ENTRY 8
ALWAYS

Once the last set of fireworks from the annual Fourth of July celebration went off, the crowd thinned, families making their way to their respective homes.

Edward pulled Bella to his side, walking down the pier in the opposite direction of the retreating masses.

"Where are we going? The car's back there." Bella thumbed over her shoulder toward the parking lot.

"There's just one more thing I want to do before we go home. Is that all right?" The fading light shone in Edward's jade-colored eyes, his signature lopsided grin on his face.

"Of course. This night has been magical. I don't want it to end." Bella lifted onto her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

As much as he loved being in her arms, there would be time for that later—hopefully, the rest of their lives. He knew how easily their kisses could go beyond PG, so he simply returned the kiss before he captured her hand in his and moved toward their destination. "Probably better if we save that for later."

This wasn't the first time Edward had planned to ask Bella to marry him, but all other attempts had been thwarted somehow.

"The Ferris Wheel?" Bella asked. "It looks closed."

"Not for us." His buddy Riley stood alongside the attraction, holding the car open for them.

Buckled in and ascending into the darkening sky, Edward clasped both of Bella's hands in his, staring directly into her eyes.

He cleared his throat, pushing down the butterflies, their wings beating a tattoo from the inside. "Bella, if someone were to ask me when I fell in love with you, my answer would be simple—I don't think there was ever a time when I wasn't in love with you. You're the first thing on my mind in the morning. The last thing I imagine before I drift off to sleep. You are in every one of my dreams, but nothing compares to the moments like this, where it's just you and me. I want that—always. Would you do me the honor of spending the rest of your days with me. Will you marry me?" He held the solitaire ring out to her.

Tears filled her eyes as she took in the face of the only man she had ever wanted to marry. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes. Yes." Her voice grew louder with each declaration of her acceptance. Arms thrown around his neck, she peppered his face with kisses.

Edward whooped, throwing his hands in the air. As he embraced her, fireworks erupted in the air above them. Yellow and gold. Crimson and orange. Sapphire and emerald.

Sunbursts filled the night sky, flickers cascading all around them.

Bella sat back, her eyes growing wide. "I thought the show was over."

"Figured I'd better have something up my sleeve to celebrate you making me the happiest man alive." He slipped the ring on her finger. "I can't wait to spend a lifetime experiencing fireworks with you."

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