Until You (Off-Limits)

I stare at the tombstones in front of me, feeling surprisingly nervous.

“Are you sure you want me here for this?” Noah asks. I glance at him and nod. There’s no one I’d rather have with me right now.

Since Aria had a few weeks off between projects, we decided to spend a couple of days with Noah. Coming back here as her boyfriend has been different, to say the least. Thankfully, it hasn’t been overly awkward, but joining her in her bedroom at night has been a little awkward. I can tell it makes Noah uncomfortable, but he’s been supportive. Much to my surprise, learning about my past hasn’t changed his mind about letting me be with Aria. In fact, it changed nothing for him.

I clear my throat and wipe my clammy hands on the jeans I’m wearing. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Grant,” I say, my heart racing. “I’ve never had the honor to meet you, but it feels like I have, because that’s how well your children keep your memory alive.”

I shift my weight from one foot to the other, unable to calm my nerves. “I’m here today to thank you for bringing into this world the two people I love most. Noah has been my best friend for well over a decade, and Aria… well, your daughter… she’s the love of my life. She’s beautiful, astonishingly intelligent, humble, and she has a heart of gold. I can’t tell you what she sees in me, because I ask myself that question every single day. I’m well aware that I don’t deserve her, but for whatever crazy reason, she’s chosen to be with me. When times got tough and I wasn’t sure I’d make it through, she stuck with me. She is, quite honestly, the best thing that ever happened to me. And I know… I know I’m not good enough, but I’m working on being better.”

It took me a few weeks to get into it, but I actually look forward to sessions with my psychologist now. I’m not sure how long it’ll take me to be completely sure I’m not as harmful as I think I am, but I’m getting there, slowly but surely. I’ve gotten far enough to know I won’t ever hurt Aria, and she’ll always be safe in my arms. I haven’t been able to change the way I see myself, nor have I managed to quieten my father’s voice completely, but I’ll get there.

I straighten my shoulders and inhale deeply. “I guess what I’m saying is that I’m here to ask for your blessing. I love your daughter beyond reason, beyond measure. I always will. I didn’t know feelings this pure existed until her. All I want to do for the rest of my life is show her how amazing she is. Every day, for as long as I live, I’ll do everything within my power to make her happy. I’ll cherish her and never stop appreciating all the little things she does. I’ll support her dreams and I’ll always be there to catch her when she falls. I’ll be everything she needs me to be, for as long as she’ll have me. Hopefully, that’ll be for the rest of our lives. So here I am… asking you for your daughter’s hand in marriage. I want nothing more than to make her my wife.”

Noah drops his hand to my shoulder, his eyes suspiciously watery. “Mom, Dad,” he says. “Grayson is the best person I know. I can’t think of a better man for Aria, and I know you’d have loved him if you were still around. Hell, you’d probably have loved him more than you love me. He’s just that type of guy. I truly wouldn’t want anyone else as my brother-in-law. I know you’d approve of him, so I’m giving him your blessing on your behalf.”

I look at him in gratitude, and he smiles, clapping me on the back. “I see the way you treat my sister, Grayson. I see how you look at her. You think you don’t deserve her, but you do. You two are perfectly suited for each other, and I’m happy you found each other. The two of you were always meant to be. I could see it long before you did.”

I look down, humbled by his words. “Come on,” he says. Noah presses a kiss to his palm and places his hand on the tombstones before turning toward the exit. “We’d better hurry if we want to make it home before Aria does.”

I nod and follow him out, nearly walking into an old lady with a dozen flowers in her hands. I steady her, my hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Are you okay?”

“All good, sweetheart,” she says, pushing the flowers in her hands against my chest. “Here, you take these. I was just about to throw them out,” she explains, tipping her head toward the small flower shop behind her. “You look like you have a lady that’d love them, so you have them.”

I stare at the flowers, wide-eyed. Aria would love these. “Thank you,” I murmur, nodding gratefully. She grins and walks back to her shop before I can even offer to pay her for the flowers, and I turn to Noah, finding him staring at me in shock.

“White tulips,” he whispers, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes meet mine, and his expression has me tensing. “They’re my mother’s favorite. My father always used to buy them for her.”

My eyes drop back to the flowers, a rush of emotion overcoming me. I’m not a superstitious man, but this feels a lot like a sign. Noah smiles at me and then looks up at the sky, the emotion in his eyes matching what I’m feeling.

“Let’s go,” I say. “I can’t wait another second to ask your sister to be my wife.”