Page 61 of Ever's Last
And the whole room gets quiet. That ring can probably be seen from outer space.
“Memphis . . . ” I can’t even talk, I’m crying so hard.
“Ever, please. I’m begging you.”
“Get off the floor.”
He stands, nervously shuffling back and forth.
“I’ve dreamt of this moment my whole life. Yeah, you hurt me. I want to believe that all this is real.”
“I’ve changed. I promise. And I will never let you forget that I love you. I will show you every day how sorry I am for screwing up.”
“Go for it, sweetie.” My dad steps out.
“Dad?”
“What are you doing here?” Memphis asks.
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” he says to Memphis and then turns to me. “He was wrong, but everything worked out. Yes, you were hurt, physically and emotionally, but you never let it get you down.”
“Remember what I told you about the pageants,” Anne asks “Even though you were so beautiful, you never let that go to your head. You cheered for others, gave girls pep talks. People can change. Skye proved that to you. Let him try to prove it to you. He has apologized.”
Skye joins the group and adds, “He has made some horrible life choices. I’m one of them. He always had your heart. I was never supposed to be with him.”
I can’t take this. What are they all doing here?
“The whole town is here.” My dad chuckles.” “You two were meant to be together. Memphis just needed to screw up to see it.”
I don’t even know what to think.
My head starts to feel dizzy and then I see nothing.
Chapter Forty
Memphis
Not the way I saw my proposal going. She really deserved something sweeter, but I was desperate. What I didn’t want was to send her to the hospital.
I’m not sure what the doctor called it, but basically, she’s trying to process things. Situational coma or something. She’ll wake up when she wants, which is kind of a relief.
It’s been two days. Pacing the floor, I can’t sit. I feel like I need to do something. Yesterday, I told the doctor to run more tests. They didn’t run anything when she was first admitted. I need to know she’s really okay. I need her.
I messed up and almost lost her so many years ago. Can’t do it again.
“Memphis,” Shane says as he takes a seat in a chair and points to another one, handing me a cup of coffee.
“I . . . ”
He cuts me off.
“Before you even bring up the past, I’m going to stop you. It’s in the past. You’re here now.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Just think of the stories you’ll tell my grandkids.” He laughs, and I join in.
“I don’t know if anyone else will think this is funny.”
