Better With You - Maddie Poppe and Caleb Hutchinson Series (Book 2)

Chapter 25

(A/N: I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone that has read this. Thank you to everyone who voted. And to all of you who commented- your comments always made my day. This IS the final chapter of this book, but remember that this is a series and there will be one more book after this one so be on the look out for that! I will also post here when it's out, and that will be sometime this weekend or next week. I love everyone! <3)

Maddie's POV

When I wake up the next morning, I can't help but smile to myself. It feels like everything is coming together just like it's supposed to. I get out of bed and check my phone like usual, and see that Gabby texted me about thirty minutes ago.

'You up? You wanna go get some breakfast?'

I text back, 'sure, let me get ready.'

I take a fast shower and get dressed. I put on the slightest bit of makeup and brush my hair quickly. A few minutes later I hear a knock at the door. I open it and see Gabby.

"Ready to go?" She asks.

"Yeah! Let's go," I smile.

We're at the table waiting for our food. I'm looking down on my phone and I feel Gabby staring at me, "What?" I ask.

"Someone's happy," she smiles, "what's going on?"

"Oh, wow," I set my phone down on the table, "I just feel like everything is working out perfectly."

"Oh, do you now?" She raises her eyebrows.

I smile at my hands, "Well, it's actually kind of weird, but Bella proposed to me for Caleb."

"What?" Gabby furrows her eyebrows, "how does that work?"

"She said we should be together and she put her ring on my finger," I raise my eyebrows.

"Then why aren't you wearing it?"

"I gave it back to her."

"Why!" She exclaims.

"Gabby, that ring was meant for her and I didn't feel right wearing it."

"You pretty much just called off your own wedding again!" She shrieks.

"No I didn't! Calm down. Nothing is official yet.. but Caleb did tell me that he wanted me," I smile.

"Yes! Oh my gosh," she bounces up and down in her seat, "Maddie, it's finally happening."

I laugh, "I love him."

"I know you do," she puts a hand over mine, "and he loves you, too."

Now it's been about a week since Bella pretty much gave Caleb back to me. I'm in LA this moment, and I'm extremely grateful to have Caleb out here with me.

When I finish everything I had to do for the day, I go back to the hotel room we are staying in. I smile, expecting to see Caleb, but apparently he left. I furrow my eyebrows before going to the bedroom. I pick up my guitar and start strumming, trying to come up with a melody.

The door opens and I lean back to look. I see Caleb come in and he smiles at me. I set my guitar down as he comes over and gives me a soft kiss on the lips, "Hey, beautiful."

"Hey," I smile, "I don't wanna leave in the morning," I pout, "but I'm excited to go back to Nashville."

"Yeah," he smiles, "how would you like to go out this evening?"

I smile at him, "where to?"

"You'll see," he grins, "and I won't take no for an answer."

"Okay, What should I wear?"

"Whatever you want," he kisses me again, "go get ready. We'll leave when you're ready."

He goes to the other room and I take a fast shower. I have no idea where Caleb is taking me, so I decided to wear a faded yellow sundress that comes right above my knees. I put on some makeup but I don't overdo it before brushing my hair.

I walk out and find Caleb sitting on the couch, "I'm ready."

"Let's go," he stands up and takes my hand.

We go down the elevator and Caleb has an Uber take us to a restaurant. After we eat, we go outside and start walking down the sidewalk, his hand holding mine.

"Now what?" I ask.

He looks up at the sun that is just starting to go down, "one more place."

"Okay," I laugh.

He starts walking and I immediately remember walking this way with him all of those years ago. Eventually he brings me to the beautiful scenery that he brought me to years ago the day he asked me to be his girlfriend for the first time.

"Remember this place?" He asks.

I smile at the beautiful waterfall and nod, "of course I do. This is the place where we first got together."

"Yeah," he goes over and sits on the grass right before the water. I sit next to him as he continues, "a lot has changed since then, huh?"

I laugh, "it definitely has."

"But now we've found our way back to each other, and I'm grateful for that."

"Me too," I smile.

"Maddie.. you know I love you," he says.

"I know you do, and I love you, too."

He stands up and pulls me up with him, before taking both of my hands and facing me, "There's nothing that I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you and our son or daughter."

I smile wider, "that's all I've ever wanted."

"I want to marry you, Maddie. This time.. no interruptions. You are the one for me. You are the best person for me. I really just can't imagine a life without you in it. You were there for me when I needed someone the most, and you really helped me out of one of the darkest times in my life. You really are an angel, and God sent you back to me right when I needed you the most. He brought us back together. You and me, Maddie, that's how it's supposed to be. You make me want to be a better person. You bring out the best in me. You are the love of my life and as long as I have you, I know I can get through anything life throws at me. I'm so thankful that God has brought us to this point. I need you, beautiful. And I want you to be mine forever."

"Caleb," I smile at him, now a crying mess. I cry even harder when he gets on one knee in front of me.

"Maddie, you will always have my heart. I promise that nothing and no one will ever come between us again. Nothing, I mean NOTHING will stop us this time. So," he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a little black box and opening it, revealing the ring, "Maddie, will you make me the most happiest.. the most LUCKIEST man in the whole world, and marry me?"

I'm literally sobbing now, both hands over my mouth and all I can do is nod, "Yes, Caleb. Yes, a million times yes."

I hold out my left hand as he slides the ring onto my finger. He stands up and puts both hands on my waist before kissing me. We kiss for a moment before he returns to sitting on the grass. I sit beside of him and he lays on his back. I lay beside him and I remember doing this same thing years ago when he asked me out for the first time, only this time I shift and lay my head on his chest. He puts his arm around me and I look down at my ring.

"I love you," he whispers.

"I love you," I respond, looking up at the sky.

"It's you and me together, this time for good."

"Good," I say, "I really don't wanna have to call off our wedding again."

He laughs, "you won't have to."

"I can't wait to be your wife," I smile at him.

He looks down and smiles back, "I can't wait to be your husband."

"Now we're just being cheesy," I laugh.

He laughs back, "Maybe, but I know one thing is for sure."

"What's that?"

He holds me closer to him before kissing my forehead, "I'm better with you."