Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Calm down?” He shot a nasty glare in her direction. “Why don’t ya help me look for it instead of just standing there like some brick wall?”
“You the one sitting there looking like some crab on the mothafuckin’ beach tryna bury yourself in the sand. Get yo’ ass up. I will look for it! Move!” She shoved his chair out of her way, making him almost topple backward. “What color is it?”
“It’s purple.” He got up from the chair, grabbed her cup, and guzzled her alcohol until not a drop was left.
She plopped down in the seat he’d been in. It was warm all over. “You don’t respect shit I have, Caspian.”
“Sure I do, honey.” He couldn’t even keep a straight face while saying it.
“Every time I put somethin’ on the table—a drink, chips, some celery wit’ peanut butter which you claim to hate, you take it upon yo’ self to go and… what is… what is that?” She pointed straight ahead.
Her soul was snatched. Her heart raced, bursting repeatedly inside her to the point of dull pain. Her palm over her chest, she tried to catch her breath. Someone had reached inside her and stole the words from her head. She’d forgotten how to think. How to speak. Her eyes widened as she shook while pointing to an open lilac jewelry box. A large, brilliant diamond ring, a large central stone with black diamonds and amethyst gems framing it sat there. Blinding her with its beauty.
“…I called your father, then your mother.” He cleared his throat. “I let your father know who I was, and that I was planning to ask you to marry me. He and I FaceTimed. He seemed genuinely surprised that I’d called. Though he stated he doesn’t know me, and wasn’t certain about all of this, he did express to me that he trusts your judgment and gave his blessing. I contacted your mother that same day. We’d only spoken a couple of times on the phone before then and she made it clear that she stays out of your personal affairs, but I wanted to do this the right way.”
“…Oh my God.” She sighed softly.
“I told her I was your boyfriend but wanted more. I let her know I am deeply in love with you. She said she already knew that.” He smiled at her as he dropped slowly to one knee, rubbing her back as she covered her face in shock. She couldn’t bear to make eye contact, needing a moment to process it all. Azure began to rock back and forth in the chair, tapping her foot. “She told me she wanted to see me face to face… That’s where I was this past Saturday when you got angry that I canceled our date last minute. I was with her at a coffee shop.”
“…This can’t be for real. Oh my God,” she kept saying over and over.
“It’s real. You’re real, though sometimes I wake up and am convinced I’m dreamin’ when I think about the fact I met someone like you. Anyway, your mother and I talked for hours. I also wrote your grandmother a letter in purple ink. I told her how much I love you, and that you’re important to me. I sent her a bouquet of roses, too, and declared my intentions as a matter of respect. I left my number and asked her to call me. Your grandmother did contact me, and she seemed a bit concerned that I’m White.”
Azure slowly lifted her head and burst out laughing.
“…That sounds like Grandmama.”
“Regardless, we had a nice conversation. She asked if I had any money. I said yes. She said that was at least a good start because I couldn’t be broke and White. I’d have to pick a struggle.”
Azure giggled uncontrollably as she shook her head.
“Oh, Grandmama… why in the world are you like this?” She cackled, dabbing her tears of joy with the back of her hand, rolling in her emotions.
Caspian stood before her, took her hand, and looked into her eyes.
“Azure, you’re my person. I know we’ve only been dating for a few months, but I’ve been through more in my life than most people could ever endure.”
“You have…”
“I know what love is. I know what it feels like. I’ve spent much of my life trying to figure out what it was so I could mimic it. With you, it comes naturally. I don’t have to fake it! There’s no acting. No putting on pretenses. There’s no unnecessary stage presence. I am able to breathe when I’m with you. I know when someone is good for me, and when they mean me harm. I didn’t expect to come back to Kentucky, bury my Aunt Angel, and stay here indefinitely. My plan was to return to Portland, get things straightened out for Uncle Bobby and Noah, and head my ass right back to Georgia. Fallin’ in love wasn’t in the cards. End of story.