When Sparks Fly (95 page)

I prop up on my elbows and look around the beach, now lit with the bright lights from the overhead show.

“I’m going to marry you on this beach,” I say. It’s true. I wish I could do it right here and now.

Her eyes widen. “Really? When?”

I take in a deep breath, thinking about it for a few seconds. “Next Fourth of July.”

Her face falls and her eyes droop. My chest tightens, which is actually kind of painful given my heart also takes off racing. “What?”

“That’s a whole year away.” Her voice is soft, pouty.

“I’m aware, but I thought we’d need time to plan.” I chuckle.

She shrugs. “I guess. I just don’t think I can wait that long. I want to spend all my time with you while you’re not deployed.”

I don’t think, just let my heart talk. “Then come home with me. Live with me in Virginia Beach. We can plan our wedding together. Be together.”

I can see in her eyes that she’s thinking about the possibility. “What will I do, though?”

“Whatever you want, Jordyn. That’s the beauty of it. You can take all the time you need to find out what it is you want. Who you want to be. No expectations. No one pushing you in one direction or the other. Just you, me, and a world of opportunities.”

She stares at me so long I think I might actually explode from the tension building inside me. Finally, a crooked smile appears.

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

The world stands perfectly still. I’m in a void, the words slowly sinking in. She’s going to be with me. No more long distance relationship. No more family conflicts and ex-boyfriends coming between us. Just her with me, sharing our lives.

“Yeah?” I trace the outer edges of her lips with my fingers, mesmerized by her.

“Yep, just have to figure out how to get my stuff out to Virginia Beach. Oh, and I’m going to need to get my tickets changed. What flight do you leave on? I want to see if I can get on the same one. Maybe Carlos can pack up my stuff and help me get it shipped. Not that I really need any of it. I could just leave it all there. What do you think I should do?” She’s talking a mile a minute. All I can do is laugh at this amazing woman in front of me.

“Crap, Grant.” She’s suddenly very serious, and I fear she’s about to back out already. “How am I going to tell my family?”

“How about we take care of the other stuff you mentioned, and worry about that one later. Besides, we’re missing the fireworks.” I point to the sky overhead, filled with red, white, and blue.

She stares at me for a minute before she takes hold of my chin, leans in and kisses me. “I love you.”

Calm invades me. The world makes sense. No woman has ever been the first to say it. It’s always been in response to me saying it first.

But here’s Jordyn, sitting in front of me. Ready to give up the life she knows in California for the unknown with me. And she loves me.

I fight with the lump in my throat. “I love you, too, Jordyn. More than you will ever know.”

The music reaches its crescendo behind us. The fireworks light up the sky above, but we aren’t looking at it. We’re looking into each other’s eyes.

My hands hold her face, my fingers entwined in her hair. She’s so beautiful – the most beautiful woman inside and out that I have ever met. “You are my dream come true, Jordyn.”

Tears flood her eyes and she tilts her head to the side. “I never would’ve learned to dream without you. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life following our dreams, Fly Boy.”

The End

I am very honored to be a part of this project and had such a great time writing this story. Much gratitude goes to Kristine Raymond, who brought us all together and kept us organized. To my fellow authors in the boxed set – Grace Augustine, J.M. Nash, Andrea Michelle, Maryann Jordan, Beth Maddox and Kristine Raymond. It has been fabulous getting to know all of you. Thanks to my editor, Toni, from Polished Pages Editing Services (
polishedpagesediting.com
). My fact checker and military expert – and a former fly boy – my hubby, Chuck.

Check out my website for more information about me, my books, and upcoming releases:

www.alparksauthor.com

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