Mr. Grayson: Billionaires’ Club Book 4: Chapter 39

It was what I liked to refer to as March madness. Well, March Madness was already a coined phrase, but it took on a different meaning for me since, as Nat would say, it was my birthday month.

The twenty-first day of March was my birthday, and because of our fantastic new friendship with Avery, Ash, and Elena, Cass and Nat had managed to pull off a surprise trip to Branson, Missouri on Jim’s company jet. It was the very same jet Alex and I had used to travel to Florida before our relationship fell apart, so that wasn’t a detail that made me feel super happy.

Being on the private airplane was bitter-sweet because I couldn’t help but remember mine and Alex’s better times—everything that happened before the funeral had messed with him in ways that I could’ve never imagined. I’d inwardly accepted how much I missed him, but the drinks kept the pain of losing Alex over a month ago at bay.

I couldn’t say precisely how long it’d been. I was certainly not one to count days, or I’d go mad. I just took things one day at a time, stepping one foot in front of the other until the pain got less and less—I was still waiting for that part, though, because the only thing that’d gotten less and less was my patience. I knew I had to get over him, but not a day—not an hour—had gone by when I hadn’t thought about him and wondered how he was doing in therapy. I wanted him to be healthy and happy whether or not I was there for it.

I had my doubts about a hypnotherapy session, but Elena was convinced this was the road Alex needed to take so he could heal, given his specific issues. She’d heard testimonies of it working on patients when she called around to ensure it would help her friend, and she thoroughly researched the recommended therapist. Elena had said that this method may not work and reminded us that everyone was different with how they processed issues, especially the delicate matter of an adult dealing with repressed memories from childhood trauma.

Who knew what the heck was happening in London—where Alex still was, apparently—and if any of this therapy was helping him or not? I was primarily concerned about whether his memories would be conjured and do him more harm than good. I guess that was me and my big-ass heart again, worried more about an ex-boyfriend suffering than I was myself and how it’d ended badly between us. Alex was a total dick about it too.

I didn’t care if this made me look like a big, empathetic weakling. I was in love with him. I’d never been treated as someone to be so highly valued, not in the way that Alex had treated me. However, as fate would have it, it turned out that it was too good to be true because our relationship wound up having an expiration date.

I just wanted to know if he was better or not, and now that this plane ride was bringing me to think about him nonstop, I was going to ask.

“So, you haven’t heard anything?” I finally asked, sipping on my cocktail and looking at Elena. “He’s been out there two weeks longer than he initially planned. I’m sort of worried things may have gone bad.”

“Like I already told you,” Avery answered first, “if things weren’t going well, Jim said he would tell you. He knows very well that you need to know because, for one thing, Alex is your business partner, and two,” she smirked, “we all know you’re still in love with the guy.”

“Let’s just hope they fix him up nicely for our birthday girl,” Nat chimed in, having started in on her cocktails early since she hated flying. “I know for a fact the sex was off the charts for Bree.” She eyed me. “You glowed like a woman after microdermabrasion. So yes,” she took a long gulp of her cocktail, “the sex was great, and you need that man back in your life.”

“To keep a youthful glow?” I laughed at my ridiculous friend.

“And other things. It was phenomenal with him, wasn’t it? You need him back in your life if only for that purpose alone.”

Cass rolled her eyes. “Nat, we all are aware that sex is your fix for every problem, but seriously?”

Nat looked at me and frowned. “Cass is right. Mind-blowing sex with that gorgeous man was a shitty thing to bring up,” she said. “It probably brought back memories that make it that much more painful, not knowing if you’ll ever have it again with him.”

“Slow down on the drinks,” I smiled and shook my head. “And to answer you, my goofy best friend, that sex or not…” I paused and grinned, “I just want Alex happy and healthy. It’s driving me fucking crazy that we’re not together because I want to know how he’s doing.” I sighed. “I want to be there for him, and I can’t.”

“If it were Jake and me, I would want to know too. You’re doing the right thing, though,” Ash added with a smile. “If Alex comes out better in the end, I’m pretty confident he’ll want to repair the issues that caused you both pain and ended your relationship.”

“You two didn’t end things because you stopped loving each other,” Cass said. “It was his way of protecting you from him. Remember all of that shit that led him to go get help?”

“I just miss the hell out of him,” I admitted.

