MY BEST ADDICTION

Chapter 41

"So when is the wedding?", Haven asks after we had finished packing and settled down. I tuned to look her shocked only for her to snicker and tease me.
"Wedding? Haven, you've got to stop joking about stuff like that", I tried to stop her tease.
"Well it depends on whether she wants to marry me or not", we heard from behind us. We turn and see Seth behind us.
"Se....Seth, you can't just encourage her like that. Don't mind her, she's just teasing", I say trying to brush the idea.
"I'm not joking though", he says coming to stand in front of me.
"What?", I say standing up surprised.
"I want to marry you, but only if you want to", he answers holding my shoulders. He rubs his hands along my arms to my hands and holds them tightly. I look down from his face to our joined hands and towards Haven who looked as surprised as I was.
"Ma...ma...marry you?", I stutter.
The door opens and mom enters. She looks at us and I pull my hands from his as if burned. I rush to my room and lean against the door, my heart beating loudly.
"Calm down Penny, calm down. He's just joking, he doesn't mean what he said", I try to steady my beating heart.
A knock sounds at my door. "Penny, can we talk?", Seth says behind the door.
I open the door for him to enter. We sit on the bed together and he holds my hand.
"Penny, I didn't say that earlier to pressure you or put you on the spot. I just want you to know that I have plans of staying with you for as long as you'll have me", he says smiling calmly at me and I nod smiling back at him.
"Do you want to lie beside me tonight?", I quietly ask feeling shy all of a sudden.
"I would love to, Penny, always", he says stroking my cheek with his thumb. We lie together and I snuggle into his arms feeling content and at home for the first time in a long time.
Days changed to weeks, weeks to months, and months to a year, and Seth still stayed with Mom and I, helping whenever and however he can with me and the children. Haven, Ezra and Marcus has returned to Toronto after staying for a while, even his mom came over to visit us after she heard about the children.
"Love, do you want to go on a trip with me?", Seth asks one night as we lie in bed together.
"A trip?", I sit up and look at him.
"Yeah a trip, we haven't gone on a trip in a year and I want to make it up to you too. I promised you a trip every month when we became official, but deferred on it because of my mistakes so I want to fulfill it now. Also I want to go on a trip with you too", he pulls me down to lie beside him.
"And where are we going to?", I ask already having expectations and making plans in my head.
"It's a surprise but I promise that you'll love it", he assures piquing my interest more.
"Okay then". I snuggled into him and fall asleep, dreaming about things to do on the trip.

