The One After [SHAWN MENDES]

Chapter 146

I couldn't stop hugging my besties. They were the last to leave the wedding, and my fatigue made me extra emotional. "I love you two so much, and I'm beyond happy that you're married."

Fallon broke out of my hold first. "We love you, too. I know I've said this a million times tonight, but thank you."

Pulling me a little tighter, Briya whispered, "You're next, boo."

Shawn closed the door and let out a long sigh. "Should we even go to bed? The rental place is coming for the dishes in three hours."

"I have this weird feeling of total physical exhaustion while my mind is wide awake. I don't think I could sleep if I tried."

"That's good," he said with a grin as he took me by the hand and led me to the dining room. The table was still in the guest room, but we could deal with that tomorrow. "Dance?"

"There's no music."

"It's a good thing I can sing, eh?"

He took me in his arms and I wrapped my arms around his neck. When he began softly singing Something by The Beatles in my ear, a realization hit me. I stopped dancing and pushed him away so that I could look into his eyes

"Bad song choice?" he asked, clearly surprised and slightly hurt by my reaction.

"No, it's perfect! You're perfect. This moment is perfect. We're perfect."

A confused expression clouded his face. "But?"

"But...that's my point. I want this forever. I want what the girls have and I want it with you. We are in love and we're deliriously happy, but more than that, we're the best and most honest versions of ourselves when we're with each other. Look at how much we've been through and we're stronger than ever. You were right last year when you said that fate brought us together. I believe that now. Our love was meant to be."

"My answer is yes," he stated simply.

"I didn't ask a question."

Shawn raised an eyebrow. "No? It sounded like you were proposing."

He was right. Maybe I hadn't done it consciously, but my words were essentially a proposal...a proposal that he just accepted. "Yes...you'll marry me?" I asked breathlessly, though I knew that's what he'd just said.

"There is nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you, Lulu, so of course my answer is yes!"

On the day of my ruptured aneurysm, I'd thought to myself that maybe I'd propose to Shawn if we stayed together, and now I'd done exactly that in the most spontaneous way possible.

"I didn't plan this, so I don't have a ring to offer you," I told him.

"You didn't get down on one knee, either, but that's okay," he grinned. "If you'd like a ring, I will happily buy you whatever you want."

I shrugged. "I don't need one. The only ring I want is a plain band symbolizing our commitment."

"So we're getting married?" his face lit up as the reality of this conversation sunk in.

"We absolutely are, but we can discuss the details later. Right now I want to finish this dance and make love to my fiancé."

He began singing again, starting over from the beginning, and I fell into his strong arms. When he was done, the anticipation had built to a palpable level. Shawn carefully removed my dress and bra, and then lifted me up and placed me on the counter island. It was cold, but given how heated I was with excitement, it was a pleasant relief. I watched as he went to the cupboard and retrieved a gigantic slice of wedding cake.