A Beautiful Choice (Beautiful, #5)

“Mom, please look at me,” I whispered.

She looked up at me with unshed tears in her eyes. I sucked in a breath and said, “Mom, I will always be your little girl.” Closing my eyes, I shook my head. “That will never change.” I looked back up into her eyes. “You just have to believe in me. Yes, I’m not going to ask you for help about dumb things like how to set my alarm clock, but I will ask you about things I have no freaking clue on how to do. Like how to find the best apartment for my crappy budget after graduating college. What dress best suits my figure when I try on wedding dresses. What doctor to choose when I find out I’m pregnant.”

I couldn’t believe I had gotten all of that out of my mouth. My chin was quivering the entire time. I couldn’t believe how fast I really was growing up. It felt like just yesterday I was walking through the doors of the high school as a freshman, dreaming about graduation day. And now here I am. Well, not graduation day but… prom.

“I know, baby. I just can’t believe the woman you have become, and I’m so proud of you, Sarah,” Mom said before she kissed me on the cheek.

“I love you too, Mom,” I said as I smiled back at her.

“I just want to say one more thing.”

I thought she was going to continue but she didn’t. Nodding my head, I said, “Go on.” I could tell she was hesitating. “Mom, what is it?” I asked, annoyed.

Sucking in a breath, she let it out. “It’s just I know it’s prom night. I know what seniors and juniors do on prom night.” Looking up at me, she searched my eyes. “Please don’t do anything you’ll regret later. Make good choices, Sarah.”

“I will, Mom.” I wrapped my arms around her, giving her a big hug. Releasing , I giggled and said, “Now can I please get ready?”

Getting up from my bed, Mom wiped her nose. “Absolutely, honey,” and gave me a big smile. As she nodded towards the door, she said, “I’m just going to freshen up and then I’ll be downstairs waiting for you.”

“Okay,” I whispered as I nodded my head.

***

As I heard the clickity-clack of my four-inch heels on the wood floor I sucked in a breath. Okay, you can do this.

“Oh, honey, you look so pretty!” my mom cheered from the bottom of the steps.

I still hadn’t looked up yet because I was way too nervous of tripping over my floor length dress. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Yeah, you look real good, Sar-bear,” a familiar face bellowed up to me.

Laughing, I said, “Thanks, Ryder,” as a huge smile appeared on my face. And then I heard someone’s voice I wasn’t prepared for.

“You look beautiful, Sarah.”

Stopping with my hand on the rail, I took a deep breath and looked up. Gasping, I said, “Gabe. What are you doing here?” I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that Gabe was in my front doorway wearing a tux. Not just any tux. I don’t know how any guy could not look good in a tux. But Gabe? He looked beautiful.

Shrugging his shoulders like it was no big deal, he said, “I had a choice to make, Sarah—”

It seemed like he wanted to say more and I wished he would have. I just put my ending to it, “—and I chose you.”

Pulling a corsage out from behind his back, Gabe looked up at me and smiled. Extending his other hand towards me, he waited for me to place my hand in his. Once I did, I walked down the last three stairs. Smiling up at him, I whispered, “Thank you, Gabe.”

Nodding his head, he winked at me and said, “Not a problem.” Releasing my hand, he opened the box and showed me the corsage.

Taking a step back, I looked up at him and gave a questioning look.

As he shrugged his shoulders, Gabe muttered, “Your mom might have told me.” I started to turn towards my mom and give her a harsh glare but then I felt his hot breath in my ear. Letting out a breath he whispered, “It was Ryder, Sarah.”

The way he said my name gave me chills and goose bumps. It excited me to no end, and I was seriously pissed off that Gabe still gave me those feelings. The feelings of want and passion. I was supposed to hate him but… that was seriously mistaken.

In the beginning, when I first met him I had made a choice. A choice that I wouldn’t let him in. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to get hurt or broken. I had seen way too many girls get their hearts broken, shattered, crumpled into pieces. And yet while my brain chose to despise Gabe Prescott, my heart chose something totally and completely and utterly different. Not only did it choose, but it wouldn’t let me forget him.

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