Page 141 of As a Last Resort
I looked back at Austin.“So, there’s no baby?”I asked him.
“Oh there’s a baby,” he chuckled.“It’s just not mine.”
“There’s no Vanessa?”I asked.
“There’s no Vanessa.”His eyes turned soft and my entire body melted.
And that was it.That was the moment I realized starting right then, nothing would ever be the same.The moment that would send my life in one very specific and beautiful direction if I didn’t run.It felt like tiny flowers blooming in my bloodstream.His eyes were shining.
“Is this the grandstand movie moment?”I whispered.
“Well, we are at a rehearsal dinner.”He glanced past me.“And there’s an ice swan behind you, so.…”
“Okay, then here it goes.To be honest, if I think about babies and grocery stores and elementary school teachers and Friday night football games, I feel like I’m going to puke.”
His brow creased a bit in the middle.“I don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to start.”
“But here’s what I know so far.”I took a deep breath as every eye zeroed in on me.“I want to wake up next to you every morning and quiz each other on completely irrelevant, useless facts about ourselves.I want to stand over a stove and watch you make spaghetti sauce from scratch and tease you that you could just buy it in a jar instead and it would be faster.I want to take sunset rides on yourboat, throw the anchor overboard and just sit watching the water, talking about the worlds that exist underneath us that so many people would see if they just opened their eyes.”
Moisture gathered in his eyes, but he stayed perfectly still with his hands buried in his pockets.
“And I’m terrified.”My voice faltered for a moment, but I forced myself to continue.“I’m scared to death that at some point you’ll look at me and realize that maybe I’m not all that you need.That I won’t check every box.My lucky streak with fishing will run out and maybe I’ll end up hating it, and you’ll want to trade me in.Or, worse, maybe you’ll leave—and it won’t even be your choice.”
I exhaled, my heart thudding against my ribs.“I’m just saying, don’t have too high of expectations for me.I can barely live up to my own expectations, let along anyone else’s.”
“Okay,” he said softly.
“But the only thing that really matters at this point, is that I love you, Austin Marcs.And I’d really like to try and see if this could work.That is, if you’d have me… again.”
“This is where they kiss!”Lexi whispered, swiping tear after tear off her cheek.
“Wait, you knew she thought it was Austin’s?”whispered Patrick.
“I’m so confused.”Mary Kay grabbed another glass of champagne off a waiter’s tray.
“I’ll explain later,” Lexi whispered back.
He looked down at the ground, and the silence stretched between us until time seemed to stand still.“Samantha Leigh, are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.”
My heart swelled at the smile that lit up his entire face.
“Take your hands out of your pockets.”
His brow lifted over those gorgeous green eyes that danced under the moonlight.“We both know what happens if I do that.”
“That’s exactly what I’m counting on.”
He slid his hands free and took a step toward me, his fingers threading through my hair in one smooth, quick motion so fast he threw me off balance.His mouth crashed into mine and suddenly I was off my feet and into his arms.He tasted like salty tears and the ocean—and home.I clung to him, tightening my grip, unable to imagine a world where I’d ever want my feet back on solid ground.
Hoots and whistles around us grew as everyone started talking about Vanessa and Tom, and how wonderful it was that Austin wasn’t tied to her for the rest of his life.
“Looks like I missed the big moment.”Ivy sauntered up to the group looking like a million bucks.“I’m Ivy, Samantha’s assistant.Apologies for my tardiness.Apparently two alligators saw fit to procreate on the runway today and caused a bit of a delay in my arrival.”She turned toward Mary Kay.“Your house is absolutely extraordinary, Mrs.Marcs.Exquisite taste.”
“Oh, why thank you.”Mary Kay beamed.
She turned to Lexi.“And congratulations to the bride-to-be.You look striking.”
