You know what I think beauty is?
I think it’s living your life. No matter what people think. The way you dress and how you act, you make those decisions I read somewhere, whether it was a book, or a quote online, that nothing in life that’s worth it is ever easy. I’m tired of easy. And to me? Gabe is so worth it. And until the day I take my last breath, Ill never regret choosing Gabe Prescott.
***
“Hey, Sar-bear,” Gabe said as he smiled at me.
“Hey,” I smiled back as I got into his pickup truck. “Where are we going?” I asked.
Turning to me, Gabe gave a lop-sided grin. “You’ll see.”
After I closed the door, I put on my seatbelt. As Gabe pulled out of my driveway, I begged. “Please tell me, Gabe!” I gave him a sad face. “Please…”
Releasing a chuckle, he said, “As cute and adorable as you look, Sarah Thompson? It’s still a no.”
Dropping my hands onto my lap, I let out a groan. “Do you know how much I hate surprises, Gabe?”
“Yeah,” he smirked at me. “That’s why this is a surprise.”
So while Gabe drove, I sat there impatiently picking at my nails and thinking. I thought about this whole year. The life changing, world shifting, souls colliding experiences that I had. The experiences I shared with Gabe. And while this chapter was ending, a new one was beginning and I would embrace it with my mind and heart, open to the new experiences I would face.
“What are you thinking about?” Gabe asked, breaking me from my thoughts.
Reaching over to grab ahold of his hand, I pulled it over to my lap. Wrapping my hands around his one, I smiled and said, “Us.”
“What about us?” Gabe questioned.
“Everything,” I said simply. “How crazy and memorable this year was. How grateful I am to you, Gabe Prescott.”
Gabe looked over at me real quick. “The only one who should be grateful is me, Sarah.” Turning his attention back to the road, he kept his eyes forward.
While he drove, I just stared at him with a smile on my face. “I know I’ve said this before, Gabe, but I love you so much.”
A smile appeared on his face. “I know you do. I love you, Sarah Thompson.” Turning to me, he smiled and said, “We’re here.”
Looking past Gabe, I smiled. “The zoo.”
“The zoo,” Gabe said with a smile on his face. Finding a parking spot, he looked at me. “I know how you haven’t been to the zoo since your dad took you.”
Feeling tears threatening to spill from my eyes, I felt my chin quiver as I said, “Gabe.”
Cutting me off, he shook his head. “If you don’t want to then we don’t have to. I just thought—”
Unbuckling myself, I pushed my body onto his. Wrapping his face in my hands, I kissed him.
Gripping me around the waist, Gabe crushed my body to his. He wrapped his arms around me tightly and kept my mouth on his. Moving his fingers up into my hair, causing me to let out a moan into his mouth. As he sucked my lower lip into his mouth, I let out another moan. Falling limp against him, Gabe took my breath away. This kiss was simple yet safe. Hard yet innocent. It was the best combination of both sides of the spectrum.
Breathing deeply against my lips, Gabe groaned. “What was that for?”
With my eyes still closed, I said, “For being my hero.”
As I started to open my eyes, Gabe opened his and I saw tears falling down his face. Sucking in a breath, he said, “That’s all I’ve ever wanted to be to you, Sarah Thompson.”
“I can’t wait to marry you someday, Gabe Prescott,” I uttered as my chin quivered and tears spilled from my eyes.
Smiling at me, Gabe wiped the tears from my face with his thumbs. Blinking away the tears, he smiled and said, “Someday.”
***
“What do you want to see first?” Gabe asked as he gripped my hand in his.
Turning to look at him, I smiled and said, “The flamingos.”
“Flamingos first,” he said with a smile on his face.
When we finally reached the flamingos exhibit, we stopped in front of the window. Wrapping his arm around me, I nestled my head against his chest. We watched as the flamingos stood on one leg and bent over to dip their beaks into the cool water.
“Thank you,” I whispered to Gabe.
Kissing the top of my head, he whispered, “You’re welcome,” into my hair.
Goose bumps started to cover my body and I could feel a warmth low in my belly. As I moved my head up, Gabe moved his back and our eyes met. Neither of us said a word. They weren’t needed. I could see in his eyes how much he loved me. I couldn’t believe that it had taken this long to finally realize just how much he loved me.
“What?” he whispered.
I started to open my mouth but I could feel tears filling my eyes. I coughed a few times to stop filling with such powerful emotions.