Until You (Off-Limits)

I’m surprised when I see a text message from Ash. Grayson and I haven’t really been communicating on the Nemesis Platform anymore, but it still brings a smile to my face to see a message pop up.

Ash: I hear there are plenty of fish in the sea and all that, but you’re my sole-mate.

I burst out laughing, pausing in front of Noah’s front door.

Ash: Nyx, Aria, baby… I whale always love you.

I love this. I’m not sure why, but these messages have the butterflies in my stomach going wild. It took a little while, but things have never been better between us. Gray is actively working on overcoming the doubts instilled in him by his parents, and I’ve been working as hard as I can on overcoming my recurring nightmares and my compulsions related to locked doors and safety. We’ve both been encouraging each other to stay on track, to keep healing our pains. It hasn’t been easy, but knowing we’re together and actively working toward our happiness makes all the dark days worth it.

Ash: When do you think I fell for you? Was it before I ever realized who you were?

Nyx: I’m not sure, but I was falling for you both online and offline. I think you stole my heart long before I knew you were the hottie I’ve been crushing on half my life.

Ash: Did you? Crush on me?

Nyx: Of course. You were my brother’s hot friend, the guy I looked up to growing up. You may or may not have played a role in all my teenage fantasies.

I walk into the house, expecting to find the boys in the living room, watching the game like they told me they would. Instead, I’m met with silence.

I frown and walk around in search of Noah and Gray, pausing when I notice the lights in the garden. My heart starts to race when I spot Grayson standing in the middle of the garden, wearing the same T-shirt and jeans he wore on what I’ve come to think of as our first date. I’m trembling as I step out, the breeze making my hair flutter. Grayson’s eyes meet mine, and my heart skips a beat.

“Did I fulfill those fantasies?”

I smile as I walk up to him, my thoughts going wild. This feels… different, and my heart can’t help but hope that this is what I think it is.

“You did. You do, every single day.”

He raises his hand to my face and cups my cheek gently. “I think I fell a little bit more for you every time I saw you. The first time we met was right here, in this garden. Noah invited me over for a study session, and you walked in. You were beautiful, but it was your eyes that stayed with me. You were just like me. You had demons chasing you, but you put a brave face on nonetheless. I found myself wanting to learn more about you. I wanted to learn what made you smile. And oh, when you smile. Fuck, baby. When you smile, it lights up my whole world. You did that to me then, and you still do that to me now.”

Grayson bends down on one knee, and tears spring to my eyes. “Aria, I didn’t know what love was, until you. I didn’t know life could be this good. I didn’t know I could be this happy, this fulfilled. You make me want to be a better man every single day.”

He pulls a ring box out of his pocket and takes my hand. “For the rest of my life, I want to find new ways to make you happy. I want to tell you totally unoriginal puns and hear you laugh at them. I want to lift you into my arms when you can’t reach things that are too high for you, and I want to be by your side as the world discovers your mad coding skills. Will you let me? Will you let me be the one that you lean on, the one you turn to when your nightmares wake you? I want it all with you, Aria. Good and bad. I want every part of you… Aria, will you marry me?”

I nod. “Yes. Yes, Grayson. Yes.”

He smiles and slides the ring onto my finger. I don’t even have chance to look at it, because the second it’s on, he rises to his feet and pulls me closer, his lips finding mine. I rise to my tiptoes to kiss him back, my hands roaming over his chest. By the time Grayson pulls away, we’re both panting. He drops his forehead to mine and smiles. “I love you, Aria.”

“I love you more,” I whisper. “I can’t wait to become Mrs. Callahan. I can’t wait for the rest of our lives together, Gray.”

He pulls away, a twinkle in his eye. “I desperately want to carry you to your room and keep you there for the next few hours… but Noah wants in on the celebration,” he says, tipping his head toward the house.

Gray grabs my hand and pulls me along, pausing in front of the dining room. I walk in, curious, my eyes widening when I see Noah standing by the table, a large ring-shaped cake by his side, two photos of Mom and Dad beside it.

“Congratulations, little one,” he says, his gaze filled with pride.

I walk up to Noah and wrap my arms around him, bursting into tears all over again. “You made this for me?”

He nods and pats my head. “I had a little bit of help,” he says, and the look in his eyes tells me it’s Amara that helped him — my brother’s mystery girl. The girl he claims is nothing but one of his patients, yet he can’t even say her name without smiling.

“What would you have done if I said no?”

Noah shrugs and glances at Grayson unapologetically. “More cake for me,” he says.

I burst out laughing, and Grayson shakes his head as he walks up to me, his hand wrapping around my waist.

I’ve never felt more loved. I thought happiness wasn’t meant for me, but Grayson proves me wrong every single day, and I know he always will.

I look into his eyes, my heart overflowing with love. I can’t wait to find out what life has in store for us. I know that whatever it is, we’ll face it together, and we’ll always come out on top.

Always.