“So, let’s raise a glass, then,” Elena beamed. “To days ahead when Alex is well and realizes that if he blindly found love with his business partner,” she chuckled, “then he’ll blindly fall in love with her again only with a healthier, new beginning this time.”

I raised my glass. “A beginning that, if it happens, he’ll never doubt himself being in love with me again.” I sighed, knowing Alex and I may never get back together. “Well, in love with me or anyone else. To his happiness,” I cheered, feeling a slow buzz coming on.

Nat rolled her eyes. “Are you serious? It’s your birthday, and we’re cheering to Alex’s happiness with or without you as his lover? That’s the lamest thing you’ve ever said, Breanne.”

“Lame or not, I do love the man enough to concern myself with him being happy and with the right woman,” I stated firmly.

“I’m not toasting to this. I’m laying down,” Nat said. She was trying to remain firm, but we couldn’t help but laugh at her tipsy state. “Wake me when we land, and don’t think for a second that I missed that one hot pilot when we boarded. I’d like to personally thank him, as my life is in his hands.”

“We’ll be sure to do that,” Cass said. “Go lay down and sleep this off because when we land, we’re going directly to the attraction we set up for Bree. The rules were to drink, but don’t get drunk, and now look at you?”

“God,” Nat rubbed her forehead and meandered through the leather seating where we were in, “you owe me for this, Bree.” She turned back to me. “Trust me, flying to an attraction in Missouri was not my idea of a thirty-something birthday party.”

“No,” I smiled, “I know exactly what your plans would’ve been. I’m glad we’re going to Missouri instead.”

“Wake me when the wheels are safely on the ground, please,” Nat said.

We’d consumed plenty of food and water to soak up the cocktails we’d enjoyed on our luxurious flight, and after the plane landed in Springfield, Missouri, we loaded up into a party limo that was waiting for us. I should have been drawn to the party lights of this massive SUV, but instead, seeing the lime green grass and how beautiful the countryside was in the Midwest was more appealing. Of course, we had green grass for a small portion of the year in California, but nothing like this. California was sadly fighting constant droughts, and we didn’t have the luxury of lush, green, rolling hills along the roadways we traveled—not like this, anyway.

When the party vehicle arrived at the destination, I pinched my lips together in humor and excitement. “Who would think to take me to a Titanic attraction? In Branson, Missouri, correct?”

“Correct,” Avery said. “There was easier access to an attraction in Vegas, but I watched some ghost investigation show, and this is one haunted place. If we were doing this, then this was the place to go.”

“You and your haunted attractions,” I shook my head at her. “It was how you and Jim met, right?”

She laughed. “Yes, and since my hunt for ghosts on my tour of the Tower of London was a bust, I’m eager to find one now. That’s why, in all of this planning, I boycotted the Vegas attraction, and now we’re boarding a replica of the ship. I think this one might be a tad bit cooler.”

“Whose idea was this anyway?” I questioned after we stepped out of the party wagon.

“You don’t remember telling us that you compared losing the Sphere project to the ship sinking?” Cass said. “You were pissed you spoke those thoughts out loud in front of Alex on your way to save that project. You went off about it one night.”

“No,” I looked at the girls, questioning them with my confused expression alone. “Was I that insecure about it?”

“I guess you must’ve been, but you talk crazy when you’re shitfaced drunk too,” Nat said dismissively. “You blabbered on and on to us that you had mentioned it to Alex,” she sighed as if this were the last place on Earth she wanted to be—and knowing Nat, it was. “You kept saying, ‘I swear I’m cursed with that man. I say the stupidest shit around him.’ You told us how embarrassed you were that you’d compared that screwed-up job to the Titanic. Whether or not Alex thought you were crazy, we thought you were that night.” She waved her hand up at the bow of the large, replicated portion of this ship. “Now viola. We’re here for your birthday.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, thank God I talk while I’m drunk because I do find this ship fascinating, and I’m delighted to be here. I love that you all thought of this. It brings back the funny times I had when I wanted to prove that I was a badass CEO.”

“A ship that sunk brings back funny times to you?” Nat looked at me like I was as crazy as I knew I sounded. “Breanne, people died, and we’re here to celebrate your birthday at what I would imagine could be recognized as a sacred memorial.”

“Well, look at you, Nat,” I hugged her side. “You’re all grown up, and now, we’re the immature ones. I want to see this attraction, though. I’m thrilled with the idea I might learn something I never knew about this ship. I’ve always found it intriguing that it should’ve never gone down.”

