Vacation Ends, Life Begins--Split Chapter

(Nerina's P.O.V)

The last week on the island has been pure bliss, spending time with my friends and John and the guys. We never did have the scavenger hunt the girls had talked about, considering we went back in time on the day it was supposed to happen. I wonder what ever happened to the person who was supposed to set it all up, hmm…oh well. We've spent the last week just enjoying the sun and the sand during the day and the local night life at, well, night. Coming back to the villa and having John fuck my brains out daily was also a nice bonus on this trip. I sigh as I put the last of my belongings in my suitcase. We fly out tomorrow morning to Miami before we all go our separate ways. It has me nervous about John's choice to move to Virginia in a few weeks, while Edward is going to California right away with Nikita and Kailani and Arthur are going back to Maryland together. Harry is also following Corie back to Southern California as well, not wanting to be separated from her.

"You alright love?" Ashe asks from my doorway.

"Not really. I don't want this to end. I don't want to go back to the real world." I say with a laugh.

"I know what you mean doll, I feel the same." She laughs as she comes further into the room, finally sitting on the bed.

"So, how are things with you and John?" She asks, thinking she's being sly.

"You know how things are going." I say, narrowing my eyes at her as I sit on the bed.

She never was good at keeping secrets or being subtle about anything.

"Oh, I know how things are going in the bedroom, we ALL hear it. But I want to know about things OUTSIDE the bedroom." She emphasizes.

I blush slightly before answering, "Well, things are going really well, I'm excited for him to move to Virginia. I just hope he doesn't regret it. Or regret me."

"Oh darling, he would NEVER regret you. I see the way he looks at you. You hang the moon and stars for him babes." She murmurs, hugging me to her.

"It's the same way I look at him. Honestly, I didn't think you could feel this way about someone in such a short amount of time. It's crazy."

"I know love, but when you know he's your person, you just know. And that makes me happy for you, and for Mama Char. Now she can stop setting you up on those bloody awful dates with men from Papa Nick's firm." She chuckles.

"Seriously, can't wait to see her face when I introduce John to the family." I giggle out, knowing that my mother will be plenty shocked with me bringing John home.

"You'll have to record her reaction for us so we can all enjoy it on our next Zoom happy hour." She laughs.

We head downstairs after sharing a few more jokes at my mother's expense and sit around being lazy for the rest of the day with the girls.

(John's P.O.V)

I know this is moving fast for Nerina, but I can't help how I feel about her, so the guys are helping me set up a proposal to her on the beach, considering we've been banned from every high-end restaurant in the city for the next two years. We've set up some of those fake candles in silver, round votives lining the aisle. We made a square arch way out of driftwood and the girls hung different flowers on the arch way, giving it what they called a "bohemian" look. All I knew was that it looked good, the different flora and fauna that they chose to include were perfect for the setting. After working on the set up for what seemed like the whole day, it was time for Nerina to arrive. I was wearing a light blue button up with the sleeves rolled to my elbows and a nice pair of white linen pants. I was nervous. Was she going to say no? If she did, could we at least still be together until she was ready to say yes? She never struck me as someone who would be impulsive on big life decisions, but during this trip, she surprised me. I hear a car door open and the sound of Nerina complaining to the girls about being blindfolded.

"I'm not into this kind of kinky shit! Take this off of me!" She yells.

"Yeah, you're into being spanked by 'sir' aren't you?" I hear Corie retort, knowing that there was a smirk plastered on her face.

I hear the girls giggle and Nerina curse them as they get closer to the beach. They round the corner from the parking lot, and I see her, dressed like a Sire in white. Her hair is in perfect beach waves and her white dress is flowing around her, showing her white strappy sandals. My heart seems to skip a beat, my breath catches in my throat. She is a Goddess. The girls take off her blindfold and she blinks her eyes a few times to get accustomed to the light.

"What is going on?" She looks at the girls.

"Look." Lizzie points to me.

Nerina gasps and a hand covers her mouth and I see tears start to fall on her cheeks. She walks slowly towards me, followed by her friend's. Once she reaches me, I grab her left hand and get down on one knee.

"Nerina, I know that we have only known each other for the past two weeks, but it feels like I have known you for a lifetime. You are my person, my best friend, my Siren, my love. I want to spend the rest of my life making love to you, being there for you, and helping you attain all of your goals. I love you, Nerina Anthea Onasis, will you marry me?"

I pull the ring box out of my pants pocket and open the lid. Nestled in there is an 8-carat oval cut blue diamond set in a platinum band with smaller diamonds around the band and two half diamonds attached to the sides of the blue stone. Nerina's left hand begins to shake and the tears fall heavier now. After what seems like an eternity, she finally answers.

"Yes, a thousand times yes." She whimpers out.

Placing the ring on her left ring finger, I stand up and kiss her as if my very life depended upon it. She is my forever, and I am hers.