Page 19 of Meant To Be

We finish eating and I help her clean up the kitchen. Once everything is put away and the kitchen lights are turned off, I grasp her hand in mine and lead her to the back deck. Last weekend we went out on the hunt for patio furniture, and we found a couch that’s burnt red in color and can withstand the weather elements, while still being comfortable. I plop down, and she sits down beside me. I pick her legs up and lay them over my lap, her hand immediately finds mine.

Everly sighs out a contended smile and says, “I could stay out here like this forever, as long as you’re here with me.”

I hear what she’s saying loud and clear, and I know this is the perfect opportunity to ask her the most important question in the world.

“Everly, Baby. I need to ask you something, but first I have to tell you, even if you say no, I’m not letting you go. Not for one minute would I ever leave you or want you to leave me. You’re it for me. You’re my whole world. Will you be my wife?” I ask her looking into her eyes that are now shimmering with wetness.

She doesn’t respond. It makes me nervous at first, but, if she does say no, I wouldn’t give her up. I’d just bust my ass and keep asking her until she does say yes.

“Yes, a million times over yes!” She squeals and then jumps into my lap. Her hands grab my cheeks, and our lips crash together as we both take and pull from each other.

When we break apart, it’s me this time holding her, not wanting to miss any of it for a single moment.

“I’m going to make you happy. I promise you, Everly.”

“You already make me the happiest girl on Earth,” she responds back, and I take her hand and place her ring on that significant finger and it’s as if it was made for her. It glides on perfectly, not too small and not too tight.

“It’s beautiful. I can’t believe we’re getting married!” she exclaims and jumps up and grabs my hand, tugging me along into the house. She doesn’t know it, but I’d follow her anywhere.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Everly

I’m trying not to look as devastated as I feel, but having to drop Liam off at the airport and keep a smile on my face was probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. He already warned me communication would be difficult and that he’d try to call or text as much as he could. The one thing that is holding me together is that I start my new job at the local hair salon today.

I have a feeling I’ll be asking for as many extra hours as I can until the end of the month. I just pray they don’t extend his time overseas. I pull into the salon’s parking lot. It’s small and quaint for our town, but it gets busy when the tourists come through. I’m hoping I can build up my clientele even if I’m stuck doing perm after perm for the older ladies around here. The smell alone is enough to make you gag from just thinking about it, but I’ll do what I have to do to make it to the top. I’ve never quit on something I wanted before, and I won’t do it now.

I grab my purse and my bag that’s filled with my scissors, trimmers, and overall supplies I’ll need for the day and head into the shop.

Walking into A Cut Above The Rest, you can smell the scents of a salon, the mixing of color, hear the whirl of a blow dryer, and the buzzing of clippers. I’m so excited I can’t stand myself.

“Welcome, how may I help you?” Sue behind the counter says. Her name tag telling me her name.

“Hi, I’m Everly. I’m here to see Melinda,” I tell her as she picks up the phone, I’m assuming to call Melinda. She’s the owner of the shop and the one I set up my interview with while finishing school. We got along amazingly, and I could tell she was as happy as I was to start training me.

“She’ll be right out, if you want to take a seat,” she says as she goes back to her computer and answering the phone.

I sit down and watch the other hair stylists at work while I wait for Melinda to come to the front. I’m lost in my day dream of starting my business classes next semester when she approaches me with her hand held out.

“Hi, Everly. It’s so good to see you again,” she says.

“Hi, Melinda. I can’t wait to get started.” My eyes are dancing around, looking at her and the salon. I have a feeling this is going to be an amazing fit for me.

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