“Girls, our tour guide is waiting,” Avery said. “Let’s go learn about the RMS Titanic. I hear we get a boarding pass with the identity of one of the actual passengers, and we become those passengers on the attraction. I think we’re about to get an intense history lesson on the sinking of Breanne’s favorite ship.”

“Let’s go learn some history,” I added.

As we were introduced to our tour guide, we fell into our roles as passengers aboard the Titanic, knowing the ship would undoubtedly meet its tragic demise, and only seven hundred or so lives would be spared. It was sort of eerie to journey into this, knowing it brought you more in-depth to that fateful voyage that could’ve easily been lost in history.

After we finished, I was blown away by so many things, not the least of which was the interesting fact that linoleum was considered to be a luxurious floor covering that only the wealthiest people could afford in 1912—the million-dollar grand staircase wasn’t too bad either.

We were now leaving with the knowledge of the passenger we were and whether we survived the sinking of the ship or not. When we walked out, the girls’ voices were hushed, perhaps because I was tuning them out while reading about the passenger that I’d been assigned. I was so consumed with the engineering and designs of the ship with my architect’s frame of mind that I’d hardly considered the history of anyone who lived or perished on the luxury liner.

As it turns out, I was the passenger who was known as Lady Rothes, Nöel Leslie. Not only did she survive, but she was also pretty heroic, taking charge of the lifeboat—lifeboat number eight. She rowed it for more than an hour, in freezing-cold temperatures, before she handed that duty over to another so she could console a newlywed whose husband perished.

“What passenger were you?” Avery asked. “Mine didn’t survive.”

I told her who I was after learning about her passenger. “Check this out,” I said as I read about the woman. “Not only did she row the boat for a solid hour, but she was also reported as caring for passengers who’d survived when they were aboard the rescue ship, Carpathia.” I smiled at Avery. “I would have never known any of this. Strangely enough, I’m sort of bummed that I only cared for the architecture and beauty of the ship and was always upset it sank because it was reportedly flawed in design.” I shrugged, trying to pull back from being somewhat emotional after coming off of that experience.

“That’s crazy,” Cass said. “Your personality is somewhat comparable to your passenger. I can easily see you doing what that woman did.” Cass’s eyes studied me. “Down to the fact that you saw past your wealth and gave it up to help everyone in your dad’s company—”

“Whether she knew they were stealing from her or not,” Alex said.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard his voice as he finished speaking for Cass. I turned back and stared at his brilliant smile and his lighter expression, looking more handsome than I remembered.

“You’re here?” I said, confused and in utter shock that Alex was here and joined by his closest friends.

“Well,” he held up a boarding pass and pulled his sunglasses off to read the pass, “according to this, I’m not.”

Did he go through this attraction too? Wait, this was Alex’s idea. All of it, and my girlfriends did well in acting like it was theirs.

I smiled. “Third class passenger and didn’t get a boat?” I tried to guess.

His eyes locked with mine. “No boat and my passenger gave up his life jacket. He was reported to be preaching to the ones who were going down with the ship.” He read the information with a broad grin.

“Preaching?” I cocked my head to the side. “What passenger were you who selflessly gave up your life jacket to another and preached to help people cope with the fact that they might die?”

He glanced back down at his boarding pass. “Reverend John Harper, traveling to Chicago with his niece and daughter. I guess his heart was more concerned about consoling those meeting with the afterlife than his demise. It states here that some passengers heard him in the water preaching as they waited for help. The man didn’t stop until his last breath.”

“Wow,” I said, blown away that Alex was standing there, looking so healthy and his face so soft that I wanted to step toward him and reach for his cheek just to feel him again. “It’s surreal to learn about these passengers. I feel pretty sad that all I cared about was the ship’s engineering flaws. Now, I don’t think I’ll ever forget about these passengers.”

“Isn’t that the point, though?” Alex asked as I ignored the girls, reuniting with their men behind Alex, most likely talking about their experience and who they were. I was more focused on Alex being in front of me with a new expression I’d never seen him wear.

“The point?” I questioned his eyes as they raptly studied mine.

“Yes, keeping their memories alive through an attraction such as this,” he pressed his lips together. “I’ll admit, the Titanic was never something I thought of until I met you. Aside from that and coming here, I feel it’s intriguing to look past the ship alone and learn about the people who died tragically, and from what it appears, most heroically. Memories,” he smirked. “They’re such an interesting concept in combination with how our minds work, how we process whether they remain with us in history lessons or real life.”

