We were walking down the dock hand and hand. Jack had arranged a meeting with some guy who was looking to sell a boat.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked remembering how Jack hadn’t seemed all that interested in bothering with a new boat.

He had been living with me since our return to the mainland. I’d talked to my parents, and although they were upset at first, they were starting to come around. They just wanted me to be happy, and if Jack made me happy, then they’d figure out a way to come to terms with it. At least that’s how my mom had worded it.

“Hmm,” Jack said stopping in front of an empty stall. He looked around.

“Isn’t this where you used to keep your boat?” I said looking at the edge of the dock remembering the night I asked him to take me out to the yacht.

“Oh, you’re right it is,” Jack said. “That’s weird isn’t it?”

“It’s really weird,” I said narrowing my eyes at him.

Jack lowered himself down to his knee. At first, I thought he’d dropped something, but when he looked up at me, he was holding a small white box.

“Jack?” I said, my insides started to bubble.

“Penny,” he said coughing slightly to clear his throat. He flipped open the box with his thumb and looked into my eyes. “Would you do me the honor of being my wife?”

I couldn’t find my voice. Could this really be happening? It had only been about a month since we’d been back from the island. That was too soon, wasn’t it?

“I never want to lose you again,” Jack said looking as though he was starting to get a bit worried I hadn’t answered his question yet.

“Oh, my God, Jack,” I said clasping my hands in front of me. “Yes!”

He picked me up and spun me in a circle. Jack pressed his lips to mine before lowering me down to the dock.

“Here,” he said taking the ring out of the box and pulling my hand into his. He slid on the sparkling ring, and I smiled. It could have been a Fruit Loop for all I cared.

“It’s beautiful, Jack,” I said, and he grabbed my hand and started walking away. “Where are we going? What about the boat?”

“There is no boat,” Jack said with a smirk. “I just wanted to get you here, to the spot where fate threw us together again because it knew better than we did.”

I pressed my hand to my heart. “Oh, Jack.”

“Let’s get back on land,” Jack said raising his eyebrows.

“I’d love to,” I said looking down at my new ring. “Everyone is going to think it’s too soon.”

“Do you care?” Jack asked taking in a breath as we stepped off of the dock.

I shook my head. “No, I guess I don’t.”

“If you do, we could always elope. Vegas would be fun.” Jack leaned closer. “No one even needs to know. We could still do the real thing at some point. Whatever you want.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to be married to you right now.” Jack shrugged. “The sooner, the better.”

“Vegas, huh?”

“Vegas,” Jack said eyeing me. He was trying to decide if I was actually considering it. Was I? I think I was.

I bit my lip. “And we could still just do the real thing when we got back?”

“Yeah.” Jack stopped walking and grabbed both of my hands forcing me to face him. “Are you in?”

“Vegas?” I asked again squinting at him.

“Sure. Or whatever you want.”

I pressed my lips together. It was absolutely insane, but I wanted Vegas. I never imagined I’d be the girl to elope in Vegas, but I wanted to be married to Jack too. I didn’t want to wait. I’d waited long enough.

“Oh, my God I can’t believe I’m going to say this,” I said with a little bounce. “Let’s do it. Let’s go to Vegas.”

“Yeah?” Jack’s smile was so bright it melted my insides.

“Yes!”

“When?”

“Are you busy tomorrow?”

I held up my hand. “I need more than twenty-four hours to process.”

“Why? Are you considering backing out?” Jack flashed me a little frown.

“No! I just want to make sure I have everything in order.”

Jack shook his head. “You’re going to tell Heidi, aren’t you?”

“Can I?”

“Wait until we get back?”

“Deal.”

Jack and I started walking back toward the car. “She’ll tell everyone.”

“You’re absolutely right. I won’t tell her.”

Jack chuckled. “You’ll break down eventually.”

“I totally will,” I said laughing.

“Whatever makes you happy,” Jack said kissing my cheek. “Let’s go home. Plan our trip.”

I felt as light as a feather as I let out the breath it felt as though I’d been holding.

“Sounds perfect.”

The End.