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SamuelYang

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and she was too impatient to wait .

that was payton .

`` how far from us ? ''

`` sounds like it 's that stretch on highway 67 after you leave collinsville and get into shallow . ''

`` okay , i 'll drive from this direction and the squad car can drive from that direction and one of us should find her . ''

god , i prayed one of us found her and she did n't get picked up by some lunatic .

please , show me what i 'm looking for .

i drove down highway 67 about 10 miles and saw what i thought was her in the distance .

i sped up , anxious to confirm her safety , and saw her walking with hellacious heels in one hand and something i could n't identify in the other .

when i came to a stop in front of her , she lifted her skirt and stuck out her long leg and gave me the hitchhiker 's thumb with a big smile on her face .

i jumped out of my car and ran to meet her in a dramatic reunion in the middle of highway 67 in shallow , tennessee .

that 's when the potential severity of the situation hit me , along with my tears of relief .

i grabbed her face and stared at it because it had been too long since i saw it .

`` i could beat your ass right now .

do you hear me ? ''

i pulled her into my arms and squeezed her way too hard .

`` you scared the shit out of me .

why are you out here this time of the morning ? ''

tears were streaming down her face by handfuls .

`` i had to see you .

i was wrong , so very wrong and i had to tell you the minute i figured it out . ''

`` what caused this revelation for you to drive to my house at four o'clock in the morning ? ''

`` this . ''

she held out my journal .

`` and i 'm not sorry i read it .

it told me everything i needed to know .

everything i should have already known . ''

`` where did you get this ? ''

and then it clicked for me what my sister meant .

`` dallas .

she gave it to you . ''

`` do n't be mad at her .

she did it because she loves you so much and knew it was the only way i 'd see the truth .

can you ever forgive me for being so stupid ? ''

`` there 's nothing to forgive . ''

i leaned in for the kiss i thought i 'd never have again and i felt her smile against my mouth .

`` what ? ''

`` i want to see your newest tattoo .

you did n't describe it at all and i 'm dying of curiosity . ''

i lifted my shirt and showed her the infinity symbol with her name entwined within it .

she reached out to touch it and all those familiar feelings emerged from under the surface .

`` i love it .

i want one just like it with your name . ''

she pointed to the place over her heart .

`` i want it right here for your eyes only . ''

my name tattooed over her heart sounded like the best idea i 'd heard in a long time .

`` i think that can be arranged . ''

`` and now i want my birthday present . ''

she was n't kidding when she said she read my journal .

`` you do , huh ? ''

`` yes .

i want it now . ''

i had it with me .

i always had it with me so i could look at it and be reminded of her .

`` well , what if i had it in my pocket ?

would you want me to give it to you right here in the middle of shallow ? ''

`` yes . ''

i pulled the black leather box from my pocket and balanced on my palm .

`` is this the birthday present you 're talking about ? ''

she licked her lips .

`` i believe that could be it . ''

i dropped down to my knee and then reached up to pop the top .

she saw the ring i had saved to buy and i watched as her eyes filled with tears .

`` payton caroline archer , will you be my wife ? ''

`` yes , nickolas aleksei hawke , i will marry you . ''

i took the diamond engagement ring from the box and slid it on her left ring finger .

`` and will you let me put babies inside you and watch them grow ? ''

she burst into laughter , remembering what i had told her i wanted to do the night we broke up .

`` yes and i 'll even let you practice first .

a lot . ''

`` god , i love you .

you 're gon na be the best wife ever . ''

`` damn skippy . ''

epilogue 3 years later payton i could n't believe it was time .

we had waited for months and it was finally here .

i reached over and shook nick 's shoulder .

`` baby , wake up . ''

he rolled away from me onto his stomach and put his face into his pillow .

`` no , woman .

i just pulled a double and i 'm tired .

i want to sleep . ''

i shook him again .

`` get up .

it 's time . ''

he groaned .

`` time for what ? ''

`` it 's baby time .

we need to go the hospital . ''

`` you 're kiddin ' me , right ?

the baby is choosing to come now ? ''

`` yeah .

get your ass up . ''

we got in the car and i 'd never known nick to drive so slow .

for the love of god , he used to race every chance he got and now he was a cop .

he could speed if he wanted to and he had an excuse to get a move on .

did he need me to put a flame under his ass or what ?

there was a baby on the way .

we walked up to the front desk .

`` claire boone 's room , please . ''

we waited as the receptionist looked her up in the computer .