“I suppose so,” I smiled at him. “I know I learned a good lesson, and that’s not focusing on the structure of a flawed ship, but perhaps, like you said, keeping their memories alive.”

He half-smiled. “Curiously, I can relate a bit to that now,” he said. “Strangely enough, this whole thing went another direction on me when I planned to surprise you with a visit to a ship you compared to the Sphere job.”

“How so?” I stepped close to him, his expression more serious.

“Well, before I had someone dig into the secrets of my brain,” he smirked, “my brother was just simply dead, and though I was wrongly blamed for that, my memories of him died behind the illusion of my flawed family.” He slipped his hands into his pockets. “Maybe not all the same, but it struck me that my twin brother’s life, and the life I shared with him, though short, had been stolen from me.” He half-rolled his eyes. “I’m sure you know that Elena recommended hypnotherapy?”

“I do,” I swallowed, knowing he was well and sharing part of his recovery journey with me. “It seemed to have worked. You seem very happy.”

“It did. I was able to remember my twin brother, Albert. That was the grave I stood at when you found me the day of the funeral. Anyway, I remembered him and how much I loved him.” He stepped toward me and ran his hand over my cheek. “I remember our history now, a history that was masked and practically overwritten by an abusive man.”

“I’m so very sorry you lost your brother. How are you coping with all of that?”

He exhaled and smiled. “Rather well, believe it or not. I loved my brother, and while I was sad to remember how much I loved him, I also discovered that I tried to save him from drowning. More importantly, I know that I wasn’t responsible for his death. I wasn’t the evil individual Paul always led me to believe I was. With the therapy, I accepted Albert’s death.” He ran the back of his knuckles over my jaw, and I could only close my eyes to catch my breath, feeling how rejuvenating it was to have his touch against my flesh again. “I accepted the love I was always told I could never feel. I wasn’t a monster, and that was liberating to learn on my own. It helped me understand I was capable of loving like most good people are.”

“Loving?” I reopened my eyes. “Maybe, if you’d like to try it out, you can see if you can love me again?”

That was lame. I tried to lighten up both of us, or everyone watching us was going to tease our endearing moment, especially since he had his two doctor friends with him, Jake and Collin—the ultimate jokesters no matter what the occasion seemed to call for.

“Love you again? I never stopped, Bree, even though I thought I did at the time, I suppose.” I saw the group gather around us from the corner of my eye. “I learned that the love I held for my brother was only brought up after being buried inside me because I accepted how I felt about you. Isn’t it interesting how our relationship starts with me trying to save you, and in the end, after feeling love with you, it was you who saved me?” He nodded toward my boarding pass. “And cared for me, even though I tried to push you away. Cass is right. You do resemble that woman on your boarding pass, you know. A woman whose heart goes beyond worrying about herself: you’re a woman who appears that her heart is bigger than…” he paused, and it seemed as though he was searching for words.

I smirked and decided to finish his statement for him. “My heart always seemed to prove it was bigger than my brain, in the aspect of trying to save my employees while they were stealing from me anyway?”

Suddenly, I realized why Alex didn’t finish whatever he was about to say to me. A duo of men’s voices hummed to the hit song that Celine Dion sang in the movie Titanic. I couldn’t help but cover my smile. At the same time, Alex rolled his eyes and turned back to Collin and Jake—the two doctors I should’ve seen this coming from. Alex’s reunion was shifting from the Titanic experience. The romance was beginning to swirl in the air between both of us, prompting the two jokesters to bust out the background music from that hit movie.

“What the hell are you two doing?” Alex said when he turned, and I laughed softly with the rest of the women who’d found the two men’s humor just as entertaining.

“Well, I’m humming the tune for Coll to sing on key,” Jake said, acting extremely serious. “Trust me. It takes a lot to keep Collin at that angelic level. And of all the songs he has to sing, it’s got to be Celine Dion’s song—the one we had to hear when we were forced to sit through the movie so we could learn more about the ship.”

“I never told you idiots to watch a movie about this ship,” Alex answered in confusion. “What movie?” He glanced between the two men.

“Titanic. Kate Winslet?” Collin stopped singing and answered. “Elena told me that you insisted we watch that three-hour movie.” He looked around Alex and at me. “Speaking of which, I now will add my expert opinion. Leonardo DiCaprio’s character was an absolute idiot, and that’s why he didn’t make it.”

