Chapter 15
The engagement had become the talk of the town. Everywhere I went, people congratulated me, their faces lighting up with excitement. Articles and posts about Scott and me flooded social media, and my colleagues couldn’t stop teasing me during breaks at
the office.
“You’re such a lucky woman, Hannah,” one of my coworkers said with a wink. “Scott Hayes is a catch. Handsome, charming, and completely smitten with you.”
I’d laugh it off, waving their comments away with a casual “It’s not like that” or “It’s just for show” But deep down, I knew the truth.
I was falling in love with him.
I told myself this arrangement was purely business, just a way to make Oliver back off. But every time Scott flashed his goofy smile, every time he went out of his way to make me laugh, every time he showed up just to make sure I was okay, my heart softened a little
more.
One morning, I woke up to find a box sitting outside my apartment door. Inside was a pair of running shoes in my size and a note in Scott’s messy handwriting:
“Thought you could use a little fresh air. See you at 6 AM. No excuses. – Scott”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, but when 6 AM rolled around, I found myself standing outside, lacing up my new shoes.
Scott jogged up to me, a smug grin plastered on his face. “I knew you couldn’t resist.”
“Don’t get used to this,” I said, trying to sound annoyed.
“Come on, Leigh,” he said, nudging me with his elbow. “You’ll love it. Trust me.”
He was right, of course. We spent the morning running through the park, the sun rising. over the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of orange and pink. By the time we finished, I was out of breath but laughing, my worries melting away.
Another time, he surprised me at work. It had been a long, stressful day filled with back–to–back meetings and endless design revisions. I was about ready to call it quits when Scott walked into my office, holding a takeout bag.
“Thought you could use a break,” he said, setting the bag on my desk.
“Scott, you don’t have to keep doing this,” I said, even as my stomach growled at the smell of food.
“I know,” he said with a shrug. “But I want to.”
I opened the bag and saw my favorite meal, I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face.
“You’re ridiculous,” I said, shaking my head.
“And you’re welcome,” he replied, pulling up a chair beside me.
Moments like these happened every day, and with each one, I found myself letting my
As I opened the bag and saw my favorite meal, I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face.
“You’re ridiculous,” I said, shaking my head.
“And you’re welcome,” he replied, pulling up a chair beside me.
Moments like these happened every day, and with each one, I found myself letting my
guard down. Scott had a way of making me feel special, like I was the only world that mattered to him.
y person in the
I kept telling myself to be careful, to keep my walls up, but it was getting harder and harder.
One evening, after a long day at work, Scott insisted on driving me home. I was exhausted, my body aching from hours of being on my feet, so I didn’t argue.
As we drove, I noticed we weren’t heading toward my apartment. “Where are we going?” I asked, sitting up straighter.
“You’ll see,” Scott said, his lips curving into a mischievous smile.
I sighed, leaning back in my seat. “You and your surprises,” I muttered.
Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the dock, where a small cruise ship was waiting. The lights on the ship twinkled like stars, and the gentle sound of waves lapping against the hull filled the air.
“Scott,” I said, turning to him. “What is this?”
“Come on,” he said, stepping out of the car and opening my door. “You’ll love it.”
I followed him onto the ship, my curiosity growing with every step. The deck was empty except for a small table set up with candles and a bottle of wine. The night sky stretched out above us, the stars shining brighter than I’d ever seen.
“Scott,” I whispered, feeling overwhelmed. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
He smiled, pulling out a chair for me. “Yes, I did.”
We ate under the stars, laughing and talking like we always did. But as the evening went. on, Scott’s demeanor shifted. He seemed nervous, his leg bouncing under the table and his fingers fidgeting with his glass.
Finally, he stood, taking a deep breath. “Hannah,” he said, his voice steady but his eyes full
of emotion.
I looked up at him, my heart pounding.
“I know this started as a way to get Oliver to back off,” he began. “And for you, it might’ve just been business. But for me…” He paused, taking another deep breath. “For me, it’s always been more than that.”
My breath hitched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
“Hannah Leigh,” he said, dropping to one knee, “I’ve loved you since we were kids. You’re smart, funny, stubborn as hell, and the strongest person I know. I don’t want this to be just for show. I want it to be real. Will you marry me?”
Tears welled in my eves as I looked at him, my heart swelling with emotions I hadn’t
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always been more than that.”
My breath hitched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
“Hannah Leigh,” he said, dropping to one knee, “I’ve loved you since we were kids. You’re smart, funny, stubborn as hell, and the strongest person I know. I don’t want this to be just for show. I want it to be real. Will you marry me?”
Tears welled in my eyes as I looked at him, my heart swelling with emotions I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in years.
“Yes,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Scott’s face broke into the biggest smile I’d ever seen. He slipped the ring onto my finger, and as he stood, fireworks lit up the sky above us.
Without thinking, I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss. The world faded
away as we stood there, wrapped in each other, under the dazzling light of the fireworks. In that moment, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.
Wed, 2 Apr
Scott’s POV