Long moments pass, my gaze keeps darting between the entrance door, where the car stands ready to take me away, and the clock hanging on the wall.

With each passing second, my heart beats harder.

I was convinced my life without money would suck, so much so I risked my first love for it, and lost the man I loved.

Now, I'm getting one last chance...

Being rich is nice... but being with Spencer is better. Way better.

Sure, I'll be risking a hell ton of money, but it's not like I'll become homeless or anything.

Spencer's voice echoes in my head. The way he was looking at me when he pleaded with me to choose him.

We've hurt each other a lot, but we're both irreplicable for each other. No force can stop Spencer and me.

We'll fight all the complications together, find the solution to our problems, and become the remedy to each other's hurt and pain until nothing but serene days and a promise of a happy life remain.

I toss my bouquet to the nearest bench. A knowing smile arches Mom's lips as I throw my arms around her in a quick hug before gathering up the skirt of the wedding dress and running out of the hotel.

The loud clinking of my heels against the mosaic floor draws the staff's attention but no one says anything to me.

Worry pumps adrenaline into my system. What if he has boarded the flight and left already?

What if I'm late?

I shake my head as I hurry down the steps. Instead of going to the Rolls Royce, I hurry to the red vintage Ferrari and motion to the driver to get into that as I climb that car and with a ridiculous amount of effort fit the skirt of the dress inside the vehicle.

"Airport, now," I tell the driver the second he shuts his door. "Drive fast," I add once the engine revs to life.

He nods and the car sets into motion. My fingers fidget uncontrollably as I anxiously glance at the passing scenery. The sun is setting, throwing beautiful pink and orange hues on the sky.

My palms are clammy and every few seconds I tell the driver to go faster and the poor soul nods, without any complaints and pushes the pedal further down.

Once we round the cliff, zooming down the highway with the hills on one side and the ocean on the other, I roll down the window. Inhaling deeply I welcome the salty scent of the sea mixed with the earthy scent of the hills.

The air blows at my face, probably ruining my hair, but I can't bring myself to care as a smile spreads across my face. I glance down at my ring finger.

With fingers trembling from excitement, I slide out the diamond ring, hold it up in front of my face for a beat before tossing it out.

My grin widens, making my cheeks hurt as a sudden relief washes over me like a weight has been lifted off my chest.

The international airport is over an hour away, but from my pushing and constant poking, the boards with the airport's signs start appearing in about thirty minutes through the drive.

The sun is almost down, with its last rays taking away the day with itself.

My heart drums in my chest, I rub my palms over the skirt of the dress. My fingers are too fidgety to take off the veil. Not that it matters.

Though as we round into the airport's grounds, the traffic jam is worse than the Monday morning traffic in New York.

Huffing, I throw open the door. "Don't wait, drive back to the hotel, and don't tell anyone where you dropped me off," I tell the driver.

Silently he nods as I shut the door. Gathering the front of my skirt in my fists, I sprint down the path. Every passenger in every car I pass turns to me with wide eyes. Though I don't blame them.

It must be a sight. Running with a wedding dress, the front of it folded up to my knees while its trail and the veil are probably flying behind me as I rush down to the building of the airport.

By the time I reach the glass doors, I'm panting, with sweat rolling down from my temples and the back of my neck.

Thankfully the airport is not that big. Dodging and sidestepping the people calmly entering the place, I frantically look around.

The long queues in front of the desks, with the back of people's heads facing me, make finding Spencer all the more challenging.

I don't let fear enter my system, as I check each line as quickly as I can. He didn't tell me where he was going, all I can hope for is, he's still here.

But as I quickly scan the area, and fail to spot him, I do the only thing that crosses my mind. "Spencer!" I shout at top of my lungs. Over ten heads spin to me, but I pay them no heed and call out his name as loud as I can, over the noise.

On my third try, when nothing happens, slowly despair ebbs its way into me and my eyes brim with tears.

"Spencer!" Please, I can't be too late.

Frustratedly I press the heel of my palm to my temple. From the corner of my eye, a movement catches my attention.

My breath hitches and with widening eyes, I turn towards it. From the very top of the line, I glimpse Spencer walking in the opposite direction the people are moving.

He's coming to me.

I cover my mouth as a relieved giggle escapes from me.

He crosses through the retractable crowd controls, bending under each of them to get to me faster.

The second he's past the last crowd control, I grab my skirt and sprint to him.

He opens his arms for me and I throw myself to him, embracing him in a bone-crushing hug as he enfolds me and spins me around.

Happy tears stream down my face as I nuzzle closer to him. "I choose you; I choose you, Spencer," I say, my voice wavering from the overwhelming joy coursing in me.

His arms tighten around me. "I thought you won't ever come," he whispers.

"And I thought I was too late and you'd left."

He carefully puts me back on the floor and cups my cheeks, locking our eyes together. "I love you, Gracie."

I beam as I hold on to him. "I love you, Spencer." The sheer relief bubbling in me, a giddy high from finally being able to tell him what I've wanted to say for five years is staggering.

His eyes shine, literally, as he closes the minimal space between our faces and kisses me.

No kiss has ever felt this good. His arms tighten around me, flushing me against him as my fingers thread through his soft familiar hair. Butterflies flutter in me as fireworks explode. Bright and vivid. No shadows, no doubts, no fears.

This is right.

Spencer deepens the kiss. Nothing in my life has ever felt this good.

Pure, unfiltered joy ripples through me, heightening my senses, making me float on cloud nine.

He breaks the kiss and rests his forehead atop mine. We breathe in and out together, our breaths mingling. For the first time, we're so close with no barriers holding us back.

"Thank you," he murmurs.

Tears gather in the corners of my eyes and I blink them away. "Thank you for not giving me up," I say softly.

A toothy grin breaks out across his face. "You really had to come here with a wedding dress?"

I throw my head back and giggle. "Anything less wouldn't have filled my portion of drama for the day."

He shakes his head and laughs. "I wouldn't have expected anything less from you." He kisses my forehead before snaking his arm around my waist. "Got any plans for tonight?"

I giggle. "Definitely not getting married." I squint up at him before smirking. "How about we jump straight to honeymoon? I can't wait to get out of this dress."

He chuckles and shakes his head before kissing me again. "Your wish is my command," he whispers huskily next to my ear, planting a kiss on my temple.

And as we head out of the airport, I know, because I can feel it in my every cell, that I've made the best choice. Spencer and I together will face all the problems that lay ahead. But for tonight, I just want to celebrate our reunion. 

❦ ♥︎ ❦

=D I hope this chapter made you smile =)

Thank you for reading this chapter, comment your thoughts and hit that star button if you're happy these two idiots are finally together =)

I NEED YOUR HELP TO DECIDE:

So... as I was writing this chapter, I realised, this can be the last chapter, well, not the last one, more one before the last. However, my initial plan was not this.

Hence, I'm asking you, my reader, do you want a soft ending? With the next chapter tying up all the conflicts (and marking the book complete making tomorrow's chap the last chapter)?

Or do you rather have a more dramatic ending, still all conflicts will be wrapped up, but it'll have one final touch of drama before ending, and everything will be more detailed, you know, it won't like glide over the tying up part? 

Which one would you rather have? 1 chapter where everything ties up. Or the one that needs about 6-8 chapters?

So comment your thoughts, because I can't decide :')

Well, that's about it. Thank you for reading this chapter <3

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading ♡