“Really? We’re doing this?” Alex said. I could hear him trying to be firm, but there was humor in his voice too.

“Oh, hell yeah. We’re doing this,” Jake chimed back in. “Ash made me watch it too. She said you insisted that this was the best way to learn about the ship and appreciate what you were doing with Breanne. All of that said, Coll’s right. Jack could’ve fit on that damn door. I would’ve managed it easily, and I wouldn’t have died.”

“Should we recreate it in the Pacific Ocean back home? I mean, we might as well see if you two are right or not?” I asked as the two doctors smirked and then looked at Alex.

“We should probably do that one song at the end of the movie. The one where the ship is sinking, sort of like Alex out here dying in the romance department,” Collin eyed Jake, then smiled at Alex.

“Right. Let me get back into character again,” Jake answered. Then both men started humming like violins as they switched their background music to a hymn from the movie.

This one was most likely accurate to the actual ship sinking as it was said the musicians played this particular song on the ship before it’d sunk.

Jim, who was previously in a humored conversation with Avery, became aware of the two doctors singing and trying to recreate the romance from the movie Titanic. I couldn’t resist but find the silliness of it endearing. I missed all of us being together like this, especially with Jake and Collin’s humorous gestures.

“Why are they humming a song?” Jim questioned with well-founded confusion.

“It’s Jake and Collin. Why wouldn’t they be?” Alex asked, folding his arms as everyone gave the two men our undivided attention. “It appears they’re struggling to separate a movie from the attraction of Titanic we just went through.”

Jim rolled his eyes and smiled at me. “You should’ve seen our guide’s expression when they started singing Celine Dion’s song.” Jim looked at Alex. “You should’ve known this would happen after you told the ladies to make sure we all watch that movie about this ship.”

“What movie?” Alex asked with a laugh. “I have no clue what you guys are talking about.”

“You haven’t seen Titanic? Have you been living under a rock?” I asked with a chuckle. “Why would you insist they watch it if you’ve never seen it?”

“This might come as a shock,” Alex grinned at me, “but when the women get a chance to sit down their husbands for a romantic flick, they make up lies. It turns out that it’s biting me in the ass when all I wanted was to beg you to forgive me and allow me a chance to prove I can never love anyone other than you. I love you, Breanne Stone. There’s no doubt in my heart about that now.”

Alex pulled out a Tiffany & Company box, and instead of gasping, crying, and impulsively grabbing Alex and hugging the man and never wanting to let him go, I was stopped in humor at how ridiculous his friends were behaving.

There was no way in the world I could get mad at any of this. It was as hilarious as it was beautiful, and I would never forget this moment. I watched in shock as Alex knelt and opened the box, and that’s when Collin sang loudly, performing the part of the song where Celine Dion sings her heart out. Then I glanced down and watched Alex’s eyes close and his lips tighten in humor. It was all priceless, and I couldn’t help but join everyone in laughter.

Alex looked back at Collin. “Your heart will most definitely go on that damn jet if you don’t stop singing,” Alex tried to warn through a laugh.

“That was the part where you ask Breanne to—well, you know,” Collin said with a grin. “I set that up perfectly for you. My voice didn’t crack or anything. Celine Dion would’ve begged me for a duet if she heard it too.” He shrugged. “Now, you ruined all of it. Talk about wasting your talent.”

“Wasting my talent, or yours?”

“Ask Breanne,” Collin said, putting his arm around his laughing wife. “She’ll admit that was a nice setup for everything you had planned.”

“It was epic,” Jake fake-agreed with Collin, trying to keep a straight face. “Now, that ship has sailed, and you’re stuck without Collin’s vocals because, let’s face it, you’ll never hit those notes again, Coll.” Jake shrugged.

“Never again. I’m still trying to accept that I nailed that, and Alex and Breanne aren’t locked in some passionate kiss?”

“You know, Alex,” I finally interrupted the men, “it’s going to be really difficult to accept a proposal since Collin’s voice is shot, and I don’t have him on karaoke for your background music.”

Alex rose and held my face between his hands. “I’ve got two failed marriage proposal attempts, and I’m begging you to forgive me for stopping my best idiot friend from singing as I attempted this proposal the right way.”

“And now, I have to turn you down again?” I teased him, forgetting the soft laughter coming from everyone—including Nat’s hushed squeals. Everything was out of focus, while Alex’s beautiful green eyes were more beautiful and dazzling brighter than the huge rock that he held between both of us.

