Part 22 (1/2)

”What are you up to today?” I ask as I slip my helmet over my head.

”That's for me to know and you to find out. First thing on our agenda, today, is: you and me taking a nice relaxing cruise on the bike along the coastline. So hop on.” He says as he straddles the bike and pats the seat behind him.

Climbing on behind him, I press my body tightly against his and wrap my arms around his waist as he starts up the bike and takes off down my long winding driveway.

We spend the next hour just driving and taking in the gorgeous scenery that is Malibu, California. Today is beautiful with the temperatures in the seventies and a cool gentle breeze. It's the perfect day for a ride on the Hog.

Soon, we start to make our way away from the Pacific coastline and begin cruising up towards the Santa Monica Mountains. I immediately realize we're heading to Devils Backbone.

Soon enough, Jordon is pulling the bike into the parking lot at the entrance for the trail leading to the Devil's Backbone. Turning off the bike, Jordon slips his helmet off and gazes back at me over his shoulder as I remove my helmet.

”Surprise number two, babe. You ready for a hike?” he asks before stepping off of the bike and taking my hand to help me off. Reaching into one of his side satchels, he grabs two bottles of water.

Taking my water I give him a playful smile, ”You are full of surprises today. If I would've known we were coming here, I would've made sure we wore our running clothes so I could out run your a.s.s to the top.” I tease as I interlock our fingers and pull him towards the trail.

He's now made it his life's mission to beat me to the top. Every time we're in Malibu we come here to hike. We mainly spend all of our time in Miami, but when we want to get away from the craziness of the city and relax, we fly out here. Malibu is more tranquil, and we're able to just chill and escape the hectic lives we live.

We just spent the last year touring all over Europe, Asia and Australia/New Zealand. I'm officially toured out and glad we get a year off to work on writing music and cutting a new alb.u.m. I'm sad because more than likely Jordon and I will go on separate tours the next time around. Each of us will headline our own tour since their career has skyrocketed over the past year and a half.

As we make our way up the trail Jordon surprises me by asking me to take the small trail to our left that leads to the Newton Canyon Falls. ”A detour?” I ask with surprise in my voice. We've never wondered down the trail to the falls. We've always just run or hiked the six miles to the top, never venturing off to other trails.

”Yeah, a friend of mine told me we should check it out. It looks even better up close compared to a distance like we normally see it.”

Never letting go of his hand, we make our way through the trail. After a few minutes, we finally come out at the opening to the falls. It's breathtaking up close. The falls are tall but narrow, and the roar of the water as it crashes down into the tiny pool, gives this place a Zen feeling, instantly making you relax and feel at peace here.

”This is gorgeous. I've only ever explored the Zuma Falls; I've never hiked down this way.” I say with awe in my voice as I pull out my phone and begin snapping pictures.

I feel Jordon press against my back as he wraps his hands around me hugging me tightly against him, ”It is beautiful, but it doesn't hold a candle to you, babe.”

”You are just on an overload of sweetness today.” I joke as I gently rub my hands over his before settling them there as we gaze up at the falls.

”It amazes me how all of this is Mother Nature's work. It's beautiful and astonis.h.i.+ng when you think about it.”

Breaking out of Jordon's embrace, I walk to the edge of the tiny pool of water and dip my hands in it. I gaze up at the waterfall with the sunlight hitting it just right is causing a beautiful rainbow to appear inside of it.

I stay there a few moments delighting in the feeling of the mist sprinkling across my skin, cooling me off from our hike. Standing, I spin around to find Jordon down on one knee behind me holding a ring box.

Slapping my hand over my mouth, I m.u.f.fle a scream of shock and surprise.

My eyes lock onto his that right now look terrified. He must have planned all of today for this very moment.

I can't believe it.

”Oh. My. G.o.d.” I repeatedly say in almost a whisper, as I walk up to Jordon.

”Surprise?!” His words come out raspy and send a s.h.i.+ver down my spine. I can't help but feel my heart swell with love and flutter in my chest the same way it did the first night we met.

I look down at the ring that's sparkling in the sun, and tears begin to pool in my eyes. It's absolutely beautiful and so perfect.

It's a princess cut Ruby with a halo of diamonds around it. The platinum band is made completely of diamonds, and the entire ring detailing has a vintage look to it.

It immediately takes my breath away.

”It's beautiful, Jordon. I can't believe this is happening right now.” I say laughing nervously as I slide my eyes from the ring back to Jordon.

”I've had this ring burning a hole in my pocket since we got back; I just couldn't figure out the best way to do this. I wanted it to be special, not just for you, but for us as a couple. After thinking about it, I realized that this is the place we had our first date and its the perfect place to ask you to be my wife.”

