Page 35 of Never Over You

“We have to find her someone while she’s here,” I said.

Alex laughed. “You think if you set her up while she’s here, she’ll be more likely to move here?”

I smiled. “Couldn’t hurt.”

I reached into the box, pulling out and unwrapping the last item, a small, empty frame I hadn’t seen before.

“That’s weird,” I said, riffling through the pile of papers to see if a photo had slipped out and fallen into the mess. “There’s a photo missing.”

“Here,” Alex said.

I looked up to find him opening his wallet, retrieving something from the billfold in the center. He held it up, sending a rush of goosebumps down my body.

“Alex,” I said incredulously, “is that—?”

“It is,” he said, handing me our photo strip.

I reached out, running my finger along the edge of the four photobooth snapshots. “You kept this? I thought you threw it out.”

He shook his head. “Never. I couldn’t let it go.”

Tears pricked the back of my throat as I slipped the strip into the picture frame and set it on the shelf, admiring the young, happy faces for a long beat.

“There’s something else I wanted to give you,” Alex said.

I turned back to him to find his hand outstretched, holding a diamond ring.

My breath caught in my throat. “Oh my god.”

He took a knee, holding the ring between his thumb and first finger, its platinum band and brilliant-cut stone gleaming in the light.

“Brooke,” he began. “This last year has been the best year of my life because I found you again. Just like those photos, I could never let you go, and I never want to. You’re it for me. Will you marry me?”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, wanting to savor every second of this moment. I opened my eyes again and pulled Alex to his feet.

“Yes, Alex Sawyer. I will marry you.”

His hand trembled as he slid the ring down my finger. He kissed me, then wrapped me in his arms.

We were finally home.