“I know this is yet another not so ideal proposal situation, but this time, my head is right. I know exactly what I want and why I want it. I need you in my life, and all of this,” he waved his hand to remind me of the Titanic excursion again, “is when my heart knew that I was in love with you. My mind didn’t grasp it all at the time, but it was that particular moment when you compared that faulty job to this ship that I knew I was in love with you.”

“So, this whole experience wasn’t so Collin could sing off-key to Celine Dion? It wasn’t about that romantic movie you never watched?” I grinned at him.

“Absolutely not,” he admitted. “Being here, on your birthday, was just me, trying to bring it back full-circle to the day I unknowingly fell in love with you.”

“I’ll marry you on one condition.” I arched an eyebrow at the man I loved and cherished more than I could sincerely express.

“Anything,” he said. “You can play a sex tape at our wedding for all I give a damn. I just want you and only you in my life forever.”

“Since you appear to be the only one who hasn’t seen that movie…”

“Oh, hell,” Alex looked at me with the most adorable and pleading expression. “I’ve watched every Grace Kelly movie with you, and Fred Astaire, and Carey Grant—all of the old romance films you’ve fallen asleep to in my arms.”

I recalled how much I knew he hated watching old movies, but he watched them anyway.

“It counts for something, right?” he asked. “But I can watch our movie with you a hundred times, Dorothy, with my new heart you’ve insisted the wizard give me. I will gladly watch that movie with you.” He kissed my ring finger. “But only if you put my outward expression of love on your finger.”

I sniffed as I started to cry, officially caught up in the moment with the man I loved more than anything, and I felt more solid about marrying him than I felt about anything else in this world.

Alex returned to bended knee in front of me. “I humbly ask you to marry me or at least start over and date me until the day comes that you feel confident enough to become my wife.”

“What if I told you that I felt confident enough that I would marry you now if I could?” I knelt in front of him.

“Well, that would put us all back on the plane and off to Vegas as your birthday evening stop, doing that Titanic experience,” he looked back at Avery’s grin, as she leaned into Jim’s side, “and Elvis handling our vows.”

I smiled. “Avery is on the hunt for ghosts. Give her a pass for that.”

“Avery and Jim can remain behind to find Avery a ghost,” Alex grinned at me. “Baby, I love you. We’re going to have a massive-ass wedding, and I even had a lovely conversation with your Aunt Blaire about it.”

“You talked to her?”

“Yes,” his hand covered mine and slid the ring on. “She was a bit nicer than the last time I saw her.” He kissed the ring he put on my finger. “She said you were thrilled about the wedding you had intended to have the first time, but you hated the idiot who ruined it all. Is she lying about loving the big wedding?”

I softly laughed. “I guess I was thrilled to have a big, beautiful wedding day. Marrying the wrong man was what ruined it all. That, and I’m never doing fashion week again. I’ll only go to Paris because Theo’s there, and I can happily shop for wedding dresses with him.”

He held me close, and we clung to each other. It took me finally feeling Alex’s soft and firm lips on mine to prevent me from laughing when Collin and Jake returned to their background serenade. Eventually, I couldn’t help but giggle into mine and Alex’s kiss.

“Sorry, I was thinking about how full my heart is, and then they’re singing that song…” I shrugged to Alex’s grin.

“So long as you and I will be married one day, I say let’s get out of here,” he said. “I have a hotel booked for you and me, and these party animals aren’t finding out what room number we’re in. Happy Birthday, baby. I love you so much,” he said, and that’s when a lovely luxury sports car came into view. “Don’t ask. The guys insisted we rent these things, and the girls can drink in that party bus if they want to keep celebrating your birthday.”

“Let’s go,” I said.

This was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday. Even though we had the doctor duo serenading us with a song that’d been worn out for decades, it was still excellent, and it all probably worked better than what Alex had planned initially.

Beyond the marriage proposal, I could sense a different side of Alex. He was more handsome, relaxed, and sincere than I ever remembered him being. The girls were right about when you find the right one—the other half of your soul. It felt like this. Even with our flaws, it worked because we were two souls that’d found each other. Alex’s might have been worn when we came together but wasn’t that our journey? To be the other half of each other and keep moving forward in life?

We were meant to face anything together, and now, we’d survive it because we were two bodies, but one strong force that felt an impenetrable love. Everything just got better, and we were complete with or without vows.