Melody of the Heart (Runaway Train #4)(35)

When she glanced up at me with her mouth and cheeks covered pink, I busted out laughing. “What? Do I have something on my face?” she questioned, with a smile.

“Hmm, just a bit.”

“Well, get it off. There’s wet wipes in my purse.”

“You’re always so prepared.” I then opened the giant bag at her side and got out the wipes. Bringing one to her face, I slowly started to work off the pink film. “You are a dirty girl,” I teased.

She giggled. “Only you would say something like that in line for the Ferris Wheel. Don’t think you’re going to get all happy-hands on me like Mark Wahlburg in the movie Fear.”

Whispering in her ear, I asked, “You mean you wouldn’t want to have an orgasm high up in the air?”

As I pulled back, she licked her lips. “Maybe. I’m all about new experiences.”

“Mmm, I like it when you’re naughty,” I said, as I nuzzled my face in her neck.

“Next,” the man taking tickets bellowed. Lily tossed her remaining cotton candy in the trash while I deposited the napkins I’d used to clean her up. I passed him our tickets, and then we climbed into a bucket seat.

The ring box continued to burn a hole in my pocket. I knew it was now or never. As our seat climbed to the top, I shifted and reached for the box. When I did, I ended up poking Lily in the side with my elbow. She gave me a weird look. “What are you so fidgety?”

“Just needed to get something.”

As she surveyed the view of the fairgrounds from our position, I finally got the box out. When we reached the top, the wheel stopped to allow other people on. “Isn’t it beautiful, Bray?” Lily asked, as she gazed at all the twinkling lights.

“Yeah, it is.” Taking Lily’s hand, I said, “I want you to know that each and every day with you is like this view. I can’t imagine my world without you in it. You’re the greatest blessing that has ever happened to me. You’re my soul mate, my other half, the very best of me. More in the anything in the world, I want you to marry me.”

Lily’s eyes bulged while her hand flew to her mouth. “You…me…” She shook her head. “What about going to my father and asking his permission?”

I smiled. “I went to him before we left this summer. We have his blessing and his support.”

The wheel shifted us forward again, and we started to descend back to the ground. As she continued to remain speechless, I cracked open the ring box. “This was my Nana’s first engagement ring. My Papa gave it to her right before he left to fight in WWII. Years later when he had made something of himself, he bought her a big, fancy diamond, but she never stopped wearing this one. Not until the day she died.”

Tears streamed down Lily’s cheeks. “It’s beautiful—the story, the ring, all of it.”

I slipped the ring on her left hand. “Just like my Papa, I’m going to get you a big, fancy diamond one day. You have my word.”

Lily smiled. “You should know me well enough by now to know that expensive rings don’t matter to me. Like I told you before, I would live with you in a box if I had to.”

I laughed. “One day baby when we have a mansion and lots of cars, I’ll remind you of what you just said.”

“It still won’t change the way I feel about you.”

“I feel the same way.” Twisting in the seat, I cupped her face with my hands. “I can’t wait to make you my wife.” I then brought my lips to hers for a lingering kiss. We continued the desperate, love-fueled kisses as the wheel made several more sweeps. When we finally got off, the guys were waiting on us.

“Did you guys enjoy the ride?” AJ asked, flashing us a wicked grin.

“Yes, it was very nice,” Lily replied.

“I got several good pics of you guys making out,” AJ said.

Lily gave me a dreamy smile as she answered AJ. “Good. I want to see them.”

“You do?” he asked

She nodded. “Then we can have the moment we got engaged forever immortalized.”

“Wait, you guys are engaged?” Jake demanded.

Holding out her hand, Lily showed them the ring. “I mean, he didn’t get down on one knee when he asked me, but it was still romantic.”

“Still romantic? I was trying to be creative with my proposal,” I protested.

Jake shook his head. “I can’t believe you guys are engaged. You’re just twenty-two.”

Lily frowned at Jake’s words and harsh tone. “What does it matter how old we are as long as we’re in love?”

“Whatever. It’s your funeral, not mine,” Jake replied.

“I thought you would be happy for us,” Lily countered softly.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Jake said, “Why would you want to get married?”

“Because we’re in love,” Lily answered.

“And how do you even know if the love you have is real? You guys were sixteen years old when you fell—” he made air quotes with his fingers, “in love.”

I crossed the space between us to stand toe to toe with Jake. “That’s enough. Look, you don’t have to be happy for us, but you don’t need to stand there being an * by questioning our love and choices on one of the happiest days of our life.”