Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“You did all this?”
“I had help.”
“You are amazing. I love you.”
He grinned. “I love you. Now let’s get a drink and enjoy your day.”
Chase made sure my favorite items from the menu were on the large buffet Zeke set out. The drinks were plentiful and cold. The music rocked. I ate and danced. Laughed and talked. Drank some of the delicious concoctions Charly had Zeke make up, but I didn’t go overboard. I wanted to remember every minute of tonight. I’d never had a party before. No one had ever given me one either. But Chase had. Quietly. Without a fuss and without spilling the secret. I never had a clue.
I laid my head on his shoulder as we swayed to a quiet song. I loved being held by him. He pressed a kiss to my head. “Having a good time?”
I tilted my head up. “The best.” I leaned up on my toes and kissed him. “Thank you, Chase. For all of this. It’s been the best birthday ever.”
He smiled. “The night isn’t over.”
“What?”
He chuckled. “There’s cake.”
He turned me, and I gaped at the large cake being carried from the kitchen. Sparklers and candles glittered. Pink and purple flowers adorned the layers. Everyone started to sing, and Chase wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight to his chest. He sang in my ear, his voice low and slightly off-key but still perfect. It took three tries to blow out the candles, and then the kitchen cut slices for everyone. They all wanted me to open the gifts, and I enjoyed the whole thing. I received some wonderful, thoughtful gifts. Some fun ones. Useful items. I loved them all.
Then I heard a voice clearing in the microphone, and I turned to see Chase onstage. He waved me closer so I was in front of him. He smiled down at me.
“Today, we celebrate Hannah’s birthday. Some of you have known her a long time, some are fairly new, and of course, her mom has that special connection. We all know a different Hannah, and she means something unique to each of us. The one thing we all have in common is that we love her. The difference there, though—” he stopped and swallowed, meeting my eyes “—is that I love her more.”
There was a chorus of oohs, and I had to wipe my eyes as tears slid down my cheeks.
“So tonight, I want to wish the love of my life a happy birthday. Thank you, Hannah, for loving me. For giving me a home. Because where you are is home.” He paused. “I love you.”
“I love you,” I replied.
He stepped off the stage and stood in front of me. He cupped my cheeks and kissed me, then stood back. He smiled at me. “I have a gift for you too, Hannah.”
I shook my head. “You gave me this party.”
He winked. “That was for our friends, so they could celebrate with you. This gift is only for you.”
My heart began to beat harder. My breathing picked up. He looked intense. Serious.
“It sort of comes with a request. I want to give you my heart, Hannah. Forever. I want to share my life with you.” He dropped to his knee and opened his hand, a small box resting on his palm. “If you accept that, I would also like to give you this.”
I heard some gasps around me. My mom said my name, her voice filled with wonder.
I met Chase’s eyes.
“My request is that you marry me, Hannah Gallagher. Give me that gift. Your love forever.”
He looked at me with so much love. Tenderness. I saw our life together reflected in his eyes. There was only one response I could give.
“Yes.”
He opened the box, and I stared at the pretty ring inside. It glittered under the lights, the center diamond flanked by smaller ones on each side. He slid it on my finger, his hand shaking as he did so. “Perfect fit,” he whispered, a tear sliding down his cheek. He lifted my hand to his mouth. “Mine. Forever.”
“It’s beautiful.”
He stood, touching my face. “So are you.”
Then his mouth was on mine, and everyone was clapping.
It was the best birthday ever.
And one, thanks to Chase, I would never forget.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Chase
After rounds of hugs, backslaps, and congratulations, I danced with my fiancée. She was lit up with happiness, only one arm around my neck, the other on my chest so she could see her ring.
“I love it,” she whispered.
“I’ve had it a while,” I admitted.
“You have?”
“Yeah. I bought it after the first night I held you. I knew you were it for me.”
“Chase…” she breathed out.
“I asked your mom for permission a couple of weeks ago. That day I told you I went to Toronto for parts, I actually went to see your mom. I took her to lunch and asked her blessing and told her I was having this party for you.”