Page 97 of Blinding Lights

After we danced until our feet hurt, we settled into our comfy camp chairs, blankets on—with me also wearing Beckett’s jacket—and within ten minutes, Ava had abandoned her spot between us and crawled onto Beckett’s lap.

I swapped chairs with Ava’s so I was sitting beside them, and tucked her in under both blankets, their next little exchange forever ingrained in my mind.

“Thank you for making me feel like a princess again, Mr. Beckett,” she’d said as she gazed up into his eyes. He stiffened, but relaxed quickly so Ava didn’t notice.

“Thank you for making me feel like your prince.”

After that, they shared a smile that will get me through the nights when Beckett’s back in San Francisco and I’m questioning why I’d be crazy enough to stay here when he’s so far away.

Cheers ring out from the bar down the street, and Beckett lifts his phone, turning off our music. He shows me the time as his smile widens. “It’s almost midnight. Should we wake Ava?”

“You can try, but when that girl is out…” I trail off and Beckett chuckles softly, the rumble of his chest making Ava bounce in his hold. But she doesn’t even stir.

“Ava,” Beckett whispers. “The fireworks are starting soon.”

Nothing.

“Ava.” He tries a little louder, giving her a gentle shake, and I bite my lips to suppress a laugh.

“If it’s meant to be she’ll wake up from the loud crack of the first firework in the sky. But trust me when I say, she’s likely to sleep through that too. You wore her out dancing. Who knew you had moves like that.”

Beckett raises his free hand in defense as he once again chuckles. “I was just doing what she told me to do. I have never danced like that before.”

“Well, it was adorable. You’re lucky she’s five and not fifteen or she’d probably make you do dance reels for her social media accounts.”

“What?” His face pales and a laugh bursts out of me.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure your popularity will be long gone by the time she hits that phase of her life.”

Words of the future fly out of my mouth so effortlessly, and it’s not accompanied by the nagging pang I expected. This is real. I’m allowed to think about a future together, and more than that, I’m allowed to voice it.

Beckett’s laugh deepens and he shakes his head. “It’s going to take a lot of convincing on Ava’s part to get me to do any of that publicly. And yet…”—he pauses, glancing down at Ava—“something tells me she’ll succeed.” He squeezes his eyes shut and groans, making me laugh. She’s going to have him wrapped around her little finger.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I smile, while a little part of me still wonders.

“I’m sure.” Beckett eases my mind when he’s quick to respond. “But if I ever freak out, I’m going to need you to reel me back in. Whether that’s because of Ava’s dance videos or something else like earlier.” He smiles, but it’s accompanied by a look of apprehension, and I know how he feels.

“I’m happy to do that, if you promise to do the same.”

“I promise. I’m all in.” He holds out his hand and I interlace our fingers, repeating his words back to him.

“I’m all in too.” A feeling of euphoria bursts inside me, and my heart expands so that it’s big enough for my growing feelings for Beckett.

And I suddenly understand why Henley spends so much time reading about love.

The soft thrum of music from the bar stops suddenly, and we can just make out the countdown as it begins.

My heart races as the numbers descend and I whisper along with them, unable to speak any louder in case my voice cracks from the emotion of the moment.

Three, two, one…

The sky explodes in a sea of magnificent color, and as I expected, Ava doesn’t even flinch in her sleep. She’s out for the count and nothing is going to affect that.

I laugh under my breath, and Beckett smiles back at me before checking on her just to be sure.

After a beat, he twists in his chair, moving his face closer to mine, and I lean in, sealing our mouths in a reverent kiss. A kiss that not only rings in the new year, but holds the promise of our future together.

Our worlds combine under the blinding lights painting the sky, and I’ve never felt more at peace with my life.