MEGAN
Four months later…
OUR DAYS in New York were over. After attending two fundraising events, meeting with investors, and a dinner date with Forrest, I didn’t think I could still stand straight. I was exhausted. I just wanted to throw myself in the bed and sleep for a day. Not that I was complaining, in fact, I was beyond grateful for everything.
But I invited my friends to come over to the private jet we chartered before we headed back to England. I popped a Champagne.
Since Forrest traveled a lot, he planned on purchasing a jet. He let me look over the reports, investments, and insurance of the new Atto Tech project last month.
“What are we celebrating? Don’t tell me Lord Kentworthry is buying this jet?” Pyke joked around.
“Not this one. But it’s more than that.” I bit my lip.
The girls awwed at me.
“You’re definitely not pregnant because you’ve been drinking wine,” Camila clarified.
“I am not, silly.”
“You’re not engaged either.” Blaine looked at my fingers.
“Can’t she celebrate for finally having a man? I’ve been waiting for this moment, you know,” Bianca said. “Forrest is hot, and his accent is getting sexier, and—”
“Okay, okay, wife. Enough complimenting Forrest.” Kyland gave his wife a flute. “But I’m happy for you, Meg. Wait, where’s Forrest?” He looked around.
“He’ll be here in a minute. He went to meet Alan and Milo before we head back.” I sipped my Champagne. “I just wanna thank you for never giving up on me even I was bitchier most of the time. I love you guys and all your babies. I may be far from all of you, but you will always be in my heart. In our hearts.”
“You should.” Bianca squeezed me. “I love you, Meg.”
“Love you, too, B.”
“You can forget us for a while while you and Forrest are, you know.” Camila giggled.
“Babe,” Pyke warned his wife.
“Don’t tell me they never had sweaty—”
“Okay, not another word. They are our friends, and we shouldn’t be thinking something like that.” Pyke wrapped Camila into a warm hug.
“Something like what?” Camila asked her husband innocently.
“Babe…”
“Fine, Killjoy.”
I took a deep breath when I heard footsteps approaching. And then there he was, still mouth-watering and jaw-dropping of a man. He was wearing a white shirt, showing off the tattoos on his arms that I always loved. He still managed to give me the same effect—even way better after all these amazing months.
“Hey.” He found me gawking at him, causing his lips to curve up into a smile that had my heart hammered.
“Why are you so nervous, Meg?” Blaine whispered, but I kept my gaze to the man I wanted to be a part of my life forever. I know, I’m way over my head.
“My love.” He sauntered closer, held my hands, and kissed me on my lips.
“Hi,” I said breathlessly.
His brows squished together. “You okay? You look flushed.”
“I’m fine. It’s the Champagne or maybe I’m just turned on.” I blinked it off. So much for rehearsal, Megan.
“I can aid that once we take off,” he whispered his promise, and my body quickly responded with anticipation.
“I know.” I nodded like a fool as I stared at him, determined with my plan. “But there’s something I want to tell you. Or ask you…”
“Can’t it wait?”
“No.”
“Okay. Can we at least sit down?”
“No.”
Forrest stilled, looking nervous, but so was I. “What is it, Megan?” He swallowed hard. “You’re scaring me.”
“I am not breaking up with you.”
He sighed in relief. “Good good. You better not.”
I cleared my throat. “I know this is unusual, but I can’t wait any longer. These past few days, I imagined how my life would be without you. I’d been on that path once, and the feeling was awful. I don’t wanna visit that road again. I wanna be happy, and it would be impossible without you in it. I love you so much, Forrest Wood. Forrest Kentworthry. I want you to be mine forever. Mine only.”
“I love you so much, Megan. And I am yours, you know that. Since from the very beginning.” His words seeped through my heart, through my blood, my skin, my bones, and my soul.
Despite my blurry eyes and my voice started cracking, I drew a deep breath and took all my heart even if maybe he would reject me, and my effort would be gone to waste. “Then marry me.”
Everyone gasped around us. Even Forrest. He was even stunned to respond to me.
The jet went dead silent. All I could hear was my heartbeat like a drum to my ears.
My skin started to tingle, and my heart was about to burst out of my chest in anticipation and worry when seconds passed by, and Forrest hadn’t uttered a word. I seized my last hope.
I was about to be on one knee, but Forrest, my man who was so gentlemanly like he always was, pulled me up.
“Megan.” Then it was the scariest thing I’d ever felt in my whole life.
My breathing held with his sudden gesture. My heart nearly stopped. Is he gonna say no? But then, he took my place. He was on his knee in front of me, surrounded by my friends.
Someone said oh, my god. I thought it was Blaine. Then my friends started giggling.
“You always wanted to change things, Megan. You changed me into a better person. Despite our differences, you learned to love me, and that’s what makes me love you, even more, each day.” He smiled, affection filled his eyes. “You just ruined my plan, my love, but that’s what makes us perfect together because we certainly have been thinking the same thing. Since I met you, I knew something shifted in me, in my heart, in my soul, in the air. I could go on for hours to say a lot of beautiful things about you and how lucky I am to have you. One thing for sure since I laid an eye on you, your back actually. You were wearing a red dress that night, I knew that I would never stop doing something, just for you to be mine. Permanently. It just took a while, but I’m a patient man, and you know that. I want you to be mine, only mine, for the rest of my life. To be with me until we grow old together. Megan Denise Simons, will you give me the honor of becoming your husband?” Then he pulled something from his pocket, flipping the black velvet box open.
The engagement ring.
Oh, my god! He’d been planning all this time.
“Yes!” My tears fell. I nodded, bursting into tears as I threw myself down on him. We ended up both on the floor, and our friends were applauding as we kissed and laughed with so much happiness.
I may be far from my friends and family, but I found my home in him.
“I love you.”
“I love you, Megan. My love.”
***
After years of philanthropy and great service to his country, during the announcement of New Year Honour Lists, Forrest had received a life peer as Lord Kentworthry.
***
The End