Hidden Flames..

Chapter 34

Ethan had been waiting for the right moment to show Lily just how much she meant to him. Now that Jake had given them his blessing, he wanted to do something special to celebrate not just their love but the journey they'd taken to get here.

After days of meticulous planning, the evening arrived.

Lily thought Ethan was taking her out for a casual dinner. He'd been coy about the details, simply telling her to dress up and be ready by 7 PM. When she stepped outside, he was waiting for her in a sleek black car instead of his usual bike. He opened the passenger door for her with a smile that hinted he had something up his sleeve.

The car ride ended at a secluded park on the edge of the city. Lights twinkled in the trees, leading to an open field where a beautifully decorated gazebo stood in the center. It was illuminated by hundreds of fairy lights, surrounded by a sea of candles. A table for two, elegantly set, awaited them inside the gazebo.

"Ethan..." Lily breathed, her hand flying to her mouth. "What is all this?"

He stepped behind her, gently resting his hands on her shoulders. "This is for you, Lil. For us. I wanted to give you a night you'd never forget."

She turned to him, her eyes shimmering. "It's perfect. You're perfect."

As they sat down, a soft breeze carried the scent of roses from the nearby bushes. Ethan poured them each a glass of champagne, his eyes never leaving hers.

"This is incredible, Ethan," Lily said, her voice soft but full of emotion. "You didn't have to go through all this trouble."

"I did," he replied, his tone earnest. "You've been through so much with me, Lily. I wanted to show you how much I appreciate you, how much I—" He paused, his eyes glinting with emotion. "—how much I love you."

Her breath caught, and a warm smile spread across her face. "I love you too, Ethan. More than I ever thought I could."

They shared a toast before Ethan reached across the table to take her hand. "You know, when we first started this, I didn't know what I was doing. I thought I was breaking all the rules, risking everything. But now, I see that you're not a risk, Lily. You're the best decision I've ever made."

Lily felt her cheeks flush, but she didn't look away. "You've changed everything for me, Ethan. You make me feel...alive. Like I'm finally where I'm supposed to be."

Their conversation continued, filled with laughter, stolen glances, and whispered confessions. As the evening progressed, Ethan stood and extended his hand to her.

"Dance with me," he said.

"There's no music," she teased, her eyes sparkling.

"There's always music when I'm with you," he replied smoothly, pulling her into his arms.

As they swayed under the fairy lights, a soft melody began to play from hidden speakers. Lily gasped and looked around. "You thought of everything, didn't you?"

Ethan chuckled. "I might have had a little help setting this up."

He leaned in, his forehead resting against hers. "Lily, I want you to know that I'll spend the rest of my life proving to you just how much you mean to me."

Lily cupped his face in her hands, her voice barely a whisper. "You already have, Ethan."

Their lips met in a kiss that was as tender as it was passionate, sealing the night in a memory neither of them would ever forget.