Page 52 of Fade (Fighting Fate)

His grin grew a little. “Eventually.”

My heart stuttered. Why did the idea of him wanting to marry me make me so freaking excited? I should be trying to look at this from a mature perspective or something.

“Eventually?”

“Let me put it this way,” he said, his gaze turning serious. “If I had my way, I’d marry you tomorrow, but I know you’re going to worry about what people will think about us getting married so young and having known each other for only a year, so I’m willing to wait on the proviso that you at least say yes.”

I watched the little grin touch his lips again while I thought over his words. He was one hundred percent right. I was thinking about what people would think. I frowned. Why? Why did I have to do that? Why should I? It was my life. Only I could judge whether or not something was right for me.

Something Mom used to say to me suddenly came to mind. She used to say that I needed to take responsibility for the things I brought into my life. Of course, she said it in a way that implied I needed to be more mindful about doing shameful things because it made her look bad, but it could work the other way too, couldn’t it?

I mean, if I were to choose not to marry Daniel simply because I was worried what people would think, and then something happened and I ended up missing out on the best thing that could’ve happened to me with Daniel, it still would’ve been my decision that put me in that situation.

So, going by that theory, I needed to choose to do the opposite of what I’d consider to be the worst. Either people scoffing behind my back, gossiping that I was stupid to get married so young, or never getting to experience that kind of commitment with Daniel, ever.

When I looked at it that way, the answer was easy.

Chapter 22

Daniel

I watched her sit in silence for a few moments, knowing I needed to give her time to fight the so-called ‘common sense’ she’d been raised to think so highly of.

Her expression seemed so tormented, I almost told her to forget I’d said anything, but then her eyes widened a little, and a tiny spark began to grow in their depths.

My heart started beating a little faster, for what reason I wasn’t entirely sure yet, but then she gazed into my eyes and started crawling toward me. Parting my legs to make room for her, she settled on her knees, sitting back on her heels and placing her hands either side of my face. Gently, she stroked her thumbs over my cheeks, her gaze searching mine for words I was sure she was struggling to find.

I braced myself for the worst, but I couldn’t stop the hope from hanging there, taunting me.

“Daniel,” she said softly. “You know I’ve been brought up to be mindful of what people think. Yes, I’ve been working on not caring so much, but it still worries me . . . ”

And just like that, my hope vanished. I nodded slightly to let her know I understood, and hopefully, to let her know it was okay.

“But . . . ” she said, her eyes sparking again. “If you asked me which one I couldn’t possibly live with, either people thinking terrible things of me, or never getting to show you just how much I love you, I would have to say, a hundred times over, the thought of never experiencing that kind of commitment with you would be unbearable.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. Was she seriously saying what I thought she was saying?

“Amy . . . what are you . . . ?”

She smiled. A seriously c

ute, shy smile. My heart thundered.

“Yes, Daniel,” she breathed. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

I blinked. I was having a lot of trouble trying to get my brain to process her words. Eventually, they settled right where they needed to be. “You’ll marry me?”

She laughed. It was the most beautiful sound I thought I’d ever heard. “Yes!”

And then my body took over. Taking her face in my hands, I kissed her. I tried to remind myself to be gentle, but the depth of my emotions made it virtually impossible. I fucking loved her more than my next breath, and knowing she felt the same made me crazy desperate.

But Amy didn’t let me get too carried away, eventually pulling back and laughing that soft laugh of hers that always seemed to make my heart miss a beat.

“God, I love you,” I said, wishing I could just take her right there on the lawn.

“I kinda figured that from you asking me to marry you, but I love hearing you say it.” She grinned.

I shook my head and stared at her with wonder. I had no idea how I could’ve possibly been so lucky to have her come into my life, but I was immensely grateful.

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