Page 75 of He Who Haunts Me

“I would never ruin such beauty,” I promised as I kissed her forehead.

“You’re a liar.” She elbowed me playfully and strutted through the living room. She grabbed her bag and looked back at me. “Coming?”

“I will be,” I said under my breath.

“What was that?”

“Gotta get my keys,” I fibbed, and my smile told her as much.

We walked through the stadium, following the signs for graduates. There was a table with a few people from the admin office. We flashed our IDs, signed our names, and walked to the back rooms with our caps and gowns. We spotted Mariana waiting outside one of the doors.

“Bex!” she exclaimed as she rushed over. “You look absolutely beautiful,” she said, twirling Bex around.

“Thank you. I can’t get over your dress. It’s perfect.” She hugged Mari again, the moment feeling bittersweet after so many years and so much hardship. Mari turned to me with a sweet smile and outstretched arms.

“Hello, Mariana,” I greeted her with a kiss on the side of her head and a hug. “You do look beautiful; Kel will be blown away.” She recently started seeing someone, and it looked promising. I could feel the same energy from him that I experienced with Bex.

“Thank you, Jai. You’ve done so much. I hope you know that.” She released me and stepped away to straighten her dress.

“I’m so sad. I know it’s not over, but it feels surreal to be leaving this all behind.” Bex took my hand as she continued, “I don’t know how we did it.”

I leaned to Mariana and whispered, “I’m going to do it.” She laughed and shook her head.

“No, wait,” Bex said as she waved her finger between us. “You guys did that in the library before. What did you say to her that day?” I knew exactly which day she was referencing. I caught her staring at me as I approached, and she hadn’t stopped the entire time.

“I told her, ‘Your friend thinks I’m hot,’ and then you were caught gawking.” Her mouth dropped open at my admission.

“You ass,” she protested, swatting at my chest. I grabbed her jaw and brought her to her tiptoes.

“I wanted you just as much.” I kissed her lips, careful to avoid smearing any makeup for now. “Let’s go finish this thing.”

“I am exhausted,” Bex groaned as she walked up the stairs. I lifted her into my arms and carried her the rest of the way to the bedroom. I set her on the bed and knelt before her. I unbuckled each shoe and took them off.

“Hey, what time is it?” I asked her with purpose. She turned to look at the clock on her nightstand. I pulled the black velvet box from my pocket. She turned around to say the time she read, but it died in her throat when she looked down.

“Jaiden,” she whispered as she hid behind her hands.

“Bex,” I copied her. She looked at me again, and then down at the ring.

“Is that real?” She pointed to the box.

“It’s really in my hands.”

“Jaiden, you’re…”

“Proposing?” I grinned as tears fell and sniffles began. Her mascara started to muddy under her eyes. “Bexley, you are the only person I have genuinely cared about for seven years. Every time you look at me, I feel like I can do no wrong. That my faults don’t matter, haven’t mattered. You were my small slice of peace, and since then, you’ve become my everything. I can’t imagine waking up and not seeing you tucked beside me. I can’t fathom being away from your side for more than a minute. Will you marry me, Bex? It’s at your pace.”

She sobbed and threw herself on me. The force knocked me on my ass, and her arms wrapped around my neck in a tight grip. She was going to knock me unconscious if she held me any tighter.

“Baby,” I strained. “If it’s a no, you don’t need to suffocate me.” She pulled back and sat in my lap. She looked at the first ring, the one with a swallow on the band. She slid off the delicate metal and switched hands.

“Yes,” she answered as she extended her hand. I removed the ring from the box and pushed it down her finger. “It’s beautiful,” she admired. The stone was large on her hand, and the silver band was intricate and detailed. “I love you,” she said, looking back at me.

“I love you, too,” I responded as I brought her to me for a kiss. “Mrs. Wells,” I murmured against her lips.

Epilogue

July 13, 2025