Sterling's POV:
This whole thing had me so anxious that I was barely paying any attention to the ceremony. I almost missed my cue to go up onstage, and when I had I almost did the wrong thing.
As soon as it was over and pictures were taken, I grabbed Eden's hand and gently tugged her to the hidden spot she'd showed me one day over lunch. I took both of her hands in mine as my eyes flickered over her face.
"Eden McArthur, these past few months with you have been the most amazing months of my life. I'm so incredibly thankful that you let me into your life. You are such an amazing, beautiful woman, so intelligent and creative. I've been wanting to tell you his for a long time, but… Well, I guess the timing was just never right," I started, taking a deep breath before I continued. "I love you. So, so much. And I never want to leave your side. So I bought you this ring to promise you that I will never leave you or hurt you, not if I have a choice." The last part was said as I pulled a small box from my pocket and opened it for her. Inside was a silver ring with an outline of a heart made out of tiny diamonds.
(Sterling 😭 ;-;)
Eden’s POV:
At first, time seemed to stop for me. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t hear anything. I was frozen. Then tears gathered at the corners of my eyed and spilled.
I quickly wiped them off, but they increased and I stopped trying to wipe them off. Sterling loved me. He loved me. Oh my God, I felt so happy at that moment but the only thing I could do was cry. He was such a thoughtful person, so long, so caring. He proved his loyalty to me so many times and he told me what he’d kept in his heart for a long time. It was time I did the same, too.
“Sterling…” I cried, sniffling, wiping my eyes again. “Oh my God. Sterling I… I’m so happy right now, and I can’t stop crying… You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. I’m so glad I met you, because you’re wonderful and you’ve treated me like I was normal, not like I was something dangerous or something that needed to be tamed. I’m so happy you told me you love me because… because I love you, too, Ry. I love you so much that it hurts, that it makes me afraid because all I want is you and I’ve never wanted anything or anyone as much as you. I love you so much that even the thought of me without you breaks me apart, that even the idea of living apart from you tears me apart. You’ve shown me so many times just how compassionate and understanding you are even though I couldn’t give you all of me. God, Sterling, you’ve made me so happy… I love you so, so, so much…”
Sterling's POV:
The grin that grew on my face would have challenged the sun. That's how happy I was.
She loved me. She loved me! Gosh, this was the best day of my life.
I laughed before taking her face in my hands and leaning down to kiss her. "Gosh, I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you," I murmured, adding a kiss to the end of each phrase.
Eden’s POV:
I sniffled before wrapping my arms around Sterling and pressing my lips against his hard, pulling him to me like he was going to disappear any second.
I kissed him hard to show him just how much he meant to me, just how much I loved him. I poured all of my feelings in that one kiss, although I knew we would go for seconds and thirds and even more until we were interrupted. But I didn’t care—I wanted to stay here and kiss him, all day long. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and hold him close because I didn’t know when I’d be able to do that again after we leave for college. And I wanted to kiss him more because… well, because I loved kissing him. It was like a drug for me—his lips moving against mine, showering me with love.
“I love you so much,” I murmured through the kiss, not pulling away.
Sterling’s POV:
I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her close as we kissed. I would miss this… I would miss this a lot.
“Eden,” I murmured, pulling away reluctantly. “Where are you going to college?”
Eden’s POV:
I breathed deeply, eyes closed as I inhaled.
“I haven’t really gotten any mail about being accepted or not, so I don’t know…” I murmured.
Sterling’s POV:
“You still need to get a bachelors, right? So that would mean going to a regular school first… What if… What if we go to the same college? We could, uh… share a dorm…” I suggested, slightly worried about what her answer would be.
Eden’s POV:
I smiled softly, resting my face in the crook of his neck.
“I’d love that,” I murmured. “But I would hate it if you didn’t get into your dream college because of me/“
Sterling’s POV:
She was certainly something, wasn’t she? Times like this were when I knew she loved me back, when she was willing to sacrifice her wants for mine.
“Wherever you are is my dream college,” I murmured, kissing the top of her head gently.
(Oh shoot there goes my heart)
“Are you sure?” I asked softly. “You won’t regret this, right?” I looked at the promise ring in my hand, a fond smile on my features. “You won’t regret giving this to me, right?”
