Tessa Teevan - Incinerate

His words penetrate my heart, and I can barely breathe as he makes his confession. “You…you love me?”

Chuckling, he leans down and gives me a kiss. “Sweetheart, I think I’ve been in love with you since the moment you slapped me. I love you, Charlotte Rose Davenport, and one day, I’ll make you my wife. And soon after that, you’ll be the mother of my child. But for now, I need to know. Will you have me back? Will you be my forever sweetheart?”

Knox

MY HEART’S pounding as the band’s set is coming to a close. Kale told me she wanted me there, so I’m hoping that’s a good sign, but I’m not holding my breath. I can’t believe I’m about to do this, that I’m about to go out in public and declare my feelings, but at this point, I’ll do anything to show Charlie how much I love her.

Hearing the intro, I swallow hard and begin to sing. I move onto the stage, my guitar playing in perfect unison with Chris’s piano. I’m trying my hardest to do the song justice, but I’m also trying to locate Charlie. When I finally see her, my heart almost stops. She looks like she’s in a trance, watching me, and suddenly she’s all I see. I hope she knows I’m singing this song to her, that I’ve always sung it to her. But then I see her get up and head towards the door and realize what she’s anticipating. I feel like an idiot for not recognizing how this would come off until the end.

Jumping off the stage, I unhook my guitar and move towards her, not caring that I no longer have my mic. I catch her before she can leave, and when I pull her to me, she doesn’t look at me. It’s not long before I realize that I’m a complete fucking dumbass and that she thinks I’m using this song to get rid of her. Great going, Knox. I go about spilling my heart out to her, finally finishing by asking if she’ll be mine. Because that’s what I need. I need her, and I put myself out there, asking her to be my sweetheart forever.

Instead of letting her respond, I go into a panic, knowing that I need to tell her everything that’s in my heart. “Please don’t give up on me, Charlie. Please tell me you’re still mine. That you’re still my sweetheart.” I need to hear it, to know that I haven’t lost her. As I stare down into her beautiful brown eyes, my own are pleading with her, needing her to forgive me, to say she still loves me.

“You love me,” she whispers, shaking her head as if she doesn’t believe it.

“I love you so goddamn fucking much. I tried to tell you in Florida, but, well, we got interrupted, and there was never a good time afterwards. But, sweetheart, believe me when I say I love you. You’ve been a pain in my ass since the day I met you, but slowly, surely, you worked your way into my heart, and now? Now I can’t handle another day without you. I fucked up—big time—and I’ll kick myself in the ass every single day until you forgive me.”

“Knox, I believe you. I’m yours, wholeheartedly. I’ll be your sweetheart for as long as you want me to be,” she says, all breathy and sexy, making my dick hard. I want more than anything to get out of here and take her home, but I have things I need to say first.

“No, hear me out, Charlie. I need to say this. I need you to hear it. I love you. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. Thinking of my future, all I see is you. And that’s what I want. You by my side forever. Marriage, kids, all of it. That’s what I want, and I should’ve told you sooner. But you’ll have to bear with me. I’m still getting used to this possessive side, but you’re mine, sweetheart.”

Wrapping her arms around my neck, she draws me in. “I like this possessive side,” she admits as she places a kiss on my lips. I deepen it, sealing the deal that everything is okay in our world.

When I pull away, she looks up at me. “You love me, Rugged” she says casually, as if she’s known it all along.

“More than I ever thought possible,” I tell her, and a huge grin spreads over her face. “And I let it go. I’m done being angry about the past. I saw Branson and we talked things out. Hopefully one day we’ll be family again. That includes you.”

“You went and saw your brother? Knox, when I said to work it out, I meant in here,” she tells me, placing a hand on my heart.

“I know, but still, it was something I needed to do. And I’m glad I did.”

“I can’t believe you did that. I’m really proud of you, and I’m glad you worked it out,” she says, leaning up and giving me a kiss on the cheek. “And you hate being in front of a crowd. I can’t believe you did this either, especially coordinating with Chris.”

“For you, it was worth it. I’ve missed you, Charlie. These past three days were shit,” I admit, pulling her close.

Sighing, she presses her head against my chest. “I missed you, too. And you need to know I’m sorry I stormed out like that. I should’ve told you about Drew, even if I didn’t think it was a big deal at the time. I should’ve stayed and talked it out with you instead of running away,” she says before pulling back and looking up at me. “You know, I was hoping you’d be here tonight.”

“You were?” I ask, acting surprised, like Kale hadn’t already told me that.

“Yeah, Rugged. I’ve really been missing you,” she repeats and leans up to press a soft kiss against my lips.

All of a sudden, the music changes, and I hear Chris’s voice over the loudspeaker. “This next song was in the lineup, but I think I lost my guitar player. Bear with me as I only play it on the keys. From Knox to Charlie, this is “Some Kind Of Beautiful”.”

I planned on playing this song for her if she forgave me, but now that I have her in my arms, I’m not letting her go. I listen to the lyrics, and I know that they’re true. I’ve never known love like this, and I’ll take a chance, spending the rest of my life showing her.

Charlie brings her hands up, resting them on my chest, and the words from my tattoo play through my mind. I may not have been patient, but I was tough. And the pain? Yeah, every single ounce of the pain was worth getting to where I am. I wouldn’t change a single fucking minute of it.

Charlie

One year, ten months later.

LOOKING IN the mirror, I smooth out my dress and look for any missed blemishes the makeup artist may have passed over. I’m finally satisfied with my appearance, so I move away from the mirror, my eye catching on the glint of the ring on my finger. I smile to myself at the memory of Knox’s proposal and how nervous he was, like there was even a single chance I’d say no.

Olivia comes into the room and stops when she sees me. “Charlotte, you look beautiful.”

A sheepish grin crosses my face, and I thank her, pulling her in for a hug. “This is one of the happiest days of my life, and I’m so glad you’re a part of it,” I tell her, meaning every single word.

“I’m glad I’m here, too. Are you ready?” she asks, gesturing towards the door.

“I’ve been waiting for this day since I was a little girl. I’m more than ready. Are you?”

She smiles at me and nods, and we head out of the room, anxious to get the ceremony underway.

As I stand in front of the giant oak doors, my heart flutters when I hear the music begin to play. The ushers open the doors, and I slowly make my way down the aisle, trying to commit every moment of this to memory. When I look to the altar, my eyes lock in on Knox, standing tall and rugged in his dress greens, looking sexy as hell. He winks at me, and it takes everything in me not to wink back. Glancing down at the ring again, I’m reminded of everything we went through to get here. Smiling at him, I continue walking until I get to the minister and stand opposite Knox. When the music changes, butterflies flutter in my stomach, and I can’t stop smiling as I’m radiating with happiness that this is finally happening.