started as a lie

19

today is our last full day in italy. we've had a lot of fun and we've seen a lot.

we visited the main monuments and were set to fly back to london tomorrow.

i was sat with holly in the main room. she was dressed and ready to go out with my mum and amanda for drinks. they said they wanted to give me and leah some time alone.

"i'm taking you out my love. get ready" leah said coming into the room.

"where are we going?" i asked as she stood behind me and put her hands at my shoulders.

"ahh that's a surprise" she said.

i got up and went to get dressed.

i came back and leah was waiting for me. the others have already left.

"beautiful my girl" she said quietly. she stood up and kissed my lips gently.

"let's go" she said. she held onto my hand and led me out.

we walked hand in hand for a while until we got to the rialto bridge. there was an icecream stand so leah bought us both an ice cream.

she hadn't eaten much of it and seemed quite distracted.

"leah are you okay?" i asked her.
"mhm" she nodded.

we sat on a bench and looked at the water below us. once we finished the ice cream, leah took me to the edge of the bridge. the sun was setting and looked absolutely gorgeous.

leah's flashback: 3 days.

sophia is in the shower.

i gathered our mums and holly into the main room and they sat at the table. i stood, fidgeting with that box in my pocket

"is everything okay leah darling, you seem nervous" mum asked.

"i need to ask something. or say. i don't know. i'm shitting myself" i said.

"what's going on leah?" linda asked.

"erm" i said. i pulled out the little black box from my pocket, opened it and put it on the table on front of them.

their mouths dropped in shock.

"i've had it for a while, i just didn't know when the right moment was. linda, i wanted to ask your permission to marry sophia" i said.

"of course leah" she said.

"my only thing is, is it too soon? we only got together in january. what if she isn't ready, or what if i scare her off and ruin everything?" i panicked.

"you want to ask her here?" holly asked calmly. i nodded.

"leah darling, if you think the time is right, go with your heart" mum said.

"linda what do you think?" i asked.

"honestly, you and soph are perfect for each other. if you think now is right then go for it. i would absolutely love you as a daughter-in-law" linda said.

"i really want to but i'm so scared. what if she says no? i really really love her. i've never felt like this with anyone before. i don't want to ever be without her. she completes me. she's literally perfect" i said. the girls smiled at me.

"thanks guys" i said. i took the ring back and hid it away.

flash forward. still leah's pov.

right. this is it. i've got to do it now. i took a deep breath and went for it.

i turned sophia to face me and went down on my knee. her eyes widened. i pulled out the box and opened it.

"sophia, my love, my darling, my best friend, my whole world, my everything. i have loved you for as long as i know. i love your perfect smile, your soft lips, i love your beautiful eyes, your cute nose. you are the one thing in my life that makes me as happy as i can be. you are the person i can confide in. you make me feel so comfortable and relaxed in my own skin. you pick me up when i am broken and piece me back together. you are so patient with me. you protect me from everything. you help me in ways you don't even know. i want you there with me till the end. i never want to live life without you. i never want to be away from you. you have a piece of my heart and you always will. i want us to live together forever. i want to be with you through the good times and the bad. through the hard and easy. i want to be with you at your best and worst. i want to be there when you have a bad game, to be the one to cheer you up and tell you your worth. because you are worth more to me than life itself. i want my future with you, nobody else. so sophia jones, will you make me the happiest person on earth and become my wife" i said.