Chapter Fifty-Six
Grace
Two years later...
Leaving on tour with Jaxon had been the best decision I had ever made.
Of course, Luisana and Michael were sad that I was going to be gone, but they understood that I wanted to get out into the world and experience things on my own, and they fully supported my decision. Besides, they made me fly home for any big family events and especially Noah's birth- not that I would have missed it for the world. He was the cutest baby brother I could ever ask for, and we skyped almost every day with Michael and Luisana.
It was the last show of the tour and I was backstage hanging out with the rest of the crew. I had been asked by management if I wanted to take backstage pictures of the boys meeting their fans at each of the shows, and I was glad.
It allowed me to get to know all the awesome fans that they had as a group and get to see them interact with everyone. I had become great friends with the whole band and Jaxon and I had become much closer and even more in love than I ever thought would be possible.
I had even managed to graduate from college and write a successful book series despite all of the craziness- it was just a short course on English and creative writing, but I had plans to one day go back if my book sales started to drop.
For now though, I was more than content with how things were going.
The boys came backstage after they finished and a few minutes later fans were filling the small meet and greet room that they were given by the venue.
Jax came over to give me a quick hello before they started.
"How was the show?" He smiled, kissing me tenderly.
"It was great, as usual. I don't think you guys could have a bad performance if you tried." I kissed him again, it was the first time I had seen him for the past couple days. I had missed him. I had been away back home for the weekend and had told him I would meet him backstage after the concert.
I gestured towards the fans coming in the door, "You better go meet them. I'll see you later."
He nodded and gave me a quick wink before heading towards the boys and the screaming fans.
I grabbed my camera and began taking pictures of the interactions. Lots of crying going on today, I laughed a little under my breath. I could definitely understand how overwhelmed they were with meeting the band. I wouldn't be any different.
When everyone had gotten a picture and an autograph, they were escorted out by security.
Jaxon came to join me by my side. We were in Ireland for the last show and had decided we would go visit his parents and stay for a few days before heading back to Los Angeles for Noah's birthday.
"Ready to go? My parents are so excited to see you." He smiled sweetly at me.
I nodded, grabbing my bags and camera. We said goodbye to everyone else, giving out hugs and promising to visit over their break. We headed out to the back entrance where he had left his car.
It was a little over an hour's drive from Dublin to Mullingar, Ireland and we had been talking the whole time. Jax was excited to see Noah, they adored each other, and we were both happy we would have some quality time with our families.
"Do you want to take a walk? I know this really nice place." He smiled.
I nodded, "Sure, a walk would be nice. Ireland is beautiful."
We drove for a little while when he pulled over, grabbing a basket and a blanket from his back seat. He also pulled out a blindfold.
He grinned devilishly at me before he turned me around to tie the blindfold on.
"Is this really necessary?" I laughed, shaking my head when he was done.
"Yes, it really is." He chuckled, "I figured we could have lunch here, but I don't want you to spoil the surprise of the view."
He grabbed my hand and rubbed circles on the back of it as he led me down what I assumed was a gravel pathway. Soon, it seemed to turn into grass and he told me when to watch my feet.
"Stay there, I'm just going to set the blanket up." He said from a little ways away.
A minute later, he took my hand in his again and led me over to the blanket. Sitting me down, he untied the blindfold.
I gasped, letting the scenery pull me in. I looked around in awe, we were at some sort of look at and you could see the ocean below us. The picnic was adorable and he had packed all of my favourites.
"This is amazing, J." I breathed out, finally looking at him. He had been studying my face the entire time.
He smiled at me happily, "I thought you would like it."
He opened the basket and handed me a peanut butter sandwich.
I tried to hide my smile, but he caught it. "What's so funny?" He teased.
"Nothing, this is just extremely sweet." I replied honestly, leaning over to kiss him.
He surprised me by grabbing me by the waist and rolling me over, so that he was on top.
"I love you, Grace Tanner." He smiled, leaning down and kissing me.
I don't know how long we stayed like that, but it began to get darker and Jax reluctantly pulled back.
"Do you want to look at the water before we leave?" He asked.
I nodded, "Sure." Taking my hand, he helped me up as we made our way over to the edge of the lookout.
"Hey, I think the lighthouse over there is working now." He pointed to something far away and I squinted my eyes, trying to see where he was looking.
"Where?" I asked, turning to look at him.
When he wasn't beside me anymore, I turned around.
I gasped; my hand covered my mouth in surprise. I couldn't breathe.
Jaxon was on one knee.
He was looking at me with such hope in his eyes that I couldn't look away. I opened my mouth and closed it again, unable to convey how I was feeling in that moment.
"Grace Tanner, from the moment I met you I knew you were truly an amazing human being," He began; the sparkle in his eyes hypnotized me, catching my breath in my throat.
"What I didn't know was that you would steal my heart. Every single fiber of my being wants to be by your side- I never knew this feeling existed until I found you." He reached into his back pocket and I found it hard to breathe.
"You've shown me a whole new form of strength, taught me that life is truly a gift, and shown me the purest love I have ever experienced." He took out a black velvet box and opened it.
"We have been through many things together, and over the years I have realized that I would never want to have to go through life without you by my side. You mean the world to me." He pulled a beautiful ring from the box. It glittered in the sunset.
He held the ring out, a question in his eyes.
"Will you marry me?" He asked me, as his blue eyes studied me carefully.
I nodded, breathless and teary eyed, "Of course I will!" I cried excitedly, my voice shaking. I held my hand out to him and he firmly grasped it as he slipped the beautiful diamond ring on my finger. The smile that lit up his face was breathtaking and I tried hard not to cry harder that this man was forever going to be by my side.
"I have never doubted my love for you. From the moment I met you I knew that you were someone special," I said, taking a deep breath.
"You are the very proof that love is blind, Jaxon Trent, because my heart and my soul fell in love with yours the moment I had the chance of getting to know you."
He brought my face close to his and rested his forehead against mine, and I saw tears in his eyes.
"I love you, Princess." He murmured against my lips.
"I love you too, J." I whispered through my kisses. I pulled him tighter against me; I would never get enough of him.
He was my forever.