A sob escapes me as tears begin to trickle down my cheeks.

”It's perfect.”

Taking my right hand in his, he slides his thumb over my small diamond and the tiny ruby b.u.t.terflies on my engagement ring from Cane. I've worn it on my right hand since Jordon and I were in Chicago.

I knew I had to let go of Cane, but also hold on to the memories and life I had with him. I couldn't remove it completely. So after talking with Jordon, he told me he understood and was completely okay with me wearing it on my right hand, leaving my left hand open to a future with him.

Raising his eyes back up to mine, Jordon lets out a shaky breath before he speaks, ”I know that when you envisioned yourself walking down the aisle, it was with Cane, and you never thought you'd be able to fall in love again.”

I feel like it's impossible to breathe right now. I'm still trying to let it sink in. This is really happening. He's proposing. I slide my hand over his rough stubble and smile lovingly down at him through my tears.

”To know you've opened up your heart to me and given me the chance to love you, after having your heart broken so tragically, Brittan, it meant everything to me. Over the last year and nine months that I've gotten to know you, I've spent it falling deeper in love with you.” Taking my left hand into his he presses a soft kiss to my fingers before continuing, ”I can't help but thank Cane each and every day we have had together for bringing you into my life. Without his ultimate sacrifice for our country, our lives probably never would've crossed paths. So for that I'm grateful to him, and I'm grateful to you for showing me what the meaning of true love is. I feel it every time you walk into a room, or when you grace my lips with a sweet kiss. My love for you sees no end. I would be honored if you said yes to marrying me and making me the luckiest man on the G.o.d d.a.m.n planet.”

He has the most beautiful, brightest smile spreading across his face and it makes my stomach feel like it's been invaded by a ton of fluttering b.u.t.terflies.

”Baby, I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, making not just beautiful music together but also a beautiful family. I can't wait to feel the kicks of a baby we'll make in your belly, and to be able to spend forever showing you just how much I love you.”

Wiping away the tears from my face, I drop down on my knees in front of Jordon, take his face in my hands and gently press a kiss to his lips.

Pulling away from his kiss, I get lost in his piercing blue eyes, ”I would be honored to become Mrs. Jordon Valentine. I want you to know that, after all this time we've had together, I've come to realize one thing, Jordon.”

”And what would that be?” He asks with laughter in his voice. The look of surprise and elation on his face causes my heart to skip a beat?”

”That no matter what happened with Cane, I believe you would've come into my life one way, or another. Our souls were destined to meet, and deep in my heart I believe that overseas or at home, Cane's soul was destined to cross over that day. I feel it deep in my heart that I was meant to have two great loves in my lifetime, one with Cane, which would lead me onto my path to you. I know it probably sounds crazy, but I think you and Cane are both my soulmates. I believe G.o.d sometimes does miraculous things, and that is one of them. I know right now Cane is smiling down on us, wis.h.i.+ng us a happy life together full of beautiful talented babies who'll take the world by storm.”

Jordon's eyes tear up as my words flow freely from my lips. I speak from my heart telling Jordon exactly what I feel. It's taken almost two years of being with him to realize this, and now I have a sense of peace I never had before. Like I can truly move on with my life and give every piece of myself to Jordon while still holding my love for Cane inside of me.

”I love you, Brittan, so much. I'm going to spend forever proving it to you.” Jordon says leaning forward and giving me a heart stopping, soul shaking kiss before breaking away from me so he can slide the engagement ring onto my left ring finger.

Standing, I jump into his arms, hooking my feet behind his back and locking my hands around his neck while I get lost in his beautiful blue eyes that are glowing in the reflection of the waterfall and the warm sunlight, ”I love you more. And I cannot wait to marry you!”

Brittan July 4th, 2018 South Beach, Miami, Florida The last three years have been some of the best three years of my life. Jordon and I got married at my house in Malibu; flying in his family from Chicago, my family in Miami and all of our bandmates, who are just like family to us.

Roxie was my matron of honor and Jordon's brother Eric was his best man. It was small and private, just sharing our special day with our closest friends and family.

We tried to keep the date secret, but that didn't happen and somehow the press found out. During our vows, helicopters were flying overhead, snapping pictures of us down on the beach.

We had a photographer from Envy Magazine present to capture every perfect moment for an article, which is now framed on our walls in our homes in Miami, Malibu and Northbrook.

After we got married, we bought a vacation home in the same suburb Jordon's parents live, allowing him to have a place close to them that was just ours.

It's amazing flying up there every year during the holidays to experience a white Christmas. We rotate the holidays between my parents and his. My mother and father have been so wonderful and accepting of Jordon, making the holidays perfect for us.