The sun was a painter tonight, stroking the Montego Bay sky with brilliant shades of orange and soft lavender. A warm, salty breeze caressed my skin, smelling of hibiscus and promises. I laughed as Seth splashed a wave on me, the cold shock making me shriek.
"That's cold, you big goof!" I yelled, my laughter echoing against the sound of the ocean.
His grin was pure magic, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners. He reached for my hand, his thumb tracing familiar, comforting circles on my palm. "Come on, Penny. The tide's coming in."
He led me toward a secluded cabana he'd found. My heart did a little flutter when I saw it—fairy lights strung from the thatched roof, a small table set for two, and a bottle of chilled champagne. It was simple, perfect, and so very Seth.
"Seth, this is... beautiful," I whispered, completely in awe.
"Not as beautiful as you," he said softly, and my knees felt a little weak, a feeling he had perfected the art of creating.
We talked for a while, sharing stories, the low hum of distant music and the whisper of the waves our only audience. The moon began its slow climb, its silvery light shimmering on the water, and I felt a hush fall over him. His playful demeanor had been replaced by a quiet seriousness that made my stomach do a flip.
"Remember that first time we came here?" he began, and a pang went through my chest. I remembered it like it was yesterday. It was the first time he'd ever just gone somewhere with me, not for a conference or a work meeting, but just for us. It was here, on this beach, that I first felt like I was the most important thing in his life.
"You were the first person I ever traveled with just for us, just for fun," he continued, his voice thick with emotion. "All those trips for work... they felt like a blur. But with you, this place came alive. I remember sitting right here, watching you laugh, and promising myself I'd bring you back. And that's when I knew. That's when I knew I wanted to stay with you forever."
He took a deep breath, his eyes meeting mine. "I know I hurt you. I let myself get torn and lost without you. Being away from you—it was the loneliest I've ever felt. I'll never do that again, Penny. You're my anchor, my home, and my best addiction."
He slid from his chair and knelt on one knee in the sand. My breath caught in my throat. I watched, mesmerized, as he pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. The moonlight caught the diamond inside, and for a moment, it was the only star I could see.
"Penelope White," he said, his voice a little shaky, "Will you marry me?"
Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the magical scene around us. The world faded away until it was just him, me, the rhythmic crash of the waves, and the incredible, overwhelming joy blooming in my chest. The answer was already on my tongue. He had hurt me, yes, but he had come back, and in his apology, I found a renewed trust that was stronger than before.
"Yes," I whispered, the word a promise. "A thousand times, yes."
Relief washed over Seth's face, so profound it was almost visible. A joyous, breathtaking smile broke across his lips, and he slid the ring onto my finger. It was a perfect fit, the cool metal a beautiful contrast to the warmth of the diamond. The moonlight seemed to catch every facet, making it sparkle with a light all its own.
He stood, pulling me into a fierce, all-encompassing hug. My arms wrapped around his neck, my face buried in the hollow of his shoulder. He smelled of sea salt and a love that felt so real, so solid, it could anchor me against any storm. He kissed my forehead, then my cheek, then my lips in a tender, lingering kiss that was both a beginning and a celebration.
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that," he murmured against my hair, his voice choked with emotion.
I pulled back just enough to look at him, my eyes still wet with tears. "You're a good man, Seth, you just took too long to realize it. And I can't wait to be your wife."
He held my hand, his thumb stroking the new ring on my finger as if to confirm it was real. We stood there for a long time, the only sound the soft lapping of the waves. Montego Bay was no longer just a beautiful memory of a place we’d visited. It was now the beginning of our forever.
The quiet, intimate bubble we were in was suddenly burst by the sharp, jarring sound of my phone ringing. It was a video call. I glanced at the screen, and my heart did a little jump. It was Haven.
"Oh, no, she's going to know," I whispered to Seth. He just smiled, a look of pure mischief on his face.
I answered, and Haven's face filled the screen, framed by the bright lights of the Nest back in Toronto.
"Well? Is the ring on the right finger yet, or do I need to send my brother a sternly-worded text?" she teased, a huge grin on her face.
I couldn't help but laugh. I pulled my hand up to the camera, the diamond sparkling brilliantly in the dim light of the cabana.
A triumphant gasp came from her end.
"I knew it! You absolute madman!" she yelled, and I could hear her cheering. "Oh, Penny, I'm so happy for you!"
Suddenly, two more faces popped up on the screen, joining the call. It was Marcus and Ezra. Marcus's face was a mixture of shock and glee.
"No way, man! You actually did it!" Marcus shouted, holding a beer bottle up to the screen in a virtual toast. "Congratulations, you two!"
Ezra, true to form, just smiled warmly. "I'm so incredibly happy for you two," she said, her eyes crinkling. "It's about time. Welcome to the rest of your life."
A wave of overwhelming emotion washed over me. I was standing on a beautiful beach in Montego Bay, engaged to the man I loved, and now, our best friends and my future sister-in-law were sharing in our joy from a thousand miles away. It felt like the perfect bridge between my old life and the incredible new one I was stepping into.
I looked at Seth, who was watching the screen with a proud, loving smile. He took my hand and kissed my knuckles, his eyes never leaving mine. It was a beautiful moment, filled with the warmth of love and the laughter of the people who mattered most. Our private little world had just expanded to include our friends and family, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
The next morning, the Montego Bay sun was already high and bright, casting a golden glow over the tranquil resort. I sat on our balcony, the sound of gentle waves a soothing backdrop to my thoughts. My left hand felt heavy in the best possible way, the diamond catching the light with every slight movement. Seth was still asleep, a peaceful smile on his face, and I decided to make a call I couldn't wait to make.
I dialed my mom's number, my heart thumping with excitement. She answered on the second ring, her voice immediately warm.
"Penny, honey! I was just thinking about you. How's Jamaica?"
I took a deep breath, a huge grin spreading across my face. "Mom, it's incredible. But that's not why I called. Seth and I have some news."
There was a moment of silence on the other end, and I knew she was sensing the shift in my tone.
"Oh?" she said, a hint of excitement in her voice.
"He asked me to marry him," I said, a little squeak in my voice. I held my hand up to my face, as if she could see the ring through the phone. "And I said yes!"
A joyful gasp came from the other end of the line, followed by a whoop of pure delight. "Oh, my darling girl! Oh, that's the best news I've heard all year! I knew he was the one. He's such a good man. I'm so incredibly happy for you both."
After a few more moments of celebration, my mind turned to home, to the familiar chaos I was so used to. "Mom, thank you. You know, since I've been gone, I keep thinking about the twins. Are they behaving? Are they not crying too much for you?" I asked, a genuine note of concern in my voice, imagining our two one-year-olds tearing through the living room.
"Oh, you know them," she said with a fond laugh. "They're a handful, as always. Seth's mom and I wouldn't have it any other way. Don't you worry about us, sweetheart, we're mothers too. You just enjoy every single moment of being a fiancée. The kids are just fine."
Her words were a final, loving reassurance.
"I love you, Mom. Tell his mom I said hi."
"I love you too, sweetheart. Now go enjoy your man."
I hung up, a huge, goofy smile on my face. Turning from the balcony, I saw Seth awake, propped up on his elbow in bed, watching me with a warm, knowing expression. He had probably heard my side of the conversation.
"Everything okay?" he asked, his voice still a little rough with sleep.
I walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for his hand and holding it in my own. "More than okay. My mom is officially a future mother-in-law, and she and your mom are having the time of their lives with our tiny little terrors."
He squeezed my hand. "Sounds like it. I love how happy you get when you talk to them."
I leaned in and rested my head on his shoulder. It was funny—yesterday had been about just us, about a promise made on a beautiful beach. But this morning, the love felt bigger, fuller. It wasn't just about two people anymore; it was about the family we had already created and the one we were building together.
"We have to get them back here someday," I murmured, my voice a little muffled against his shirt. "To this exact spot, so we can tell them the whole story."
He wrapped his arm around me, holding me close. "It's a date," he said softly. "One they can actually remember, and we're going to have many more trips for us as a family and as partners", he promises.
"I love the sound of that", I whisper against his lips before kissing him deeply.