Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“It solidified something I’ve known for a long time,” he went on, his voice a low rumble, and my heart pounded even harder.
“Something you’ve known?” I questioned.
His look was devastating, like he was about to profess a secret that would doom him forever. “I’m in love with you, Milly,” he said, and time froze.
I stood there, my hands in his, eyelids fluttering as I tried to comprehend the words he’d just spoken. It was a simple statement, and yet, it was so unexpected that it caused my brain to get stuck in a loop, like a skipping record, unable to quit repeating the same nonsensical noise.
“Derek,” I managed at last, my throat dry and scratchy.
“You’re my best friend,” he said, almost sadly. “But I want to be more than your friend. I’ve wanted it for a long time, and if what I suspect is true, I think you might feel the same way.”
I did. My goodness, I did. Derek possessed my entire heart. He might as well be holding it in his hand as he stood before me.
“It’s not that easy,” I practically whispered. “I’m moving to London.”
“Milly, don’t you understand? I’m fucking in love with you. I adore you. I’d follow you to the ends of this earth if you asked me to.”
Suddenly, emotion swelled behind my eyes. This boy, honestly, I didn’t deserve him.
“You’d move to London for me?”
“I’d move mountains for you,” he breathed, chest rising and falling as he gazed down at me with so much love and adoration in his eyes I could hardly stand it.
An image of Aunt Nell flashed in my mind, her pain and hurt when she’d told me what had happened between her and Derek’s dad, and the fear in her eyes at the idea of me making the same mistakes. Every once in a while, I’d consider telling Derek about it, what had transpired between his father and my aunt. But the way he spoke of his dad, the respect and love he held for the man, I didn’t have it in me to shatter that image. Padraig might’ve been cruel to Aunt Nell, but he’d been a seventeen-year-old boy at the time. It didn’t mean he hadn’t changed and matured, becoming the good father Derek saw him as now. And that was why I kept it to myself. In my mind, no good could come from telling him.
A tear trickled down my cheek, and his breathing hitched. “Hey, don’t cry. This is supposed to be a happy moment.”
He was right. I should be happy, but I wasn’t. I was devastated. Because no matter how much I might love him back, I simply couldn’t hurt my aunt in that way. If it weren’t for her, my life would’ve turned out so much worse. She’d bailed my parents out numerous times because they were so bad with money they’d almost gone bankrupt. She’d even paid off the remainder of their mortgage so we’d always have a roof over our heads. Countless times she’d made sacrifices to save us, and now, it was my turn to repay her.
Too bad it came in the form of breaking my own heart—and Derek’s.
He let go of my hands to wipe away my tears, his touch full of gentle care that only made me want to cry harder. Then, before I properly understood what was happening, he pulled something from his pocket. It was the same thing he’d been anxiously fiddling with earlier, and all the air fled my lungs when he started to get down on one knee.
“Derek, wait …” I said, reaching for his shoulders to prevent him from kneeling, but he was already on the sand, the small black velvet box in his hold as he gazed back up at me.
“This past year, I haven’t wanted to spend time with anyone but you, Milly. Every time I’m away from you, all I can think about is how long it will be before I can see you again. And when I look into the future, I can’t imagine it without you by my side.” He paused speaking to open the box, revealing a beautiful antique diamond engagement ring within. The stone practically glittered under the hot August sun. I was trapped in the moment, barely able to think coherently as the sea wind whipped up my hair, long strands flying in my face as I stared mutely down at Derek.
“This ring was my grandmother’s. She died when I was thirteen and left this to me as her eldest grandchild. She said I should give it to the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that woman is you …” His words trailed off as his nerves got the better of him for a second. I watched his throat bob as he swallowed. When he spoke again, his voice was a low rumble that vibrated through me, causing butterflies to erupt throughout my body. I couldn’t believe this was happening.