Seventeen Days (39 page)

“We have reservations for this evening at seven. We can cancel those if you like and always stay in. I’m sure that’d be fine as well. Whatever you’d like to do, son.” It feels nice to have someone call me son again. It’s been years since anyone has done so. If tears weren’t already gathering in my eyes, thinking about my parents on a day as special as today, him calling me son would have put them there. 

“It’s been awhile since I’ve been called ‘son’. It feels oddly good, it makes my heart feel like it’s being squeezed too tightly, but not in a bad way.” 

“I’m sorry. Don’t take my apology in a negative light. I’m sorry no one is around to call you ‘son’. From what I know of you, you’re an amazing young man. One who’s deserving of respect and love.” 

Swallowing the lump that has formed in my throat, I change the subject. “How about we pick-up a few things for dinner, finger foods and such? A few bottles of wine and candles. If I’m asking her tonight, I don’t want to do it in public. Low key is more her style. Besides, it’ll be more romantic this way. If I wait till tomorrow, I’ll end up ruining it tonight and blurting it out. This ring is already weighing me down.”  
In the best possible way.

“Then it’s what we’ll do,” he replies as he leads me to the nearest wine store. 

When Morgan and Savannah walk into Julian’s penthouse a few hours later, the whole place is lit only by candlelight. It’s a fucking fairytale come to life. My baby deserves no less. 

“If I didn’t pass my dad in the lobby, I’d swear we’re in the wrong place,” she says to Savannah while walking into the entryway. Julian left a moment ago to grab another bottle of wine. We picked up four bottles, but he didn’t think we grabbed enough. He claims we missed a blush, whatever the hell he means by that, I haven’t a clue. Wine is wine to me.

“It’s the right place, babe. We decided to stay in tonight and us guys thought candlelight set the mood. We’re dining on simple things. Wine, cheese, hummus, veggies, pita chips,
eggplant
. In other words, ‘chick food’. Julian ran out to grab another bottle of wine really quick. Did you ladies have fun today?” 

She runs to me, grabs me by the waist, reaches up, and plants a loud smack onto my lips. 

“Awe, you bought me eggplant. How sweet of you.” If she only knew what else I bought her today.

“Yes, it was sweet of me. There’s also pizza in the oven,” I reply with a smirk. And it’s loaded with meat. Man food to balance out all the veggies. 

“We had a blast today. For once, though, Aunt Savannah didn’t wear me out. My feet will live to see another day!” 

Running my fingers through her hair, I stare down into her emerald depths. “Admit it, you love shopping as much as your aunt.” 

“I do,” she whispers and winks.

Those two words feel like a vice grip on my heart.
I do.
 

“I’m going to go toss all my purchases into the bedroom, I’ll be right back.” 

Making sure she’s out of earshot and can’t hear me, I say, “Savannah, tonight's the night.” Hoping she’ll get my meaning without my having to say anything else. Her eyes go wide with shock. Good, she knows exactly what I mean. 

Julian enters the apartment as Morgan is walking back into the living area from the bedroom. “Hey, Dad, how was your day with Harrison? Did you two do anything exciting?” 

“Oh, yes, we did. We managed to get in last minute shopping and picked up a few things for dinner. May I offer anyone a glass of wine?” he says while exiting to the kitchen. 

“I think we all could use a glass of wine. We all have things to celebrate, after all. Morgan starting school, my business having a successful expansion, Savannah and you being in the same place. What’s not to toast?” 

“Oh, okay. What would everyone like? We have a sweet white, a dry white, a blush, a dry red and a sweet red?” 

Morgan and Savannah both answer, “Sweet white,” at the same time. You can tell they’re related in all the little things they do. 

“Whatever you’re having, Julian,” I say. When it comes to wine, I don’t care either way. 

He comes back into the living room balancing four wine glasses. Once everyone has a glass, we toast to Paris. Guess no one wanted to toast to my idea. Like I said before, tough crowd. Not wanting to wait another minute, I slide down from the couch and get down on one knee in front of Morgan. Once she notices, the only thing that comes out of her mouth is, “Oh shit.” Which causes me to smile even bigger than I already was. 

“Morgana Elizabeth Young, since the day we met, I’ve loved you. My world was dull and colorless, but one glance into your emerald eyes, and suddenly, I could see the beauty all around me. When my parents died, things ceased to exist for me. Feelings ceased to exist. My heart was frozen. One gaze from you and it started to unthaw. The day I hired you was the day I knew I’d never let you leave my life. When you opened up to me and told me your secrets, I told you you’d always be safe with me. You are. I’ll always be your safe harbor. Your gold at the end of every rainbow. I’ll give you the world, hell you
are
my world. You were always destined to be mine. And I, yours. Make me the happiest man on earth and be mine forever. Will you marry me, Red?

