Chapter 8

8

ISLA

Six months later

I swing our hands between us as we walk and grin into the warm morning air. The sky is streaked with pink, the water already sparkling, and our shoes left by the boardwalk to stroll with our hands free. The sand’s already warm. Hopefully, we don’t regret leaving our shoes, but if the sand begins to burn, we can always splash through the water.

I glance at Dom when he squeezes my hand and smiles at me. These past months have been the happiest. I can finally touch more than his hands, I can see him as often as I want, and we can talk about books every day if we want to. More often than not, we do.

We didn’t last long before we moved in together. We’d both been in love with each other for so long we didn’t want to wait. Now my collection of books mingle with his. The ones he bought me and wrote notes in stand pride of place, front, and centre. My copy of the books happily shoved to the bottom shelves.

“We should get a dog,” I say, watching a woman throw a stick for her black dog to chase after.

“What kind do you want?” He wraps his arm around my shoulders.

“The kind that likes to cuddle.”

His eyes widen dramatically. “My cuddles aren’t good enough for you?”

“Your cuddles are the best, but dog cuddles are in another league.” I peck him on the cheek.

He laughs. “You’re right. We’ll get one soon.”

“Soon?”

He stops us in the place where he’d shown me the note in the book for the first time, when I’d walked along the beach trying to convince myself I didn’t love him. “I have something to ask you first.”

I wait while he gathers his words. He looks pale and his hand shakes in mine. I frown at him. “Are you sick?”

He exhales a shaky laugh and shakes his head, releasing my hand. He pulls something out of his pocket and drops to his knee.

“Are you okay?” I grab his arm before he topples over. It takes me a moment to realise what he’s holding. A grin spreads across my face.

He opens a small box which holds a ring with a blue gemstone, similar to the water behind him. “Isla, my love. I loved you for years before I realised I was willing to risk our friendship for more. This year has been one of my happiest because I’ve gotten to share it with you. I saw you every day, and I don’t want it to change. I love you so much. Will you marry me?”

I laugh through my tears and reach down to hug him, trapping his hand between us. “Yes.”

His hand shakes when he removes the ring from the box and slips it on my finger. I press our lips together and murmur against his, “I love you.”

His arm comes around my waist, hugging me close as gentle waves wash over our feet.

“Can we get a dog now?”

He rolls his eyes. “After the wedding.”

“Fine. But we’ll have to get married soon because I really want a dog,” I say it flippantly, but I would marry him tomorrow.

“How does next month sound?” He presses a kiss on my temple.

“Perfect.”