Lily

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I stop by the kitchen for something to drink while I wait. It’s not quite time to meet with everyone. Kara’s request was a little odd, but I don’t feel too worried, mostly curious. Has she talked to the other women about Rafe and me? What if they all know Rafe and I are together? I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes on this show and have to finish it.

After ten minutes, I wander back toward the stairs, curious if Kara and Rafe are still talking. What could she want to say to him without me there?

As I walk past the stairs, I hear Sam’s voice, and then she says Rafe’s name. She’s talking to him, but I can’t hear about what. Rafe answers her, and then I hear Kara. Suddenly a cameraman walks past me and up the stairs. I’m starting to get the feeling something is going on.

I’m curious, of course, but I don’t want to eavesdrop so I head to the main room to wait. Heather isn’t there yet, which means all of them must be upstairs with Rafe. Is he talking to all of them? I’m curious if Kara set that up.

A few minutes later, Kara walks into the room. I tilt my head, giving her a questioning look, and ask, “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

She just smiles. “Nothing bad, I promise. Listen, we’re all supposed to meet out on the beach this time.”

I glance upstairs and don’t see Rafe. This is starting to make me nervous. I’m not sure what to say so I shrug. “All right.”

This is odd. Is Liam going to have Rafe kick someone off out on the beach? Doesn’t seem that nice in my opinion.

“Did Rafe leave?” I ask her as we walk out the back of the house.

“Oh, I’m not sure.” She glances back like she doesn’t know, but I wonder how she could have missed him. A second later, I spot Rafe ahead of us. In fact, everyone is out there already.

Liam is waiting by a floral archway, like they have at weddings. Kara and I join the other women gathered in front of him.

Rafe walks to stand beside me and takes my hand. I look up, startled. He hasn’t done anything like that in front of the other women. 

Liam says, “I think we all know—”

Kara jumps in. “That two special people are in love. Yeah, real news flash! But I couldn’t be happier for them.”

I turn to Rafe. The warmth in his eyes takes my breath away. Here is this tall, ripped gorgeous man and he’s looking at me like I’m his whole world.

“Did you do this?” I ask, but quickly add, “Oh! That’s what Kara’s been up to, isn’t it? This is what she was planning before our weekend.”

Now I know why she was acting so funny before I left with Rafe.

“Well, that’s a funny story. From what I understand, Liam knew we got together... so he wanted to make the best of the situation and have dramatic ending. It sounds like Kara helped him with this idea.”

“And the other women were okay with this?”

“They saw the game was over. Lily, everyone can tell we’re together and in love.”

I blink rapidly, both to hide my misty eyes and because I’m surprised that he used that word—love. He’s been so careful about it.

“Both Kara and Liam talked to the other women,” Rafe continues, half smiling as he gazes into my eyes. “And she helped him set things up. I was looking for a way to tell you something important, so this worked out perfectly.”

What is he going to tell me? That I won? I wait but he doesn’t tell me yet. While we’re gazing at each other, slow, pretty piano music starts to play.

“Will you dance with me?” he asks. I turn as he takes one of my hands. I rest the other on his shoulder.

“You’re the one, Lily. You’re the only woman for me. You always have been and you always will be.”

I’m caught between smiling and wanting to cry. Even Rafe’s eyes are moist. But even with all of this, he isn’t saying he loves me. Maybe he just can’t use those words. I love him so much I might be okay with that, but my heart is hurting to hear him say it too.

And then, he smiles, pulls me close so our foreheads are touching, and says, “I love you, Lily.”

My breath catches. I’ve waited so long to hear those words, and until this minute I wasn’t sure I’d ever hear them from his mouth. Everything in me comes alive. Everything we’ve been through was worth it to hear him say “I love you” again and know he can feel that for me.

“I’ll always love you,” he adds in a soft voice. “This is our fresh start, okay? I’m going to be here for you and take care of you.”

“I’ll be here for you, always.”

“I know. You have been.” He threads his fingers into my hair so he can tilt my head and kiss me. “I love you, I love you, I love you. I’m sorry it took me so long to say it, but I mean it with all of my heart and being.” He kisses around my face before finding my mouth again. The kiss deepens and we stop dancing. Rafe kisses me until I’m dizzy before telling me again, “I love you. I hope you like hearing that, because I have a lot of love to catch up on.”

I finally smile. “I love you too. And I hope you like hearing it!”

He sweeps me up into his arms and twirls me around. Kara and everyone clap as he sets me down on my feet to kiss me again.

“Always, Lily, always.”

I know one thing for sure: Rafe was worth the wait. He’s worth everything, and now he’s mine and I’m his.