“Yes, Harrison, I’ll marry you. A million times, yes.”

Today, I walk down an aisle toward my future. 

One step at a time holding onto the arm of my father. 

To the march walked to by millions of people before me. 

It’s beautiful and timeless. 

Only my aisle isn’t in a church. 

It’s on a beach full of sugar white sand. 

I’m not wearing white; my dress is the color of the sugar sand around my bare feet. 

The seats are filled with the people I love the most. 

There may not be hundreds of them or paparazzi cameras, but they’re filled with the only people who matter to me. My new family. The people I have chosen to be in my life. 

There’s no Sienna, she's out of my life forever. Julian has made sure of it. A few months ago, I finally opened up to him, and he threatened her with a very
public
trial. She agreed to an out of court settlement. I'm now a very well off college student, one who will never yearn for anything ever again. As part of the settlement she's to never have contact with me unless I contact her first. Since it'll never happen, she's gone. Surprisingly, it doesn't bother me one bit. 

As for Amanda, last I heard she was on her second stay in rehab for crystal meth and was kicked out of Columbia after only one semester. And Celene, she's on track to follow in Amanda’s footsteps. I'm incredibly blessed to not have them and their toxins in my life any longer. 

Today, I walk toward the only man I’ll ever love and pledge to share my life with him. 

He dared me to love him within seventeen days. 

It took me less than seventeen hours. 

Today, we become one. 

Today, I become Mrs. Morgana Elizabeth Montgomery. 

Forever. 

So, here we are… my first ever acknowledgments in a book! Is this real life? Quick someone pinch me; I’ve got to be dreaming. 

When I was in high school, I had dreams of becoming a superstar. No really. I was focused on singing. 100% completely focused on singing. The only other thing in my life that mattered was my senior English class. Why? Because my teacher that year focused on creative writing. When I wasn’t on the stage that year, I was writing for class. Singing, performing, drama, plays, writing, reading… that was my life my senior year in high school. I won awards for my singing and was chosen as 1 of 2 to represent my state in a National Honors Chorus and travel aboard. What I’m trying to get at is this, writing become second nature to me that year. It was another creative outlet for me that I was surprisingly good at. That year a new test was given statewide and it focused on writing. Normally I dreaded tests of any kind, but not this one. I wanted to take this test. Guess what? When the results came in, I was placed in the top 2% of the state for writing. After graduation, my life took all sorts of twists and turns and creativity took a back seat for a few years. Concert photography brought back my creative outlet about 10 years ago. When life threw me yet another curveball, I decided to open up a Google Doc and start writing. For myself. Not caring if anyone would ever see my words. I wrote Morgan & Harrison for me. As an outlet to escape the bars that real life had placed around me. If I could escape into my own little world for a few hours a night, it made me happy. And for that, I’m thankful. And I’m grateful for you. The reader. For actually taking the time to give my words a chance to take you away from your own life for a little while. 

My parents. For giving me everything. For not being like Sienna. For always believing in me and my dreams. If it was painting sets for my senior year musical or attending every choir concert, you both have always been there for me. No matter what life throws at me, you’re there. I love you. 

Megan Gunter. Your friendship means the world to me. You’re not only my friend, you’re like a sister to me. When you came into my life a little over 2 years ago, I never would’ve guessed that we would have the bond that we do. I’m thankful for you every single day. We’re as different as we are the same. I love you. Thank you for always encouraging me. 

Dawn Billings. Lady! I love you so hard. Again, when you came into my life, I never imagined that we’d have the bond that we do. (And we’ve never met in real life!) Thank you for being a part of my journey. Thank you for being you. Never change. I love you just the way you are. 

Dawn Ramkissoon, I love you. 

All my beta-readers. THANK YOU! The early betas tore me apart, and I needed that. You’ve helped me grow as a writer. 

BookSwap! You assholes bring sunshine into my life on the darkest days. We may be a “book” group but let’s face it, when do we ever post about books? You’re daily posts about random shit are the highlight of my day. You ladies (and Cody!) are simply, amazing. You’re the best assholes in the world. Thank you for giving me the nickname to which I write by. ;) 

Colleen Hoover. What can I say to you that hasn’t been said before? I’ve thanked you countless times for the friendships that you’ve unknowingly brought into my life, and you’ve shaken those thanks off. I know how you are about feelings of any kind so… I hate you. I love you. You’re horrible. You’re wonderful. You’re books suck, never write another word. Please never stop. In all seriousness never stop being you. You’re perfect the way you are. I and love and you. <3