternal. I know that I want every day to be this much of an adventure, full of risks and sex and love. I know that I only want those things with you. Baby, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

“Yes,” she says so quickly that I can barely believe that I’ve heard her. “Yes, I will marry you. Of course, I will.”

We kiss hard and I feel my heart swell with pride. She’s going to be mine forever. I’m never going to have to let her go. I slide the ring onto her finger and the diamonds sparkle as bright as Harmony does in the early morning sunlight. We kiss again and I roll on top of her, our naked bodies ready to make love again the way we did through half the night. As I move inside her, I’m in heaven.

I’ve finally found my happiness.

Epilogue

Three weeks later...

Harmony

As I stand outside the church in my wedding dress, bouquet in hand, and nerves swirling in my stomach, I wonder whether my dad will show up for my big day. I tried to give him space and time to think about what has happened between me and Wade, but we didn’t want to wait to get married. We’ve pulled this whole wedding together in just a few weeks. I have my dream dress, my dream husband-to-be, my dream destination...but there’s just one problem.

My dad isn’t here to walk me down the aisle.

I was so sure he’d turn up. Even though he hasn’t been answering my texts or calls, I was sure he’d be here. He told me he still loves me, so how can he miss my wedding day?

Everyone is already in the church, waiting for me. We’re already late starting the wedding. Wade will be wondering what’s going on. Tears threaten to fill my eyes. How can my dad do this to me? If anything, he owes me for the way he treated me these past few years. Is it so hard for him to see me happy?

I’m starting to think we’ll need to cancel the wedding. As much as I love Wade, I can’t imagine getting married without my dad here. He raised me to be the person I am today, even if he made some bad decisions along the way. He’s a good man, and I don’t want him to be absent from my big day. With my stomach in knots, I’m about to step inside.

“Harmony.”

I turn around. My dad is standing behind me, dressed for the occasion, but with an apologetic smile on his face.

“Dad...I thought you weren’t going to come.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he tells me, pulling me into a hug. “I’m sorry I’ve been absent. It took me longer than I expected to make sense of all this. But I’m here, and you have my blessing...even if that doesn’t matter to you.”

“Of course it matters to me,” I whisper. “You’re my Dad. I want you to approve.”

“Well, I do,” he tells me. “Wade is a good man. That’s why we have been friends for such a long time, after all. I had complicated feelings about you falling for my friend, especially someone much older than you, but I saw in both your eyes the last I saw you that you care a lot about each other. I know I can trust him to care for you forever. And I’ll always be here as your dad in case you still need me.”