Sterling’s POV:
“Never. I never have, and hopefully never will, regret any decisions I have made concerning you. I want to be where you are,” I assured her, holding her close and kissing her softly. “I love you, Eden McArthur, and that will never change.”
Eden’s POV:
I gently took his hands and put the ring in his hand before softly looking up at him.
“Then shouldn’t you put this on me?” I murmured with a smile.
Sterling’s POV:
I grinned down at her as I took the box and pulled the ring from it. Taking her left hand in my own, I slid the ring onto her ring finger. Gosh… Is this what it would feel like when I proposed? This overwhelming feeling of happiness?
“I love you,” I murmured again, leaning down to kiss her softly, her hand still held in mine. “I love you so much.”
Eden’s POV:
“I love you, too,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around him as I kissed him back.
I felt so giddy, so excited. It was altogether a different feeling, a foreign experience but I loved it so much. And the prospect of sharing it with Sterling… it was amazing…
(I totally want to interrupt them. Lol.)
Sterling’s POV:
I smiled against her lips as I kissed her, my arms sneaking around her waist. This time, I just wanted to enjoy the feeling of her lips on mine, the way they molded together like they were made for each other, moved in sync perfectly…
She was mine. And I didn’t have to worry about that changing any time soon. Or ever, I hoped.
(The ring, for our stalkers: https://pin.it/qhlls7mhirvjtt )
(I got you covered 😏)
Eden’s POV:
I rested my hand on his shoulder while the other made its way towards his hair, pressing myself tightly against him. Everything was going smoothly and I wanted this moment to drag on forever—
“Oh, there you a—oh my God, I need bleach for my eyes,” I pulled apart from Sterling, cheeks tinted pink as Lucas slapped a hand over his eyes, pretending his eyes were burning as he staggered. “My eyes! They’re burning!”
“Lucas, I’m going to kill you!”
Sterling’s POV:
I snorted at Lucas’ over-dramaticness, roling my eyes as I pulled Eden back closer to me. “Hey, if you don’t wanna see it, you can go make out with your own girlfriend,” I said with a shrug.
Lucas's POV:
I removed my hands from my eyes, glaring at Sterling.
"For the record, that's my little sister you're doing that to," I said as Eden snorted. "Anyway, mom's searching for us. You know, pictures."
(Sterling is, like, 1000% done with Lucas interrupting them. Lol.)
Sterling’s POV:
I sighed and loosened my grip on Eden, though just barely. “All right. I suppose we shouldn’t keep her waiting, then, should we?”
(It's always Lucas. :P)
Eden's POV:
I slipped my hand in Sterling's, passing a smile that looked innocent enough, but it was meant as a we'll continue this later look.
"Come, then," I pulled Sterling forward. "I don't think you've met my mom yet, right?"
Speaking of which, I had yet to meet his parents personally…
Sterling’s POV:
I saw the look in her eyes when she shot me that smile. That was a look I had become rather familiar with these past few months, and it was a look that I definitely would not object to seeing. Mostly because I agreed.
“No, I don’t think so. Your father, yes, but not your mother,” I concurred with a nod. “And I’m sure my mother would absolutely love to meet you. In fact, I bet she’ll invite you over to dinner sometime…”
(FOR THE CLICHE STALKERS.)
Hunter's POV:
I couldn't believe it. It was just yesterday when my twins were just born and could only say 'dada' and 'mama.' And now they've grown up so much that they're graduating. I wrapped an arm around my wife, pressing a kiss on her head, knowing she was just as emotional as I was.
"Can you believe these little kids?" I laughed, looking at Leo, who was busy congratulating his own daughter. Willow looked proud, hugging Ashley. "They grow up so fast. Soon, we'll grow grey and old and they'll get married and have kids of their own…"
McKenzie’s POV:
I grinned up at Hunter, pressing a kiss to his cheek. After all these years, I still couldn’t believe the miracles that were our children.
“I know… It feels like just yesterday that I was chasing them around the house, trying to corral them for nap time…” I sighed, leaning into him. “I miss those days… And now they’re going off to college… Maybe we should have more. More kids sounds great.”
Hunter's POV:
I looked at her pointedly.
"My dear wife, we're getting old," I reminded her. "We're like, in our thirties. How can that even work?"
"Hold on, are you guys planning to have more kids?" Leo butted in our conversation, his mouth in an 'o'. "Seriously? You going to have more kids while Will and I only have one?"
