Page 121 of Beautiful Distraction

“Kellan?” I lift my head from his chest and look up at him.My voice is shaking. My head is spinning from all the questions and the choicesI have to make. My soul is split.

But the heart wants what it wants.

There is a short silence as he tries to read my expression.“Yeah?”

Just like before, I can feel he’s nervous, or maybe I’mseeing my own reflection in his eyes.

I trail a shaky finger over his cheek, enjoying the chafingsensation of his evening stubble on my skin.

“I cannot believe what I’m about to say—” I swallowhard “—but I’m staying. I’m giving us a chance.”

His lips curl into a perfect smile. “I want you to.”

“It’s crazy. You know it is.”

“Yeah, it is.” He laughs, the deep sound reverberatingthrough his chest and penetrating every layer of me. “I know this is a harddecision for you. Will it help if I give you a good reason for it?”

“Maybe. Depends.”

“Okay.” He turns me around until my back is pressed againsthis chest. At first, I’m not sure what he’s doing, until his arms go around mywaist, embracing me from behind. I can feel his breath on me, hear him inhalingthe scent of my hair, his nose nestling between my shoulder blade and neck.

“I love you, Ava,” he whispers. “I don’t know where thingswill lead us. I don’t know what our friends will say, or what the future has instore for us, or if this is one big mistake. But there’s one thing I’m absolutelycertain of. I love you. I don’t want you to go. I don’t want to lose you beforewe’ve even begun.”

I turn around, shocked. The magnitude of the moment dawns onme…and yet I’m not quite able to grasp it. “I thought you didn’t like me.”

He shakes his head. “No, I didn’t like the fact that I fellin love with you. I couldn’t think of anything else but you. You occupied myday and night, every moment, every breath. After months of thinking about youand six days together, I think it’s about time that you know I love you. Andthat I’m absolutely certain…” He trails off.

He loves me?

I blink, then blink some more.

I love you too,Iwant to yell, but I can’t with the rock lodged in my throat.

“You’re absolutely certain that…” I prompt, barely able tobreathe.

“That I want to marry you.” His expression is deadpan.

I frown, unsure what he’s talking about.

He can’t possibly—

I stare at him, trying to catch a sign that he’s joking. Andthen it hits me.

Holy shit.

Holy. Crap.

My hands begin to shake.

“Wait. Are you proposing to me?” I ask, feeling reallystupid for even saying something like that out loud.

I must have misunderstood.

“Yes, Ava. I am,” Kellan says slowly. “Or why else do youthink I’d be talking about destiny and all that stuff?” He cocks his head, anaughty grin on his lips. “So, the answer is…”

“No.” There is no doubt about it. I can’t lie. “I love you,too, Kellan,” I whisper. “I love you, but you can be a jerk. There’s no way, absolutelyno way, I’m getting married to you after six days. That’s crazy. That’sinsane.”

“I love crazy and insane.” He laughs at my horrifiedexpression. “In fact, this is such a great idea. That ‘no’ of yours—” hewinks “—we’ll see about that. I tricked you once, you know, when youdidn’t want to fuck me. I did it again when I persuaded you to stay. What arethe chances the third time’s a charm?”

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